Athletics Nip Indians in Ninth, 6–5, on Bauer’s Line Drive
Cleveland Drops Fourth Straight as Kansas City Rallies Twice to Pull Even
KANSAS CITY, April 24 — The Kansas City Athletics and Cleveland Indians traded blows for nine innings Sunday afternoon, but it was Hank Bauer’s sharp line drive off the left‑field screen in the bottom of the ninth that finally settled matters, giving the A’s a 6–5 victory and handing Cleveland its fourth straight loss.
Bill Tuttle, who had singled earlier in the inning, raced home with the winning run as Bauer connected on a pitch from Bob Grim, the former Athletics right‑hander now working out of the Cleveland bullpen. Grim was the third Indians pitcher of the day.
The win evened Kansas City’s early‑season record at 2–2.
Indians Strike First, But A’s Escape Big Trouble
The game opened with Cleveland threatening a major inning. Johnny Temple doubled, Jim Piersall and Walt Bond singled, and Tito Francona walked, producing one run and loading the bases with none out against starter Dick Hall.
Manager Bob Elliott summoned Bob Trowbridge, who escaped without further damage. Russ Nixon lined to shortstop Ken Hamlin, who doubled Bond off second, and Vic Power grounded out to end the inning.
A’s Move Ahead in the Second
Kansas City took a 2–1 lead in the second. Norm Siebern walked, Bob Cerv singled, and Harry Chiti added another hit. Nixon’s passed ball allowed the second run to score.
Trowbridge held Cleveland scoreless until the fifth, while Indians starter Barry Latman, making his first appearance since being acquired from Chicago, kept the Athletics in check.
Cleveland Breaks Through in the Fifth
The Indians surged ahead with three runs in the fifth. Temple singled, and Bond drove a home run over the right‑field fence. Nixon singled, and Power doubled off the wall to score him. Power attempted to steal home but was ruled out on a close play, ending the rally with Cleveland ahead 4–2.
A’s Answer Immediately
Kansas City got one run back in the bottom half. Pinch‑hitter Whitey Herzog walked, Jerry Lumpe singled, and Francona dropped Siebern’s short fly in left, allowing Herzog to score and trimming the deficit to 4–3.
Teams Trade Blows in the Sixth
Cleveland extended its lead to 5–3 in the sixth on singles by Bubba Phillips, Temple, and Piersall against reliever George Brunet.
But the Athletics responded in dramatic fashion in their half. Harry Chiti led off with a home run over the left‑field fence, and moments later Ken Hamlin followed with another drive to the same spot, tying the game at 5–5.
Indians Threaten in the Eighth
Cleveland loaded the bases in the eighth on two singles and a walk, but Brunet worked out of the jam, preserving the tie.
Kansas City Wins It in the Ninth
Reliever Marty Kutyna, the fourth A’s pitcher, worked a scoreless top of the ninth despite a leadoff single by Francona and a walk to Woody Held.
In the bottom half, Tuttle singled and moved to second on a groundout. Bauer then lined Grim’s pitch off the left‑field screen, scoring Tuttle and ending the game.
A Tight Contest Throughout
Both clubs showed flashes of power — Cleveland with Bond’s home run and Kansas City with the back‑to‑back shots by Chiti and Hamlin. Lumpe led all hitters with three singles.
The Indians, now 0–4, had multiple chances to break the game open but could not capitalize. Kansas City, though out‑hit in key stretches, made the most of its opportunities.
Courtesy of The Kansas City Star April 24, 1960 via Newspapers.com