April 23, 1961 Milwaukee Braves at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score and Play by Play

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BAL 4
NYY 1 BOS 4
@CHW 3 CHW 7
BOS 1 DET 3
LAA 1 DET 3
LAA 2
(11) CLE 10
@KCA 8 MIN 1
WSA 0 LAD 5
CIN 1 PHI 1
CHC 0 PHI 6
CHC 0 MLN 3
@PIT 1 SFG 2
STL 1 STL 7
@SFG 4

Standings at end of play this day

Forbes Field, Attendance: 21,249

Sunday, April 23, 1961, 2:05PM
Time of Game: 2:23

Braves

3-3

Won 2

4th, 1½ GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Braves          0  0  0   1  1  0   0  0  1    3 13  0
Pirates         0  0  0   0  0  0   0  0  1    1  7  0

W: W Spahn (1-1), L: V Law (0-3)

Pirates

5-5

Lost 2

4th, 1½ GB

BATTING

Milwaukee Braves             AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
R McMillan SS                 5   0   2   0    0   1  .318  .787    0    2   3   2B
F Bolling 2B                  5   1   1   0    0   0  .231  .644    0    1   5   
E Mathews 3B                  3   0   2   0    2   0  .346  .876    0    1   0   CS
H Aaron CF                    4   0   2   1    0   0  .320  .946    0    1   0   CS
W Covington LF                4   1   2   0    0   1  .200  .573    0    0   0   2B
  A Spangler PR-LF            0   0   0   0    0   0  .273  .658         2   0   
J Adcock 1B                   4   0   0   0    0   0  .217  .541    0   10   0   GDP
C Lau C                       3   0   0   1    0   0  .200  .486    0    5   0   SF
J DeMerit RF                  4   1   3   0    0   0  .222  .633    0    5   0   2B
W Spahn P                     4   0   1   1    0   1  .167  .453    0    0   0   
Totals                       36   3  13   3    2   3                    27   8

BATTING

2B: J DeMerit (2, off R Face); R McMillan (1, off V Law); W Covington (1, off V Law).

SF: C Lau (1, off V Law).

TB: J DeMerit 4; W Covington 3; R McMillan 3; H Aaron 2; E Mathews 2; F Bolling; W Spahn.

GIDP: J Adcock (1).

RBI: H Aaron (5); W Spahn (1); C Lau (2).

Team LOB: 9.

With RISP: 2 for 9.

FIELDING

DP: 2. J Adcock; R McMillan-F Bolling-J Adcock.

BASERUNNING

CS: H Aaron (2, 2nd base by V Law/H Smith); E Mathews (2, 2nd base by V Law/H Smith).

Pittsburgh Pirates           AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
B Skinner LF                  2   0   0   0    2   0  .325  .738    0    5   0   
D Groat SS                    3   0   1   0    1   1  .381  .959    0    1   0   
R Clemente RF                 4   0   2   0    0   0  .349  .759    0    2   0   
D Stuart 1B                   3   0   0   0    1   1  .310  .858    0    6   0   
D Hoak 3B                     4   1   3   1    0   0  .406  .955    0    2   1   HR
G Cimoli CF                   4   0   0   0    0   1  .200  .400    0    3   0   GDP
H Smith C                     4   0   0   0    0   0  .111  .291    0    4   3   
B Mazeroski 2B                4   0   1   0    0   0  .179  .425    0    4   2   
V Law P                       2   0   0   0    0   0  .143  .393    0    0   2   
  R Mejias PH                 1   0   0   0    0   1  .000  .000    0    0   0   
  R Face P                    0   0   0   0    0   0 1.000 2.000         0   0   
  S Burgess PH                1   0   0   0    0   0  .417  .917    0    0   0   
Totals                       32   1   7   1    4   4                    27   8

BATTING

HR: D Hoak (1, off W Spahn; 9th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF-CF).

TB: D Hoak 6; R Clemente 2; D Groat; B Mazeroski.

GIDP: G Cimoli (1).

RBI: D Hoak (4).

Team LOB: 8.

With RISP: 1 for 4.

FIELDING

DP: 1. V Law-B Mazeroski-D Stuart.

PITCHING

Milwaukee Braves              IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
W Spahn, W (1-1)               9     7   1   1    4   4   1   1.42   36     -       ·  ·      9· 9· 5· 5     69    -     1.41   0.58
Totals                         9     7   1   1    4   4   1          36     -       ·  ·      9· 9· 5· 5           -

Pittsburgh Pirates            IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
V Law, L (0-3)                 8    10   2   2    2   3   0   3.48   33     -       ·  ·      6·12· 1· 9     55    -     0.94   0.11
R Face                         1     3   1   1    0   0   0   4.50    6     -       ·  ·      3· 2· 0· 1          0-0    0.29  -0.03
Totals                         9    13   3   3    2   3   0          39     -       ·  ·      9·14· 1·10           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Ken Burkhart, 1B - Chris Pelekoudas, 2B - Jocko Conlan, 3B - Al Forman.

