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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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FENWAY'S FIRST TEAM April 23, 1912 ... The Washington Nationals made their first appearance at Fenway Park to a small selection of Boston fans, who weathered the gale that came ripping out of the northwest, to root for the Speed Boys. The Red Sox however, were far from their best, even with a strong team in the field and the Kansas Cyclone, Joe Wood, on the rubber. They were in trouble in the third inning when Washington scored three runs which was enough to win the game. The final score was 6 to 2 and the Nats were banging Wood's fast ones in a savage manner. Both pitchers were rather wild, keeping their catchers very busy behind the plate. Washington starter Bob Groom managed to pull out of trouble but Joe Wood failed to get his man under similar circumstances. The field was slowing the players must have been chilled to the bone, which would account for many of the misplays. In fact it was like a bleak cold day in November and the weather could of been blamed for most of the miscues. The difference in the game was the hustle that they Washington team showed, as compared to the Red Sox, and with Groom pitching well, the Nats looked like winners after the third inning. The Red Sox had two great chances to get back into the running. Once with the bases full in the fourth, Wood struck out, and again in the sixth, when with men on second and third, with Wood at the plate, he sent a weak pop-up to Bill Cunningham, while Harry Hooper followed with a strikeout. Jake Stahl and Larry Gardner had a chance to tie up the game in the seventh, when with Speaker on second, Stahl struck out as did Gardner. The Red Sox scored the first run of the game in the second inning. Duffy Lewis opened with a single and went to second on a sacrifice. Then, with two down, he scored on a wild pitch just before Wood struck out. Then in the third inning, Heinie Wagner threw low to first, allowing John Henry to reach. Wood passed Danny Moeller and Kid Foster dropped a single into right, and made it to second base as Tris Speaker juggled the ball. Henry scored the tying run on the play, before Germany Schaefer knocked one into left field to score two more runs. Down 3 to 2 in the sixth inning, Gardner reached first on Ray Morgan's low throw. Lewis popped out to second and Wagner singled, sending Gardner the third. The fans at this point got excited and thought the Speed Boys were coming on fast. Les Nunamaker singled to score Gardner, but then Wood fanned and Hooper struck out. Washington went down in order in the seventh and then came the eighth with some more fireworks. John Flynn lined one over Speaker's head for a double. Stahl came in quick to get a bunt from Billy Cunningham but then was slow in getting his throw over to Wood who was covering, allowing Cunningham to reach and Flynn to get to third. Morgan singled to score Flynn and Speaker fumbled the ball, so Cunningham made it to third and Morgan down to second. They both scored on a single by Groom, making the score 6 to 2. In the bottom of the eighth, Duffy Lewis was passed, but was caught napping at first and the rest was easy for Washington in winning the game. |
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