Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-28
FITZGERALD Has No Regrets
For Spelling Perfect Game
Pinch Double
In 9th Spells
Pierce's Effort
ny BURTON HAWKINS
ssar star writer

CHICAGO. June 20, "A
crowd Of 1880 booed Ions and
loud when Ed Fitzoerald
trudeed from the field last
night at comiskey PARK after
spelling Billy Pierce's bid for q
perfect game with two out in
the ninth inning.
But the Senators part-time
semibald receiver said. II was
sent up TO hit and ! have no
regrets"
FitzGerald's pinch double.
less than six inches inside the
right field line. was clipped on
Pierce's FIRST pitch after the
White Sox lefthander had re-
tired 20 Senators in order.
FITZGERALD. batting for Pitcher
Russ Kemmerer. was Pierce's
final barrier toward the eighth
perfect baseball game in his
tory.
I'm sure Billy wouldn't have
wanted 1t any other way"
FITZGERALD said. He wouldn't
have wanted to get a perfect
game II he felt he had not
earned 1t all the way. From
my standpoint. didn't want to
go down in history as the last
guy he pitched to in throwing
a perfect game.
Didn't Mind BOos
II can't feel sorry about IT,"
Fitz continued. II had my lob
to do. You can't tell what will
happen in this game. Maybe
we could have come up with
four runs after my hit. Any
way, feel good about it in my
own heart. The boos2 Ididn't
mind them"
In beating the Senators, 80.
Pierce notched his third sue
ceSsive shutout. 1t also vas the
third one-hitter of his sparkling
career, the others having been
achieved against the St Louis
Browns and the New York
Yankees.
For 82s innings the clever
Pierce moved the Senators
down in order. In that span
Shortstop Luis Aparicio twice
came to his rescue with bril-
liant plays and Third Baseman
Billy Goodman also turned in
a fine defensive job when he
speared Ken Aspromonte's
hopper to his left in the sixth
inning.
Aparicio darted to his left,
beyond second base, to stab
Rocky Bridges grounder in the
fourth inning and threw of
balance to nail the runner.
He turned in a duplicate Of
that play to retire Aspromonte
for the first out in the ninth
inning.
Otherwise Pierce had it
pretty much to himself. His
only wild moment came in the
eighth when he threw three
successive wide pitches to Jim
Lemon. Jim watched a strike.
then swung away on the next
pitch and flied to AL Smith in
right.
Hit Good Pitch
Pierce didn't seem to be too
disappointed in failing to earn
a line in the record book.
winning is what counts"
Billy said. He admitted he
knew he was striving for a
perfect game at all stages and
added. 1T will probably never
happen again."
Billy had no lingering regret
about the fateful pitch to
FITZGERALD. Il got a curve ball
where wanted it, but he sliced
it," Billy said. adding that he
thought foul that Bridges hit
earlier in the game had landed
in fair territory.
In administering a sixth
straight loss to the Senator's.
who have dropped IL Of 10
games, Pierce struck out eight
and was under pressure most Of
the way. He held only a 10
lead until the White Sox scored
their other two runs in the
eighth.
Pierce doubled to left in the
third inning and scored on the
first of Jim Lands three
singles. That was the separator
until the eighth, when Lands
singled, Nellie Fox sacrificed
and Goodman walked. the first
unintentional base on balls
given up by Kemmerer in 402s
innings.
Lands and Sammy Esposito.
running for Goodman, pulled a
doublesteal before Ray Boone
famed. Sherman Lollar then
singled to left, scoring both
runners.
Having Good Streak
Kemmerer allowed eight hits
in being dealt a sixth defeat
against four wins. The victory
was No. z Tor Pierce, VINO has
lost five. Pierce pitched a two
hitter against the Orioles in his
last outing and fired a flve-hit
shutout against the Red Sox
prior TO that. He has pitched
seven complete games in his
last eight starts.
The Senators will try to snap
their losing streak today, re-
lying on Truman Clevenger for
a slick mound effort against
Jim Wilson. The clubs will
clash in a doubleheader tomor-
row, with Pedro Ramos and
Jack Spring due TO work
with Early Wynn and Ray
Moore.
NOTES: Fans we're scream.
ing on every mitch in the fina'