|
“DIARY OF A WINNER”
|
FENWAY'S FIRST TEAM April 15, 1912 ... A two base drive by Frank Baker that brought in two runs, followed by a misplay by Larry Gardner and a single by Jack Barry, gave the Athletics four runs in the opening inning against the Red Sox today and the game by a 4 to 1 score. After the first inning, Eddie Cicotte pitched a magnificent game, holding Philadelphia to six scattered hits in the remaining seven innings. The big lead gained by Philly right off the bat, proved to be the overthrow of the Speed Boys. Eddie Plank, who always plays hard against the Red Sox, was sent to the mound for his first American League start of the season, and with the possible exception of the seventh inning, he was invincible. Six hits were made in five innings and that was all that manager Stahl and his boys could garner off the veteran southpaw. In one inning, the seventh, the Red Sox got him for more than one hit. The Red Sox first appearance here under the management of Jake Stahl was eagerly awaited by the Athletics and many of the Philadelphia fans, as they feel the Red Sox have the best chance against the champions. The poor start prevented the Red Sox from showing what they could do. Starting in the second inning Cicotte and his mates were never in any danger of being scored upon, with the exception of the eighth-inning when Tris speaker made a great throw to Les Nunamaker to nail Frank Baker a mile away from the plate, when he tried to score from second base on Stuffy McInnis' single to center. After the Red Sox went out in the first inning, Connie Mack's troops opened up on Cicotte. He started well by getting Otis Strunk and then his troubles started. Baker’s double in the first inning, drove in two runs, and was followed up by Gardner's error, giving the A’s a quick 4 to 0 lead.. The Red Sox finally scored in the seventh inning when Duffy Lewis hit the first pitch for a single to center and went to third when Heinie Wagner's double to left. With no outs and Nunamaker at the plate, Plank was visibly nervous. But when the big Boston catcher lifted the ball into the waiting hands of Danny Murphy in deep right field he felt easier. Lewis scored on a sacrifice fly and Wagner had enough time to get the third. Cicotte then flied to McInnis and Hooper ended the Sox only profitable inning by grounding out to Jack Barry. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
 |
 |
