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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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FENWAY'S FIRST TEAM May 2, 1912 ... The Boston Speed Boys outplayed their aggressive opponents in Washington and took the second game of the series. Charley Hall and Bob Groom went into the contest as undefeated pitchers, but it was the Red Sox, whose bats were hot found Groom's pitches to their liking all day. Charley Hall was wild but effective, and the three passes he issued, developed into runs. Two were the result of Tris Speaker taking a tumble, after a long run for a fly ball, whereas a clean catch would've made the third out. Remarkable throws to the plate by both Speaker and Duffy Lewis saved the day for the Red Sox. The throw by Lewis was from deep left field with Germany Schaefer at third in the eighth-inning and only one run needed to tie the game. The ball could not hit a bull's-eye more accurately and like a shot from a rifle, it beat Schaefer to the plate by two yards. Washington scored the first run on a pass to Danny Moeller, a single by Kid Foster and a long sacrifice fly by Schaefer in the first inning. In the second inning, with two outs and Hugh Bradley, on first base as the result of a single, the Red Sox got busy. Heinie Wagner doubled to score Bradley and then Schaefer dropped a fly ball hit by Les Nunamaker, allowing Wagner to score. Charley Hall helped himself and doubled to left-center to score Nunamaker, and then Harry Hooper doubled to score Hall. That made the score 4 to 1.
Then came Washington's runs in the same inning to tie the game. John Knight led off with a pass, and then when McBride struck out, he stole second base, as Clyde Engle failed to cover. Hall failed to get the ball anywhere near the plate and passed his opponent, Bob Groom. Moeller then sent a fly out to Tris Speaker, who tripped and fell just as he is about to catch the ball, allowing him to get three bases and have two men score. Charley Hall muffed a ground ball hit back to him by Foster, and Moeller scored the tying run. In the fifth inning, the Red Sox came within a hair of taking the lead. After Engle walked and Speaker fouled out, Bradley smashed a double to left and Engle started for home. The ball was relayed by McBride to the catcher Henry, who was blocking the plate. Engle slid in and got his leg between Henry's and the plate umpire called him safe, and then quickly changed his decision and called him out. In that same inning, with one out, Foster singled and Clyde Milan doubled. Schaefer scored Foster with a single and Milan, a fast runner, also took off for home but was thrown out on an excellent throw by Speaker. But still, Washington grabbed the lead 5 to 4. The Sox scored the two runs necessary to win the game in the seventh. Nunamaker lashed out a triple that rolled to the centerfield bleachers and Hall was hit by a pitch. Harry Hooper got a scratch infield single that scored Nunamaker with the tying run, and then Speaker lined a single to left that scored Hall with, what would be, the winning tally. It was last call for the Senators in the ninth-inning and McBride bounced one back to Hall, Henry rolled one down to Bradley and Carl Cashion, who pinch-hit for Groom set a week fly out to Wagner for the final out. It was a good victory for Hall, but it was a great day the Boston outfielders. Congressman William Murray of Boston was on hand with a party of friends, rooting hard for the Red Sox. |
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