100 Years Ago Today 8/8/1920: Brooklyn Robins Salvage Series Finale Against Pirates

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #105: Sunday, August 8, 1920 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Marquard is Marvelous; New York Giants Continue Closing Gap

Say what you will about the 32-year old southpaw who enters Sunday's match with a 6-7 record and 3.39 ERA.  But when Uncle Robbie this season has needed a clutch performance from his long time comrade, Rube Marquard has been there for him, front and center.  With Brooklyn winless in two tries this series against the Pirates, Marquard out-duels Elmer Ponder as the Robins salvage the finale by a slim 2-1 margin.  Jimmy Johnston's fielding error in the third opens the way for Pittsburgh's lone run of the game.  Undeterred, another great crowd of 20,000 strong remain positive and patient despite Pittsburgh's 1-0 lead through seven.  Pinch hitting for Rube Marquard in the eighth, Clarence Mitchell delivers a single plating pinch runner Bill McCabe from second base knotting the game at one.  Leon Cadore in the top of the ninth retires the Pirates in order.  With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Zack Wheat bunts for a base hit.  Elmer Ponder then walks Bernie Neis, Wheat advances to second.  Ed Konetchy lofts a fly to center deep enough for Wheat and Neis to tag and advance.  With two outs and Pete Kilduff at the plate, Ponder unleashes a wild pitch allowing Wheat to score from third.  Ebbets Field roars with glee.  Despite a no decision, Marquard pitches marvelously, allowing one unearned run on six hits and no walks, with three strikeouts, through eight innings pitched.  Leon Cardore earns his ninth victory with a scoreless inning in relief.  The Reds are idle, but the New York Giants defeat the Cubs at the Polo Grounds.  With a victory over the Cardinals back on July 27, the Giants finally established par.  They are now 7-1 in their last eight, and 14-2 over their last sixteen games.  With a 54-46 record, the Giants have closed to within a mere three games of Brooklyn.

• RECORD: 59-45 (.567)
• First Place; 1.0 GA