Cubs spoil Pirates home-opening party with 7 in 6th, 10-4
Everyone gets a hit in 20-hit attack
BY EDWARD PRELL, Chicago Tribune Press Service
PITTSBURGH, Apr 18-They got their rings, their 1960 World Series flag, then they abandoned ship in the 6th. An Opening Day ring ceremony was crashed big time by the Cubbies as they treated the World Champion Pirates like scurvy with a 12-batter, 7-run 6th en route to a 10-4 win, the Cubbies 4th in a row after dropping their first 2.
Pirates strike 1st in 2nd
After 1-1/2 scoreless innings, the Pirates turned 2 triples into 3 runs in the home half of the 2nd, Bob Clemente's 3-bagger starting the festivities, then scoring on Don Hoak's sac fly. Dick Schofield thought he'd triple too, Smokey Burgess got him one better with his home run giving the champs a 3-0 lead and a cushion which the festive faithful was certain would be the winning one. The Cubbies strung together 3 straight singles from Don Zimmer, league-leading hitter Billy Williams and Ernie Banks in the 3rd, then Dick Schofield's not-so-careful handling of a Andre Rodgers grounder at 2nd put the North Siders on the board, scoring Zimmer. Dick Ellsworth was more than holding his own against the Pirate attack through 5, while Harvey Haddix did the same in his 5 innings. Then the mutiny took place.
7 runs, 8 hits
Dick Bertell's lead-off single and Al Heist's double set up Ellsworth's RBI single and sac fly to left by Richie Ashburn, knotting the score at 3. Don Zimmer then singled Ellsworth to 3rd, then scoring on red-hot Billy Williams' RBI single, Zimmer to 3rd. Ernie Banks tripled home both Zimmer and Williams, sending the Cubs to a bulging 6-3 lead and Danny Murtaugh seeking out a solution to this 1961 remake of "Mutiny on the Bounty." Haddix struck out slumping Ron Santo for out 2, then Andre Rodgers walked, sending Bertell and Heist to encore performances and Haddix to the showers. Bertell and Heist then greeted Bobby Shantz with RBI singles and Dick Ellsworth struck out to end the mutiny. 7 runs and 8 hits worth.
Zim shuts door
The Pirates got a run in the bottom of the 6th to remain within hailing distance at 8-4, then after a lead-off walk by Ashburn in the 7th, Don Zimmer shut the door on this 20-hit performance with a 2-run homer, his second. Save for an attempted Pirate rally in the 7th, the Cubs did their best to spoil "Flag Day" for the Pirates, sending Dick Drott to the mound in the 8th for 2 perfect innings in support of Ellsworth and Williams, whose 3 for 5 day sent him to a red hot 13-for-23 to open the season.
Santo Sacked?
The Cubbie coaching staff was tight-lipped over reports that slumping third-sacker Ron Santo was headed for a platoon in light of his 2-for-19 start for the season, which did include an cheap single in his 6 at-bats. Don Zimmer may make the move to 3rd, with Mel Roach subbing at 2nd at least until Santo finally finds his groove. A trade may not be out of the question, either.
Pillaged Pirates
CHC 10-20-0 PIT 4-12-1
WP-Ellsworth(1-1) Haddix(1-1)
HR-Burgess(2) Zimmer(2)
Zimmer, Heist, Williams 3 hits each.
Ashburn, Banks, Bertell, 2 hits.
Everyone gets a hit in 20-hit attack
BY EDWARD PRELL, Chicago Tribune Press Service
PITTSBURGH, Apr 18-They got their rings, their 1960 World Series flag, then they abandoned ship in the 6th. An Opening Day ring ceremony was crashed big time by the Cubbies as they treated the World Champion Pirates like scurvy with a 12-batter, 7-run 6th en route to a 10-4 win, the Cubbies 4th in a row after dropping their first 2.
Pirates strike 1st in 2nd
After 1-1/2 scoreless innings, the Pirates turned 2 triples into 3 runs in the home half of the 2nd, Bob Clemente's 3-bagger starting the festivities, then scoring on Don Hoak's sac fly. Dick Schofield thought he'd triple too, Smokey Burgess got him one better with his home run giving the champs a 3-0 lead and a cushion which the festive faithful was certain would be the winning one. The Cubbies strung together 3 straight singles from Don Zimmer, league-leading hitter Billy Williams and Ernie Banks in the 3rd, then Dick Schofield's not-so-careful handling of a Andre Rodgers grounder at 2nd put the North Siders on the board, scoring Zimmer. Dick Ellsworth was more than holding his own against the Pirate attack through 5, while Harvey Haddix did the same in his 5 innings. Then the mutiny took place.
7 runs, 8 hits
Dick Bertell's lead-off single and Al Heist's double set up Ellsworth's RBI single and sac fly to left by Richie Ashburn, knotting the score at 3. Don Zimmer then singled Ellsworth to 3rd, then scoring on red-hot Billy Williams' RBI single, Zimmer to 3rd. Ernie Banks tripled home both Zimmer and Williams, sending the Cubs to a bulging 6-3 lead and Danny Murtaugh seeking out a solution to this 1961 remake of "Mutiny on the Bounty." Haddix struck out slumping Ron Santo for out 2, then Andre Rodgers walked, sending Bertell and Heist to encore performances and Haddix to the showers. Bertell and Heist then greeted Bobby Shantz with RBI singles and Dick Ellsworth struck out to end the mutiny. 7 runs and 8 hits worth.
Zim shuts door
The Pirates got a run in the bottom of the 6th to remain within hailing distance at 8-4, then after a lead-off walk by Ashburn in the 7th, Don Zimmer shut the door on this 20-hit performance with a 2-run homer, his second. Save for an attempted Pirate rally in the 7th, the Cubs did their best to spoil "Flag Day" for the Pirates, sending Dick Drott to the mound in the 8th for 2 perfect innings in support of Ellsworth and Williams, whose 3 for 5 day sent him to a red hot 13-for-23 to open the season.
Santo Sacked?
The Cubbie coaching staff was tight-lipped over reports that slumping third-sacker Ron Santo was headed for a platoon in light of his 2-for-19 start for the season, which did include an cheap single in his 6 at-bats. Don Zimmer may make the move to 3rd, with Mel Roach subbing at 2nd at least until Santo finally finds his groove. A trade may not be out of the question, either.
Pillaged Pirates
CHC 10-20-0 PIT 4-12-1
WP-Ellsworth(1-1) Haddix(1-1)
HR-Burgess(2) Zimmer(2)
Zimmer, Heist, Williams 3 hits each.
Ashburn, Banks, Bertell, 2 hits.
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