Pirates Outlast Giants in 11 Innings, 8–7, on Smith’s Pinch‑Hit Single
Clemente’s Double Sets Up Winning Rally; Both Clubs Trade Leads in Rain‑Interrupted Contest
PITTSBURGH, May 22 — A long, rain‑punctuated afternoon at Forbes Field ended with a single swing from Hal Smith, whose pinch‑hit line drive off the scoreboard in the 11th inning gave the Pittsburgh Pirates an 8–7 victory over the San Francisco Giants before 30,123 spectators.
Smith, appearing for the first time all day, delivered on the only pitch he saw from left‑hander Mike McCormick, scoring Roberto Clemente and closing out a game in which both clubs held — and lost — multiple leads.
The win gave Pittsburgh two victories in the three‑game series and widened its National League lead to a game and a half.
Giants Build Early Advantage
San Francisco struck first in the second inning when Orlando Cepeda singled and Willie Kirkland tripled to right‑center. Kirkland scored on an infield out, giving the Giants a 2–0 lead.
In the fourth, Willie McCovey doubled and Cepeda followed with his seventh home run of the season, extending the margin to 4–0.
Two rain delays — totaling more than an hour — interrupted play, but the Giants continued to pressure Pittsburgh pitching, eventually scoring three more runs in the seventh.
Pirates Rally Back
Pittsburgh answered in the fourth. Bob Skinner singled, Dick Stuart doubled, and Clemente singled home two runs. After an infield out, Bill Virdon added an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 4–3.
The Pirates tied the game in the fifth when Dick Groat singled and Stuart tripled to deep right‑center.
In the sixth, Bill Mazeroski homered into the left‑field trees — his first hit after an 0‑for‑18 stretch — giving Pittsburgh a brief 5–4 lead.
Giants Surge Again in the Seventh
San Francisco reclaimed the lead in the seventh. Don Blasingame singled, Joe Amalfitano doubled him home, and after the second rain delay, the Giants ordered Willie Mays intentionally walked. McCovey then doubled inside third base, scoring two and putting San Francisco ahead 7–5.
Skinner Forces Extras
The Pirates forced extra innings in the ninth. Don Hoak walked, and Skinner drove a pitch from Billy Loes into the upper deck in right field, tying the game at 7–7.
Skinner finished with three hits; Clemente also had three, raising his league‑leading average to .382.
Smith Ends It in the 11th
Clemente doubled with one out in the 11th and moved to third on an infield roller. The Giants intentionally walked Gino Cimoli and Mazeroski to set up a force at any base.
Smith, pinch‑hitting, lined McCormick’s fifth pitch off the scoreboard in left‑center, ending the game.
Reliever Roy Face earned the win with three scoreless innings.
Notes
- The Giants used six pitchers: Jack Sanford, Stu Miller, Billy O’Dell, Loes, Bud Byerly, and McCormick.
- Miller left in the fifth with a strained lumbar muscle after slipping on the mound.
- Attendance for the three‑game series totaled 98,546, boosting Pittsburgh’s season figure to 311,119, nearly 70,000 ahead of last year’s pace.
- Defensive highlights included Virdon’s tumbling catch on Blasingame’s leadoff liner and Amalfitano’s stop at third in the 10th.
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Courtesy of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette May 23, 1960 via Newspapers.com