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THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES ....
A doubleheader split with the Brownies
August 20, 1946 ... The romping Red Sox carved another notch in their pennant plans, by dividing a doubleheader with the St. Louis Browns at Fenway Park. Jim Bagby, making only his seventh
start of the season, turned in a nice seven hitter and a 5 to 1 victory, that enabled the league leaders to clinch this season series with the Browns.
In the second game, 32 year old Ellis Kinder received credit for his first major-league decision, although he required help from Tom Ferrick when the Red Sox threatened another of their Garrison finishes, with a 5 to 4 decision. In spite of his age, Kinder is a full-fledged rookie. Following
his discharge from the Navy, he joined the Browns two days before the season, and drew his third starting assignment when Jack Kramer's arm stiffened up.
For seven innings he held the Red Sox to four singles and just one run. With two out and Johnny Pesky aboard in the eighth, Ted Williams blasted home run #33 into the runway between the right field grandstand and the bleachers, making the score 5 to 3.
When Dom DiMaggio and Mike Higgins singled with one out in the ninth, Kinder gave way to Ferrick. Hal Wagner added another run producing hit, but with the winning runs aboard, pinch hitter Dave Ferriss and Wally Moses grounded out to end the game. Mickey Harris was the loser of the nightcap,
it was his six setback against 15 victories.
Johnny Pesky single and a steal, followed by Bobby Doerr's single, gave the Sox one run in the first inning of the second game, but the Browns rubbed that out with three runs in the fourth. Chet Laabs' round tripper into the screen added another in the fifth.
In the seventh the Brown scored what would prove to be the game-winner when Johnny Berardino singled and came in on Laabs' line drive off the left-field wall.
The Red Sox concentrated their first game scoring against Tex Shirley in the second and fourth innings. Shirley, who has served up half the six Sox grand slam home runs this season, held them to no more than a pair of doubles. A walk to Bobby Doerr started the way to a pair of runs in the
second inning. Rudy York forced Bobby, but Dom started his five for eight day with a single, followed by a double into the left-field corner by Mike Higgins. Shirley then walked Roy Partee to load the bases, whereupon Jim Bagby scored another run with a sacrifice line drive, making it 2-0.
The Browns picked up their only run of the day in the third inning, and then the Red Sox got busy again in the bottom of the fourth. After two were out, Pesky singled and came all the way when Walt Judnich returned Ted's single carelessly back to the infield. The ball caromed off shortstop,
Mark Christman's shins, allowing Ted to take second base as Pesky scored. The Kid trotted across himself when Doerr doubled off the left-field wall. Rudy counted Doerr with another double off the scoreboard to make it 5 to 1.
The crowd was announced as 29,224 paid and 699 servicemen. In addition, there were some 5000 youngsters present under the Red Sox group plan. It is possible that it was the largest gathering of the season. |
