|
“DIARY OF A WINNER”
|
FENWAY'S FIRST TEAM April 24, 1912 ... The Nationals again defeated the Red Sox 5-2 and in the process pulled even with the Red Sox atop the American League standings. Walter Johnson was on the rubber for the Nats, and although hit freely, he was always master of the situation. The Nationals quickly got to starter Eddie Cicotte by securing three runs in three innings, and with a pitcher, the caliber of Johnson on the mound, a three run handicap was a huge obstacle. Johnson had the greatest stuff seen here in years, with a slow one for a change up, then shooting them with a crossfire that was nothing short of marvelous. He was ever on the mark, forcing the Red Sox to hit, while Cicotte and Buck O'Brien were unsteady, having trouble finding the plate. The all around play of young Kid Foster was a highlight of the game. He got in two singles and a double in three times at bat, proved two passes, and scored three of the five runs made by Washington. In the field he was wonderful and covering ground, and four of his five assists were beauties. For the Red Sox, Larry Gardner also had a fine day, with a single and a double, five assists and three hard chances in that bunch. Jake Stahl took the day off and send Hugh Bradley out for a little work. Bradley played a good game at first and hit the ball every time up, turning in a nice double in the sixth inning that sent Speaker in with the first run. Gardner then did the trick for Bradley, sending him home with the second on a base hit. These were the only two runs the Red Sox were able to make off Walter Johnson. The fans were sadly disappointed by the work of the Boston pitchers. The day was cold and cloudy and the grounds were still soft, and with any kind of steady pitching, the Red Sox would have had a good chance to give Washington a good game. The Nationals opened up the game by scoring two runs in the first inning. Danny Moeller opened the game with a sharp single and Foster drew a pass. Both runners moved up on a passed ball. Milan then hit one back to Cicotte, who got Moeller in a rundown. Unfortunately, Cicotte threw one in the dirt that allowed Foster to score the first run. Milan then scored on another wild pitch when Cicotte threw the ball past catcher Bill Carrigan, making the score quickly 2 to 0. Washington scored another run in the third inning when Foster opened up with a clean single. Germany Schaefer lined a single to center, and Foster scored when Speaker juggled the ball and then threw home, which allowed Schaefer to scamper to second. That made the score 3 to 0. Then came the fifth inning and Washington added yet two more runs. With O'Brien now pitching, Foster started the inning with a pass and then stole second. O'Brien walked Schaefer and John Knight was hit by a pitched ball to fill the bases. Ray Morgan lined a single to center, that scored two more runs, now making it 5 to 0. With Walter Johnson pitching masterly, the game was all but put away. The Red Sox managed to score two runs in the sixth but that was it. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
 |
 |
