White Sox Edge Red Sox in 12 Innings, 7–6
Winning Run Scores on Sturdivant’s Wild Pitch After Nearly Four Hours
CHICAGO, June 25 — A long, uneven, and often peculiar afternoon at Comiskey Park ended abruptly in the 12th inning Saturday when Tom Sturdivant’s pitch skipped past catcher Russ Nixon, allowing Joe Ginsberg to score the deciding run in a 7–6 White Sox victory over the Boston Red Sox.
The contest lasted 3 hours and 41 minutes, saw 22 Chicago players used, and featured everything from a disputed fan‑interference ruling to a failed squeeze play and an ejection.
Ginsberg, signed only eight days ago and playing for his fifth American League club, opened the 12th with a double to left — his third hit of the game. Jim Landis bunted him to third, and after Sherm Lollar fouled out, Sturdivant’s first pitch to Luis Aparicio ticked Nixon’s glove and rolled to the screen, ending the game.
Ginsberg Sparks Chicago Comebacks
Boston built a 4–0 lead against Russ Kemmerer, the first of seven Chicago pitchers. Ginsberg cut the margin in half in the sixth with a two‑run single after a fan touched Gene Freese’s drive in left, resulting in an automatic double that held Roy Sievers at third.
Landis then singled off Tom Brewer’s glove, and an errant throw allowed Ginsberg to score, making it 4–3.
In the seventh, Nellie Fox singled and Minnie Minoso followed with another hit. Sievers singled home Fox to tie the game, but Minoso was doubled off the plate on Al Smith’s short fly to center. Minoso protested vigorously and was ejected.
Boston Regains Lead in the 10th
Dick Donovan and Turk Lown held Boston in check until the 10th, when Gerry Staley entered and immediately hit Ted Williams on the knee. Carroll Hardy ran for Williams, and Vic Wertz’s blooper fell beyond Landis for a double. Don Buddin ran for Wertz.
An intentional walk to Frank Malzone loaded the bases, and Nixon’s soft liner over Sievers’ glove brought in two runs. Frank Baumann relieved and stopped further scoring.
Chicago answered in the bottom half when Freese singled for his fourth hit of the day and Ginsberg followed with another single. Two runs scored to tie the game at 6–6.
Missed Chances and Odd Plays
The White Sox missed a chance in the eighth when Freese doubled and Ginsberg bunted him over. With a 3–1 count on Landis, Freese broke for the plate, but the pitch was ball four and Freese was tagged out in a rundown.
Freese later left the game with a pulled groin muscle, the third time this season he has been sidelined by a right‑leg injury while running the bases.
Boston’s early scoring included a four‑run burst off Kemmerer, highlighted by Pete Runnels’ hitting and aggressive baserunning. Brewer held Chicago to two hits through five innings before tiring.
Pitching Summary
Bob Shaw, who had beaten Boston the night before, earned the win with two scoreless innings. Sturdivant took the loss in relief.
Only Early Wynn, Billy Pierce, and Herb Score remained unused for Chicago by game’s end.
Standings
The victory was Chicago’s fourth in its last five games and brought the club within four games of first‑place New York. Boston remained in the middle of the American League pack.
Courtesy of The Chicago Tribune June 26, 1960 via Newspapers.com