Time of Game: 2:23.

Attendance: 21,249.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: Sunny.

LINEUPS

   Milwaukee Braves              Pittsburgh Pirates                   
1. R McMillan           SS    1. B Skinner            LF 
2. F Bolling            2B    2. D Groat              SS 
3. E Mathews            3B    3. R Clemente           RF 
4. H Aaron              CF    4. D Stuart             1B 
5. W Covington          LF    5. D Hoak               3B 
6. J Adcock             1B    6. G Cimoli             CF 
7. C Lau                C     7. H Smith              C  
8. J DeMerit            RF    8. B Mazeroski          2B 
9. W Spahn              P     9. V Law                P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   b 8   2  2-0  123      15%  92% D Stuart        W Spahn         Flyball: LF
   b 4   1  1-0  1-3      15%  64% G Cimoli        W Spahn         Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
   b 6   0  2-0  1--      12%  80% D Groat         W Spahn         Line Drive Double Play: 1B unassisted
   b 4   1  1-0  1--      -8%  48% D Hoak          W Spahn         Single to CF; Clemente to 3B
   t 4   0  0-0  ---       7%  57% W Covington     V Law           Double to CF (Deep CF-RF)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Vern Law facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
          ---      53%  R McMillan      Single to 3B
   O      1--      50%  F Bolling       Flyball: LF
          1--      54%  E Mathews       Single to RF; McMillan to 2B
   O      12-      49%  H Aaron         Flyball: LF
   O      12-      45%  W Covington     Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Braves 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Warren Spahn facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      47%  B Skinner       Foul Flyball: C
          ---      45%  D Groat         Walk
   O      1--      48%  R Clemente      Foul Flyball: 3B
          1--      46%  D Stuart        Walk; Groat to 2B
   O      12-      50%  D Hoak          Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Braves 0, Pirates 0.

Top of the 2nd, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Vern Law facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      48%  J Adcock        Flyball: CF
   O      ---      46%  C Lau           Foul Flyball: C
          ---      47%  J DeMerit       Single to LF
   O      1--      45%  W Spahn         Flyball: LF (Deep LF)
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Warren Spahn facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      47%  G Cimoli        Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      49%  H Smith         Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
   O      ---      50%  B Mazeroski     Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Pirates 0.

Top of the 3rd, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Vern Law facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      47%  R McMillan      Strikeout Looking
   O      ---      46%  F Bolling       Groundout: P-1B
          ---      47%  E Mathews       Walk
   O      1--      44%  H Aaron         Popfly: 2B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 0, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Pirates Batting, Tied 0-0, Warren Spahn facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      47%  V Law           Flyball: RF (Deep RF)
   O      ---      49%  B Skinner       Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      50%  D Groat         Strikeout
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 0, Pirates 0.

Top of the 4th, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Vern Law facing 5-6-7
          ---      57%  W Covington     Double to CF (Deep CF-RF)
   O      -2-      56%  J Adcock        Groundout: 1B unassisted; Covington to 3B
   RO     --3      58%  C Lau           Flyball: LF/Sacrifice Fly; Covington Scores
          ---      60%  J DeMerit       Single to LF
   O      1--      57%  W Spahn         Strikeout Looking
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 1, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-1, Warren Spahn facing 3-4-5
          ---      52%  R Clemente      Single to LF
   O      1--      57%  D Stuart        Popfly: SS
          1--      48%  D Hoak          Single to CF; Clemente to 3B
   OO     1-3      64%  G Cimoli        Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 1, Pirates 0.

Top of the 5th, Braves Batting, Ahead 1-0, Vern Law facing 1-2-3
          ---      70%  R McMillan      Double to LF (Fly Ball)
   O      -2-      64%  F Bolling       Fielder's Choice C; McMillan out at 3B/C-3B
          1--      71%  E Mathews       Single to RF; Bolling to 3B
   R      1-3      78%  H Aaron         Single to SS; Bolling Scores; Mathews to 2B
   O      12-      75%  W Covington     Strikeout
   O      12-      71%  J Adcock        Popfly: 2B
                  1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Braves 2, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 5th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-2, Warren Spahn facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      74%  H Smith         Lineout: SS
   O      ---      77%  B Mazeroski     Flyball: RF
   O      ---      78%  V Law           Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Pirates 0.

Top of the 6th, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Vern Law facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      76%  C Lau           Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      75%  J DeMerit       Flyball: LF (Deep LF)
   O      ---      74%  W Spahn         Popfly: 3B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 6th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-2, Warren Spahn facing 1-2-3
          ---      68%  B Skinner       Walk
   OO     1--      80%  D Groat         Line Drive Double Play: 1B unassisted
   O      ---      82%  R Clemente      Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Pirates 0.

