Held’s Two Homers Power Indians Past Athletics, 5–4
Shortstop Drives in Four; Power’s Sacrifice Fly Breaks Seventh‑Inning Tie
CLEVELAND, April 29 — Woodie Held continued his early‑season power surge Friday night, belting two home runs and driving in four runs to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 5–4 victory over the Kansas City Athletics at Municipal Stadium. Held’s second homer, a leadoff shot in the seventh inning, tied the game, and Vic Power’s long fly moments later brought home the deciding run.
The win was Cleveland’s third of the season and marked the second straight night in which Held homered twice against Kansas City pitching.
Held Sparks Indians’ Offense
Held, who hit 29 home runs last season, has now collected four homers in eight games, all against the Athletics. He singled in the second inning, hit a three‑run homer in the fourth, and added his solo drive in the seventh, finishing the night 3‑for‑3.
His first homer erased a 1–0 Kansas City lead. After Harvey Kuenn singled and Russ Nixon collected his second hit of the game, Held drove a pitch from Don Larsen into the left‑field seats for a 3–1 Cleveland advantage.
Athletics Rally in the Sixth
Kansas City answered in the sixth with a three‑run inning against starter Jim Perry. Norm Siebern and Bob Cerv singled through the right side, and with two out, Harry Chiti doubled to left‑center, scoring both runners. Chiti, hitting .343, has been one of Kansas City’s most productive early‑season bats.
The Athletics briefly took a 4–3 lead, but it did not last long.
Indians Tie and Take the Lead
Held opened the seventh with his second home run, this one off reliever Johnny Kucks, tying the game at 4–4. Bubba Phillips doubled, Perry sacrificed him to third, and Power lifted a deep fly to right fielder Whitey Herzog, scoring Phillips with what proved to be the winning run.
Perry Settles In
Perry, who had been criticized after his previous start, was uneven early but strong late. He allowed four runs, walked several hitters, and worked out of trouble in multiple innings, but he finished with a steady final two frames. Manager Joe Gordon indicated afterward that Perry will remain in the starting rotation.
Athletics Strike First
Kansas City scored in the third when Ken Hamlin walked and came home on Jerry Lumpe’s single. Lumpe, who entered the game batting .452, added two more hits and continues to pace the Athletics’ offense.
Indians Escape Eighth‑Inning Threat
Reliever George Brunet allowed the Athletics to load the bases in the eighth, but he escaped without damage. Marty Kutyna pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the victory.
Notes
- Attendance was 12,299, well below last year’s smallest “car night” crowd.
- Cleveland announced the purchase of outfielder Pete Whisenant from Cincinnati for $20,000. Whisenant, a right‑handed hitter, is expected to be used primarily as a pinch‑hitter.
- Gordon returned to an outfield alignment of Tito Francona, Walter Bond, and Harvey Kuenn, which he said will remain standard.
- Larsen, who allowed Held’s first homer, is now winless in nine career decisions against Cleveland.
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Courtesy of The Akron Beacon Journal April 30, 1960 via Newspapers.com