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TEX HUGHSON |
THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES ...
Tex Hughson beats Bob Feller to stop the skid
June 21, 1946 ... Tex Hughson lifted the Red Sox out of a losing streak for the second time in five days when he outpitched Bob Feller,
1-0 at Lakefront Stadium in Cleveland. The Sox thereby boosted their lead back up to 7 1/2 games over the Yankees, who lost to Detroit.
In what was a crucial contest for the Sox and one of the top pitching duels of the season, Tex battled Feller on every pitch. He set down the Indians with just three singles, allowed just one runner to see second base, fanned nine and walked nobody. In contrast, Feller gave up five hits,
struck out seven and gave up two walks.
Only one Boston hit figured in the run and it was produced by Bobby Doerr. Bobby, who usually solves Feller pretty well, got two hits tonight. He opened up the second inning by tagging a triple over Hank Edwards' head that bounced against the 435 foot sign on the right-center field wall.
Rudy York hit a high foul ball to first baseman Les Fleming near the boxes about 90 feet from first base. Cronin, knowing Fleming as a weak arm, gave Doerr the green light and Bobby took off for home. Lou Boudreau charged in all the way from shortstop and snappily relayed Flemings had the
last 30 feet to catcher Frankie Hayes, and Bobby slid away from under the tag safely.
From there on it was dog eat dog, great pitcher versus great pitcher. Hughson started by setting down the first Indian batters routinely. Then Ken Keltner sent a half swing single into short center with two away in the fifth inning. Down went the next five Indians before Fleming hit safely
with one away in the seventh. Tex proceeded to strikeout the next two batters.
Manager Boudreau let Feller bat with two away in the eighth and he struck out for the third time. In the ninth inning Case grounded out, Boudreau popped the Doerr and Fleming popped out to Johnny Pesky who grabbed the ball like a prized diamond with the pennant on the line, sprinted in and
jumped all over Tex.
The Red Sox one is only their first earned one in their last 30 innings. Tonight's win was the first of the season for the Red Sox in a night game. Owner Tom Yawkey flew in just before game time and proved to be a good mascot. |
