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THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES ...
The Sox lose the series by leaving
too many men on base
July 25, 1946 ... The White Sox employed some screwy strategy and got away with a 3-1 win at breezy Comiskey Park. For 8 1/3 innings Edgar Smith pitched and batted the seventh place Chisox to a win that netted him
his victory. Although Smith was touched up for eight hits, three walks and a hit batsman, Boston's left on base epidemic continued as 11 runners were stranded today.
With one away in the ninth inning, pinch-hitter Glenn Russell and Tom McBride both singled. With Johnny Pesky due at the plate manager Ted Lyons yanked Smith and brought in Earl Caldwell. He fanned Pesky and got Ted on a high fly ball to Thurman Tucker to end the threat. Williams went out
all five times he batted and Dom DiMaggio had no luck
in four trips to the plate.
The Sox jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. McBride and Pesky both singled and Ted forced Pesky at second and then advanced on a wild pitch. Rudy York was purposely passed and Bobby Doerr sent McBride home with a long fly to Tucker. The White Sox tied the game in the second inning.
The Red Sox also collapsed defensively. Joe Dobson, who was charged with his fourth defeat, and reliever Bob Klinger were nicked for runs by fielding miscues that spoiled the 1-1 tie. With one out in the fifth inning Smith singled through the box. Tucker forced Smith at second and then ended
up one third when Roy Partee's low throw went into center field as Tucker successfully stole second base. Luke Appling then caught Mike Higgins flat footed as he beat out a bunt on a suicide squeeze that scored Tucker.
Boston blew their best opportunity in the seventh inning when, with the bases loaded with none out, on singles by Higgins and Partee, followed by a bunt by Gutteridge, who batted for Dobson, Leo Wells fielded the bunt and forced the runner at second base. McBride then bounded one down to
Wells and he threw out Higgins at the plate. Pesky ended it by slapping into a double play.
The Sox left immediately after the game by train for St. Louis. Wally Moses took extra hitting with the regulars today and likely will see action in tomorrow's game. |
