100 Years Ago Today 6/22/1920: Pirates Defeat Brooklyn Robins in Series Opener

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #53: Tuesday, June 22, 1920 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Pittsburgh Pirates Take Series Opener; Add to Brooklyn's Woes

New day, different opponent, same result, the Brooklyn Robins lose another game and drop to 4-9 during this current home stand.  Their latest defeat comes at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates, whom climb back above .500 at the Robins expense.  Meanwhile the game marks Brooklyn's fourth straight loss, and the eighth loss in their last nine games.  You might call Tuesday's respective starting pitchers fire starters.  Each is given the hook after just two innings pitched.  Pittsburgh's Elmer Ponder yields three runs on two hits and one walk, while Jeff Pfeffer surrenders four runs on four hits and one walk.  Pittsburgh manager George Gibson summons his ace Wilbur Cooper in for relief.  Wilbert Robinson reciprocates calling upon Burleigh Grimes with two outs in the third.  Brooklyn actually gets the better of Cooper, but the damage had already been done.  The Pirates who strike for 16 hits, lead 7-6 after three innings, and add two more runs in the seventh.  The Robins muster one run in the bottom of the ninth but end the game with runners stranded on the corners.  Cooper surrenders four runs on nine hits and two walks through seven innings for the win.  Burleigh Grimes surrenders two runs, one earned, on seven hits and one walk through 6.1 innings, however Jeff Pfeffer is stuck with the loss.  Hi Myers remains steady going 3 for 5 with a double, two runs scored, and a run batted in.  And the struggling Zack Wheat shows signs of life going 2 for 3 with a run batted in.  The loss drops Brooklyn into third place.  They are now 2.5 games out of first, the furthest they've been out of the top spot so far this season.

• RECORD: 28-24 (.538)
• 3rd place; 2.5 GB