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BOBBY DOERR TURNS A DOUBLEPLAY |
THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES ....
The Red Sox lose to Chicago in overtime
August 22, 1946 ... His ninth inning nightmare returned to haunt Tex Hughson, and the White Sox eventually recorded their first win at Fenway Park of the year, by a score of 4 to 3 in 11
innings. Don Kolloway's single scoring Cass Michaels from second base against Mace Brown, provided Chicago's winning run and Earl Caldwell with his third decision of the year over Boston.
Going into the ninth, nobody would have given a dime for the chances on either Kolloway or Caldwell figuring so prominently in a triumph that reduced the Red Sox lead over the Yankees to 12 1/2 games. Hughson had apparently shaken that hex of which he himself had begin to take notice, as for
eight innings, the Texan was terrific. He had given the ChiSox just four hits and struck out eight. His teammates had pecked at lefty Edgar Smith to give him a 3 to 0 lead.
A couple of batters who had been easy for Tex previously in the game, proved to be his undoing as the White Sox bolted from the blue to tie the score in the ninth-inning. After Taffy Wright grounded out to Johnny Pesky, Frank Hayes singled into left. Hayes had whiffed his previous two trips.
Rookie Frank Whitman was inserted as a pinch runner and Bob Kennedy slapped the second of his three singles into right field.
Young Cass Michaels, who had failed to hit the ball out of the infield in three previous trips, almost tied the score with one swipe. He blasted one that missed clearing the left centerfield wall by a couple of feet. The ball bounded back for a double, scoring Whitman and putting Kennedy on
third.
Kennedy scored and Michaels moved to third when Bobby Doerr was tossing out Whitey Platt, who was pinch hitting for Leo Wells. Manager Ted Lyons then called on pitcher Eddie Lopat to pinch-hit for the first time this season. Lopat responded with a single between short and third to count
Michaels with the tying run. Hughson walked Thurman Tucker on four pitches and that brought Mace Brown out of the bullpen.
Mace sent it into extra innings by getting Luke Appling on a fly out to Dom DiMaggio. The Red Sox went down in the ninth and 10th innings. Bob Kennedy led off the 11th by whistling a single past Mike Higgins. Cass Michaels laid down a bunt that Hal Wagner scooped up and forced Kennedy at
second. Pitcher Caldwell then persisted with a successful sacrifice that put Michaels down on second base.
Cass scampered across when Kolloway pulled his single between short and third. Ted Williams momentarily bobbled the ball preventing any chance of a play at the plate.
Boston's extra inning record is now five wins, three losses and one tie. It was only the 11th loss at Fenway Park against 50 wins. Ted Williams' only hit was a high pop up to left, that landed just inside the foul line and hopped into the stands. |
