GET ME REWRITE! Finish with a familiar "Ring"

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, THURSDAY APRIL 20, 1961 -33

This finish had a "Ring" to it

Mazeroski's ground single in 10th gives Pirates wild win on "Ring" night 

APRIL 19-If Ring night seemed a bit familiar, it was only because of how it ended. For Bill Mazeroski, it was bottom of an inning with a game on the line, with a dramatic result forthcoming. Only it was a much shorter hit than the hit that went down in Pirate lore last October, but a dramatic finish to a wild game against the Cubs, 8-7 in 10 innings on a night which began when the champion Pirates received their World Series rings and flag. 

Friend ran out of gas

The Pirates started the top of the 9th with a seemingly insurmountable 6-2 lead, but when the 9th began, pitches that were hitting the strike zone slipped off the ring finger, Ed Bouchee leading off with a single (fatigue), then Al Heist drawing a walk. When Sammy Taylor singled home Bouchee (fatigue), Friend's night was over, and Roy Face looked to save the evening.

Zimmer had other plans

Face struck out pinch-hitter George Altman, then pinch-hitter Andre Rodgers for Richie Ashburn singled home Heist, cutting that Pirate lead to just 6-4. Don Zimmer, a most intimidating fellow who can change the simplest of plans with just one gesture, turned a Face fastball into a three-run homer, crashing the ring party and turning it into an unlikely 7th straight win to open the season, Face recovered to get the final 2 outs, but there was more work to do for the Pirates to make ring night a success.

Cubs took a "pass"

Barney Schultz took over for the Cubs and got Mazeroski to fly to center. Smoky Burgess collected his 4th single of the evening, the tying run at 1st, Donn Clendenon pinchrunning. Dick Stuart, who blew the previous Pirate game with an error, redeemed himself with a pinch single, moving Clendenon to 2nd. Bill Virdon's slow-roller to 2nd put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position with 2 outs. Dick Groat then walked to load the bases, then with Bob Skinner at the plate, Schultz's pitch went way past Taylor behind the plate for a passed ball scoring Donn C. with the tying run, then Skinner fouled out to Taylor to end the inning. Ring night would go on a little longer.

Maz strikes again

After Bobby Shantz retired the Cubs in the top of the 10th, the Bucs started the bottom half with a lead-off single to right by Rocky Nelson. Roberto Clemente singled Nelson to 3rd, prompting the Cubs to bring in the infield. Don Hoak struck out, changing the infield setup and sending up that noted clutch hitter. Only Maz wasn't reaching for the seats, just somewhere relatively close, dribbling a comebacker to Schultz that didn't have to sail over the fence, just enough to make ring night one memorable night for Pirate fans and a heartbreaking finish for the Cubs, their 1st such loss in 7 games this season. After all, how it ended had a nice "ring" to it.

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