Pirates Edge Dodgers, 3–2, on Smith and Mazeroski Homers
Law Wins Fifth; Los Angeles Misses Key Chances in Tight Contest
LOS ANGELES, May 10 — The Pittsburgh Pirates snapped their four‑game losing streak Tuesday night by making the most of two well‑timed swings, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 3–2 before 26,331 at the Coliseum. Home runs by Hal Smith and Bill Mazeroski supplied all of Pittsburgh’s scoring, while Vern Law scattered eight hits to earn his fifth victory, the most in the majors.
The Dodgers matched Pittsburgh hit for hit but again struggled to deliver in crucial moments, stranding runners in several promising innings.
Pirates Strike With Power
Los Angeles left‑hander Johnny Podres, unbeaten by Pittsburgh at the Coliseum until last night, was tagged for both home runs. Smith tied the game in the third with a drive to left, and in the fourth Mazeroski followed Gino Cimoli’s single with a two‑run shot that put the Pirates ahead to stay.
Podres allowed eight hits in seven innings before giving way to Stan Williams, who held Pittsburgh scoreless the rest of the way.
Dodgers Answer but Fall Short
The Dodgers briefly pulled even in the third when Norm Sherry hit his second home run in as many games. They added another run in the eighth when Jim Gilliam, who had three hits, tripled and scored on a groundout.
But Los Angeles missed its best chance in the sixth. Gilliam and Charlie Neal opened with singles, putting runners at the corners with none out. Law bore down, retiring Wally Moon, Duke Snider, and Norm Larker in order to escape the inning untouched.
Ninth‑Inning Rally Stopped
The Dodgers mounted one last threat in the ninth. Larker singled, and pinch‑hitter Chuck Essegian followed with another hit. Pinch‑runners Maury Wills and Bob Lillis were aboard with two out when Sherry came up again with a chance to be the hero. This time he bounced into a force play at second, ending the game.
A sharp defensive play by first baseman Rocky Nelson, who made a difficult stop on Bob Aspromonte’s hard grounder to retire Lillis, helped halt the rally.
Law in Command
Law struck out two and walked none, keeping the Dodgers off balance despite allowing eight hits. He has now permitted only one Dodger home run in nearly three years — Snider’s blast on May 30, 1957 — until Sherry connected last night.
Notes
- Sherry has four straight hits over his last two games, including two home runs.
- The Dodgers have dropped eight of their last twelve on the current homestand.
- Pittsburgh hitters struck out eight times, adding to Los Angeles’ league‑leading strikeout total.
Courtesy of The Los Angeles Times May 11, 1960 via Newspapers.com