|
THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES ...
The Red Sox drop the finale in Cleveland.
May 23, 1946 ... Gene Woodling's line blast off the right-field fence in the 10th inning brought the Red Sox successful road trip to a dismal finish here today it drove home Pat Seerey
with the winning Cleveland run in a 3 to 2 game. For the third straight day, the Red Sox waged an uphill struggle.
Bob Klinger, in his American League debut, pitched steadily for the first six innings. He drove home both of Boston's runs before being relieved by Randy Heflin, who became the losing pitcher. By the skin of his teeth, Heflin dug himself out of eighth and ninth inning holes, but when the
10th inning rolled around he ran out of luck. With the bases loaded, Woodling hit Heflin's first pitch against the fence for a single and the ballgame.
|
|
|
.jpg) |
|
GENE WOODLING |
The Sox were the first to score. In the third inning Hal Wagner doubled down the right-field line and was driven in by Klinger's right field single. The Indians tied the score in their half of the inning. In the fourth inning George Metkovich dropped Ken Keltner's fly ball for a double.
Keltner took third base as Metkovich bobbled the ball and scored on a ground ball to Johnny Pesky. In the fifth inning the Red Sox sent the game into overtime on three successive singles with no out, but neither Metkovich, Pesky, nor Williams could drive in the game winner.
The loss was the fifth in 12 games on the road trip. Today was Klinger's first appearance on the mound this season. His six innings today was the longest stretch of his career. Ted Williams got two walks today, his 43rd and 44th of the season.
Frankie Pytlak won't return to Boston with the club. He left here for St. Louis to have his sore arm examined by Dr. Robert Hyland. Dom DiMaggio was ready to play today but manager Cronin gave him an extra day to rest up for the Yankees series. Johnny Lazor had his family watch him
today, after their trip up from Canton Ohio. His family will be driving to Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Yawkey left for New York before the game. |
