BENGE 2-HITS BUCS, OUT-DUELS LUCAS
Koenecke, Taylor Pace Dodgers Bats
BROOKLYN, N.Y., May 19 (AP) - Ray Benge became the second National League hurler
to notch a complete game two-hit shutout this season, leading the Brooklyn
Dodgers past the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 at Ebbets Field. Benge allowed a
total of only three baserunners (he walked one) and never allowed a single
Pirates runner to advance past first. Pittsburgh starter Red Lucas tossed
a complete game of his own and took a shutout into the eighth inning but was
done in by a lack of run support.
The Dodgers put together a threat in the very first inning when Lonny Frey
singled with one out, advanced to second on Len Koenecke's infield roller and
then moved to third when Danny Taylor reached on an infield hit, but Lucas
retired Sam Leslie on a ground ball to end the frame. Koenecke doubled
with two outs in the third but Taylor bounced to second to end that inning.
The Dodgers put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the
fifth but Lucas set down Frey and Koenecke to extinguish the threat.
Benge, meanwhile, allowed a one-out single to Paul Waner in the top of the first
but then retired the next 12 in a row before walking Cookie Lavagetto with one
out in the fifth. Lavagetto was immediately erased when Tommy Thevenow
rolled into an inning-ending double play. That started another string of
consecutive batters retired, this time nine straight. Thevenow lined a
single with two outs in the eighth before Benge retired the final four batters
he faced, starting by inducing Earl Grace to fly out to end the frame.
The Dodgers finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the
eighth. The inning started innocently enough as Lucas retired Buzz Boyle
and Frey on ground balls to start the frame but Koenecke grounded a double--his
second of the game--down the right field line and Taylor put Brooklyn on top by
lining a 2-1 offering into right-center field for a base hit, scoring Koenecke
with the game's first fun. Taylor then stole second base and scored when
Leslie singled through the box. Lucas retired Tony Cuccinello on an
infield pop fly, but the damage had been done. The Dodgers now held a 2-0
lead.
Benge avoided drama in the ninth by retiring the side in order on just five
pitches to close out the game.
The only other major leaguers to record two-hitters this season are George
Earnshaw of the Chicago White Sox (Apr. 22) and Lon Warneke of the Chicago Cubs
(Apr. 27).
5/19/1934, Pit34-Brk34, Ebbets Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1934 Pirates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 1934 Dodgers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 x 2 10 0 7 1 Pirates AB R H BI AVG Dodgers AB R H BI AVG Waner,L cf 4 0 0 0 .244 Boyle rf 4 0 1 0 .455 Waner,P rf 4 0 1 0 .304 Frey,L ss 4 0 1 0 .286 Jensen lf 3 0 0 0 .345 Koenecke cf 4 1 2 0 .345 Vaughan ss 3 0 0 0 .230 Taylor,D lf 4 1 3 1 .311 Suhr 1b 3 0 0 0 .404 Leslie 1b 4 0 1 1 .284 Lavagetto 2b 2 0 0 0 .235 Cuccinello 3b 4 0 0 0 .224 Thevenow 3b 3 0 1 0 .269 Lopez c 3 0 1 0 .219 Grace c 3 0 0 0 .216 Jordan,Ji 2b 3 0 1 0 .294 Lucas,Re p 3 0 0 0 .158 Benge p 3 0 0 0 .125 28 0 2 0 33 2 10 2 Pirates INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Lucas,Re L 2-2 8.0 10 2 2 0 0 106 63 2.92 8.0 10 2 2 0 0 106 63 Dodgers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Benge W 3-2 9.0 2 0 0 1 2 113 76 4.25 9.0 2 0 0 1 2 113 76 2B-Koenecke 2(6). RBI-Taylor,D(20), Leslie(18). SB-Taylor,D(3). K-Suhr, Lavagetto. BB-Lavagetto. GWRBI: Taylor,D Temperature: 70, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: in from right at 4 MPH. Attendance: 7,785 Game Time: 1:43