Birkhofer stumps Dodgers

Ralph Birkofer, who has had a heck of a season, pitched a complete game today at Ebbets Field.  The Pirates beat the Dodgers 3-2.  Birkhofer allowed just 2 earned runs and 2 extra base hits (9 hits total) over 9 innings.  There wasn't much offense in this game as the two teams combined for 15 hits.  Tony Cuccinello hit his 14th home run of the season in the game.  With the loss, the Dodgers are just 1 game over .500 at 73-72.

The Dodgers scored 1 in the 1st inning to take the lead, but it was the Pirates who came back by scoring 2 in the 7th.  In that inning, Paul Waner singled, then Fred Lindstrom singled.  Arky Vaughan singled to plate a run.  After a double play ground out, Earl Grace doubled in the 2nd run.  Both teams would score runs in the 9th, but it was the Pirates who pulled this one off.  The Pirates were 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Around the League:

• The New York Giants lost last night in a wild game at The Polo Grounds.  With the loss, New York is now 7 games back of Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh's magic number is down to 4.  
• Mel Ott hit is 40th home run of the season last night at The Polo Grounds.
• Arky Vaughan is once again leading the batting race.  He currently stands at .376.  He also leads the league in doubles with 51.
• Ralph Birkhofer leads the league in ERA at 2.34.

BOXSCORE: 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates At 1934 Brooklyn Dodgers          9/18/1934
Updated W/L Records: Pittsburgh(89-54) Brooklyn(73-72)
 
  Pirates            AB  R  H RBI AVG     Dodgers            AB  R  H RBI AVG
  L.Waner CF          4  0  0  0 .301     B.Boyle LF          3  0  0  0 .313  
  P.Waner RF          3  1  1  0 .374     L.Frey SS           3  1  1  0 .332  
  F.Lindstrom LF      3  1  1  0 .320     D.Taylor CF         4  0  2  1 .294  
  A.Vaughan SS        4  1  2  1 .376     S.Leslie 1B         4  0  1  0 .339  
  G.Suhr 1B           4  0  1  1 .304     J.Frederick RF      3  0  0  0 .283  
  E.Grace C           4  0  1  1 .255     T.Cuccinello 2B     3  1  1  1 .279  
  C.Lavagetto 2B      3  0  0  0 .198     A.Lopez C           4  0  1  0 .286  
  T.Thevenow 3B       3  0  0  0 .289     J.Jordan 3B         4  0  2  0 .276  
A-P.Traynor 3B        0  0  0  0 .302     V.Mungo P           2  0  1  0 .219  
  R.Birkofer P        3  0  0  0 .125                                          
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      31  3  6  3                 Totals      30  2  9  2
 
A-Subbed Defensively (3B) For Thevenow In 9th Inning
 
Pirates......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  2 0 1  -  3  6  0
Dodgers......... 1 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 1  -  2  9  0
 
Pirates (89-54)          IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
R.Birkofer WIN(10-10)     9       9   2   2   4   1   1 152   2.34  A1
Totals                    9       9   2   2   4   1   1
 
Dodgers (73-72)          IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
V.Mungo LOSS(18-15)       9       6   3   3   2   6   0 136   2.83  A1
Totals                    9       6   3   3   2   6   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 17,806 DATE- Tuesday, September 18th 1934 TIME- Day WEATHER- Good
T- 1:35
LEFT ON BASE- Pirates: 3  Dodgers: 6
DOUBLE PLAYS- Pirates: 3  Dodgers: 2
DOUBLES- A.Vaughan(51st), G.Suhr(39th), E.Grace(18th), J.Jordan(18th)
HOME RUNS- T.Cuccinello(14th)
RBIs- A.Vaughan(107th), G.Suhr(126th), E.Grace(47th), D.Taylor(63rd),
      T.Cuccinello(86th)
STOLEN BASES- L.Frey(8th), D.Taylor(10th)
CAUGHT STEALING- D.Taylor
SACRIFICE HITS- V.Mungo
WALKS- P.Waner, F.Lindstrom, B.Boyle, L.Frey, J.Frederick, T.Cuccinello
STRIKE OUTS- E.Grace, C.Lavagetto-2, T.Thevenow, R.Birkofer-2, S.Leslie
GIDP- F.Lindstrom, G.Suhr, B.Boyle, D.Taylor-2
2-out RBI- E.Grace, G.Suhr, T.Cuccinello
RLISP 2-out- A.Lopez-2, L.Frey, T.Cuccinello, C.Lavagetto, E.Grace
TEAM RISP- Pirates: 3 for 6  Dodgers: 1 for 7