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HANK GREENBERG |
THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES .....
The Tigers claw the Red Sox
August 28, 1946 ... The abdicating world champions took their first decision at Fenway Park this year by a score of 7 to 2. The game was much closer than the final score indicated since the
Tigers rubbed it in with four runs in the ninth inning, climaxed by Hank Greenberg's 28th home run with two teammates aboard.
The turning point for the Red Sox came in the seventh inning. Mickey Harris, who had been tangling in a tight battle with Freddie Hutchinson up to that point, entered what proved to be the unlucky inning with a 2 to 1 lead. A single by Birdie Tebbetts, a sacrifice by Jimmy Bloodworth, and a
double off the wall by Eddie Lake suddenly tied the score with nobody out. When Mickey walked George Kell, he departed with no chance of getting credit for a victory, but still in danger of being charged with a defeat.
Bob Klinger came aboard in his relief and Hoot Evers slapped what looked like a possible double-play ground ball at Mike Higgins. Just as Mike set himself to field the ball, it took a freak hop over his shoulder into left field. Lake scooted all the way from second with the issue settling
score.
The ninth inning bombardment by the Tigers, came at the expense of Earl Johnson after Klinger had been removed for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. The Sox did their scoring in the fourth inning. Johnny Pesky led off with one of his three singles that put him ahead of Ted Williams in
the batting race. Ted followed with his lone single to put Pesky at third. Bobby Doerr hit one down to Skeeter Webb, whose backhanded toss for a force play at second, broke away from Eddie Lake. Williams was safe at second, Bobby was on first and Johnny had scored. Rudy York then singled
briskly into left field to score Ted with the Red Sox second run. Hutchinson then settled down for the rest of the game. |
