GIANTS EVEN PLAYOFF BEHIND JONES' GEM
NL Flag Will Be Decided Tomorrow
NEW YORK, Oct. 2 (AP) - Given the nature of the National League pennant race,
was there ever a doubt that the flag wouldn't be decided until the final
possible day? The New York Giants received a brilliant four-hit complete
game effort from Sheldon Jones and Wes Westrum's second home run in as many days
to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers, 5-1, at the Polo Grounds. The crowd of
33,417 was the largest for a Giants home game since opening day, back on April
20. An even larger crowd is anticipated for the pennant-deciding game
tomorrow in Upper Manhattan.
Jones allowed only four hits and walked three while striking out five en route
to his fifth win of the year in just his 12th start of the season. It was
merely the latest of a series of pressure packed moments for the Giants, who
have been facing imminent elimination from for more than a week.
The Giants roared out to an early lead by scoring three times in the bottom of
the first inning against Brooklyn starter Clem Labine. After Eddie Stanky
struck out, Alvin Dark singled and advanced to third on Don Mueller's base
hit. Monte Irvin followed by grounding a single to left, scoring Dark and
moving Mueller to second. Whitey Lockman then blooped a hit down the left
field line, plating Mueller and moving Irvin to third, but getting thrown out at
second trying to stretch a single into a double. Bobby Thomson walked on a
3-2 pitch and Irvin scored the inning's third run when Labine booted a
comebacker off the bat of Willie Mays. Westrum finally fanned to end the
inning, but the damage had been done.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third, but Jones
retired Andy Pafko on a fly to Mays in center to extinguish the threat.
Brooklyn finally got on the board in the fourth when Gil Hodges led off the
inning with a drive into the first few rows of the upper deck down the left
field line for his 38th home run of the season.
The mistake to Hodges aside, Jones kept the Dodgers thoroughly in check for most
of the game. The next scoring threat by either team didn't arise until the
seventh, and it was the Giants doing the threatening. Facing reliever Carl
Erskine, Irvin drew a two out free pass and took second on Lockman's
single. Thomson followed by lining a hit to left, but Pafko threw out a
runner at the plate for the second straight game--and picked up his third assist
of the playoff--by nailing Irvin trying to score to end the inning.
The seventh inning threat was overcome, but the Giants captured their insurance
in the eighth. Mays led off with a walk and Westrum followed with a drive
halfway up the upper deck in left field for his 21st home run of the season and
his second of the playoff series, giving New York a 5-1 lead.
Jones retired the Dodgers in order in the ninth, setting down 17 of the last 19
batters he faced following Hodges' fourth inning long ball. Brooklyn did
not advance a runner past first base after Hodges' homered.
The two teams will now prepare for their 157th and deciding game of the
season. Don Newcombe (21-8, 3.15) will take the mound for the Dodgers and
Sal Maglie (20-11, 2.61) will do the honors for the Giants. For the second
straight day, Roy Campanella, who is nursing a bad knee, will be out of the
starting lineup in favor of Rube Walker. Campanella, however, will be
available for pinch hitting and emergency catching duties.
10/2/1951, Brk51-NYN51, Polo Grounds 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1951 Dodgers 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 6 0 1951 Giants 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 x 5 12 1 12 1 Dodgers AB R H BI AVG Giants AB R H BI AVG Furillo rf 3 0 1 0 .300 Stanky 2b 4 0 2 0 .262 Reese ss 4 0 0 0 .279 Dark ss 4 1 1 0 .282 Snider cf 4 0 1 0 .295 Mueller,D rf 4 1 1 0 .274 Robinson,J 2b 3 0 0 0 .343 Rigney ph 1 0 0 0 .229 Pafko lf 4 0 1 0 .253 Irvin lf 4 1 3 1 .333 Hodges 1b 4 1 1 1 .246 Lockman 1b 5 0 2 1 .268 Cox 3b 4 0 0 0 .270 Thomson 3b 2 0 2 0 .273 Walker,R c 2 0 0 0 .304 Mays cf 3 1 0 0 .281 Labine p 2 0 0 0 .118 Westrum c 4 1 1 2 .203 Abrams ph 1 0 0 0 .321 Jones,Sh p 4 0 0 0 .030 Erskine p 0 0 0 0 .182 35 5 12 4 Schmitz p 0 0 0 0 .125 31 1 4 1 Dodgers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Labine L 6-2 6.0 8 3 2 2 2 106 69 3.43 Erskine 1.1 3 2 2 4 0 50 20 5.71 Schmitz 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 9 4 5.35 8.0 12 5 4 6 2 165 93 Giants INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Jones,Sh W 5-4 9.0 4 1 1 3 5 130 74 3.01 9.0 4 1 1 3 5 130 74 Brk: Abrams batted for Labine in the 7th NYN: Rigney batted for Mueller,D in the 8th Rigney moved to 3b in the 9th Irvin moved to rf in the 9th Thomson moved to lf in the 9th E-Labine, Mueller,D. 3B-Stanky(4). HR-Hodges(38), Westrum(22). RBI-Hodges(129), Irvin(105), Lockman(65), Westrum 2(75). K-Snider, Pafko, Hodges, Cox, Labine, Stanky, Westrum. BB-Furillo, Robinson,J, Walker,R, Stanky, Dark, Irvin, Thomson 2, Mays. GWRBI: Irvin Temperature: 59, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 1 MPH. Attendance: 33,417 Game Time: 2:30