Wagner’s Second Home Run Lifts Cardinals Over Cubs, 5–4
Four St. Louis Homers Decide Tight Contest; McDaniel Works Final Innings for Win
ST. LOUIS, April 30 — The St. Louis Cardinals relied on the long ball Saturday night, hitting four home runs — including two by Leon Wagner — to edge the Chicago Cubs, 5–4, before a chilled crowd of 7,952 at Busch Stadium. Wagner’s second blast, a towering drive in the eighth inning, broke a 4–4 tie and proved the difference in a game marked by shifting momentum and missed opportunities on both sides.
The victory was the Cardinals’ third straight and their seventh in eight games on the current homestand.
Cubs Strike First
Chicago opened the scoring in the first inning. Tony Taylor doubled to right‑center, moved to third on Richie Ashburn’s fly ball, and scored on a Vinegar Bend Mizell wild pitch. The Cubs threatened again in the fourth and fifth, but St. Louis escaped further damage until a three‑run Chicago rally in the fifth.
Cardinals Answer Early
St. Louis tied the game in the second when Ken Boyer singled, Carl Sawatski and Wagner followed with hits, and Sawatski scored. The Cardinals loaded the bases with one out, but Mizell struck out and Joe Cunningham grounded out, ending the threat.
Wagner gave St. Louis a 2–1 lead in the fourth with a low‑pitch drive that carried onto the right‑field roof for his third home run of the season.
Cubs Take Advantage of Breaks
Chicago regained the lead in the fifth with help from two close plays. Cal Neeman walked, Taylor singled, and Ashburn grounded sharply back to Mizell, who trapped Neeman between third and home for the second out. But with two down, Lou Johnson beat out a slow roller toward third when Boyer slipped attempting a force play. With the bases loaded, Ernie Banks singled to left, scoring two, and Dick Gernert followed with another hit to make it 4–2.
St. Louis Evens the Score
The Cardinals responded quickly. In the bottom of the fifth, Bill White lined a home run into the right‑center seats. Sawatski tied the game in the sixth with a drive onto the pavilion roof, his second homer of the season.
McDaniel Shuts Door
After Mizell and Ernie Broglio worked the early innings, St. Louis turned to Lindy McDaniel in the seventh. Entering with a 1–1 count on pinch‑hitter Walt Moryn, McDaniel struck him out as Ashburn stole second. With first base open, Banks was intentionally walked, and Gernert grounded into a double play. McDaniel retired all nine batters he faced, earning the win.
Wagner Delivers Decisive Blow
Cubs reliever Don Elston, who had pitched effectively in the seventh and early in the eighth, fell behind Wagner 3–1 with two out. Wagner connected on the next pitch, sending it high over the pavilion and onto Grand Avenue for his second home run of the night and fourth of the season.
Cubs’ Final Chance
Elston had allowed eight hits and four walks before giving way to the bullpen, but Chicago could not mount a final rally. McDaniel closed the ninth without incident, preserving the one‑run margin.
Notes
- Wagner finished with three hits and three runs batted in.
- The Cardinals have hit 17 home runs in their last eight games.
- Chicago fell to 3–10, despite strong early hitting from Taylor and Banks.
- Mizell worked out of several jams but was lifted after allowing four runs in five innings.
Courtesy of The St. Louis Dispatch May 1, 1960 via Newspapers.com