Top of the 7th, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Vern Law facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      80%  R McMillan      Lineout: CF
   O      ---      79%  F Bolling       Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---      80%  E Mathews       Walk
   O      1--      78%  H Aaron         Mathews Caught Stealing 2B (C-2B)
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 7th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-2, Warren Spahn facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      82%  D Stuart        Strikeout
          ---      77%  D Hoak          Single to LF
   O      1--      82%  G Cimoli        Strikeout Looking
   O      1--      86%  H Smith         Flyball: RF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 2, Pirates 0.

Top of the 8th, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Vern Law facing 4-5-6
          ---      88%  H Aaron         Single to LF
   O      1--      85%  W Covington     Aaron Caught Stealing 2B (C-SS)
          ---      86%  " "             Single to RF
                  Al Spangler pinch runs for Wes Covington batting 5th
   OO     1--      83%  J Adcock        Ground Ball Double Play: P-2B-1B
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Braves 2, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 8th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-2, Warren Spahn facing 8-9-1
                  Al Spangler moves to LF
   O      ---      88%  B Mazeroski     Lineout: LF
                  Roman Mejias pinch hits for Vern Law batting 9th
   O      ---      91%  R Mejias        Strikeout Looking
          ---      88%  B Skinner       Walk
          1--      84%  D Groat         Single to CF; Skinner to 2B
          12-      77%  R Clemente      Single to 3B (Line Drive); Skinner to 3B; Groat to 2B
   O      123      92%  D Stuart        Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Braves 2, Pirates 0.

Top of the 9th, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Roy Face facing 7-8-9
                  Roy Face replaces Roman Mejias pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      92%  C Lau           Flyball: CF (Deep CF)
          ---      93%  J DeMerit       Double to LF (Ground Ball)
   R      -2-      97%  W Spahn         Single to CF (Ground Ball); DeMerit Scores
   O      1--      96%  R McMillan      Flyball: RF
          1--      96%  F Bolling       Single to LF; Spahn to 2B
   O      12-      96%  E Mathews       Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Braves 3, Pirates 0.

Bottom of the 9th, Pirates Batting, Behind 0-3, Warren Spahn facing 5-6-7
   R      ---      91%  D Hoak          Home Run (Deep LF-CF)
   O      ---      95%  G Cimoli        Lineout: CF
   O      ---      98%  H Smith         Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      95%  B Mazeroski     Single to LF (Ground Ball)
                  Smoky Burgess pinch hits for Roy Face batting 9th
   O      1--     100%  S Burgess       Groundout: 1B unassisted
        1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Braves 3, Pirates 1.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:PIT196104230

Play-by-Play Explanation

Scr/Out- This has a "O" for every out on the play and an "R" for every run that scored on the play. Some plays will have both in no particular order.
RoB- This gives the baserunner (Runners on Base) configuration at the start of the play. "1-3" would mean runners on first and third. Clicking on this will show the defensive players and baserunners on the field for this play. This is a subscriber feature, so non-subscribers are limited as to the number of times they can use this feature in a day.
Pt- When available, the number of pitches in this plate appearance. Clicking on this number will show the sequence of pitches thrown including, when available, things like runner going, ball blocked, attempted pickoffs and the like. We believe this data to be as accurate as humanly possible, but there are going to be some errors in the data, so please take it with a grain of salt. Clicking on this will show the defensive players and baserunners on the field for this play. This is a subscriber feature, so non-subscribers are limited as to the number of times they can use this feature in a day.
Batter- The batter at the plate when this play occurred. If the play is a baserunning event, then the batter's name will be repeated as indicated by quotes.
Play Detail- This is an explanation of the play that occurred. In some cases, batted ball location and type will be indicated within parentheses. Again, these are best efforts to the record the game as it happened. Also, plays made on the baserunners (including the batter as a baserunner) will be indicated in parentheses after the baserunner's name. Advancement of baserunners is given in cases where the advancement is not easily deduced or obvious from the play. For example, advancement for a walk will not be given, but for a single or double it will be given.

Please report any issues or strangeness you see with the description of plays given above. We have tested several hundred different types of plays, but, in all likelihood, there are still some errors or misinterpretations of the play-by-play data.

The information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Interested parties may contact Retrosheet at 20 Sunset Rd., Newark, DE 19711.

In some cases, the results from play-by-play data will contradict results in the official record. The official record has many, many errors, but we have not undertaken to reconcile those errors. Pitch-by-pitch data should not be taken as completely accurate, though we believe it to be as accurate as is currently possible.


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BATTING

PITCHING

OTHER

LINEUPS

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Play-by-Play Explanation