Orioles Edge White Sox, 3–2, With Ninth‑Inning Pinch Hits
Boyd and Courtney Deliver Late; Estrada Scatters Five Hits as Baltimore Sweeps Two‑Game Set
CHICAGO, May 25 — Timely pinch‑hitting and steady pitching carried the Baltimore Orioles past the Chicago White Sox 3–2 Wednesday afternoon at Comiskey Park. Ninth‑inning singles by Bob Boyd and Clint Courtney broke a tie, and right‑hander Chuck Estrada completed a five‑hit performance to give Baltimore its fourth straight victory and a sweep of the brief two‑game series.
The win kept the Orioles atop the American League standings by a half‑game over Cleveland.
Wynn Outdueled Despite Strong Effort
Chicago veteran Early Wynn, who has dominated Baltimore in recent years, allowed ten hits but kept the game close until the ninth. He was backed by a pair of extra‑base hits from Minnie Miñoso and Sherm Lollar, the latter tying the game with a seventh‑inning home run.
Wynn, 40, struck out five and walked two but was undone by Baltimore’s late rally.
Orioles Break the Tie in the Ninth
Boyd opened the ninth as a pinch‑hitter for catcher Valmy Thomas and punched a single past third baseman Gene Freese. Estrada followed with a well‑placed sacrifice bunt, moving Boyd into scoring position.
Manager Paul Richards then summoned Courtney to bat for Marv Breeding, and the veteran catcher lined Wynn’s first pitch into right field, scoring Boyd with the go‑ahead run.
Baltimore threatened further when Albie Pearson singled, but pinch‑runner Billy Klaus was thrown out attempting to reach third.
Estrada Finishes What He Started
Estrada, 22, walked four but allowed only five hits and struck out six. His fastball and change of pace kept Chicago off balance, and he retired the side in the ninth after issuing a leadoff walk.
It was Estrada’s third win of the season against one loss.
White Sox Tie It With Power
Chicago scored in the fourth when Miñoso dropped a bloop double inside the right‑field line and came home on Lollar’s similar hit to the same spot. Lollar later tied the game in the seventh with a drive into the left‑field upper deck, triggering Comiskey Park’s new scoreboard fireworks display.
The White Sox, however, managed little else. Double plays halted rallies in the second and third, and injuries further hampered the club. Shortstop Luis Aparicio left with a spike wound suffered while tagging Thomas, and center fielder Joe Hicks was knocked unconscious in a collision with Sammy Esposito in the eighth.
Baltimore Scores Early but Misses Chances
The Orioles took a 1–0 lead in the third when Pearson singled, advanced on a fly ball, and scored on Jim Gentile’s single to right. Gentile reached base four times, going 2‑for‑2 with two walks.
Baltimore squandered earlier opportunities, leaving runners at the corners in the second and stranding two more in the first.
In the sixth, Gentile walked and Jackie Brandt doubled 400 feet to left‑center, scoring Gentile for a 2–1 Baltimore lead.
Notes
- Baltimore has won 19 of its last 27.
- Chicago has dropped four straight.
- Attendance was 5,518 paid, plus 3,154 cab drivers and 4,551 children on Kids’ Day.
- Hicks suffered a concussion and facial lacerations in the eighth‑inning collision.
Courtesy of The Baltimore Sun May 26, 1960 via Newspapers.com