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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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FENWAY'S FIRST TEAM July 1, 1912 ... The Red Sox squeezed by the New York Highlanders at Fenway Park. George McConnell was on the mound for New York and dealt the Sox batters razor-sharp curveballs, limiting them to just three hits. But thanks to some bad throws by thirdbaseman Bill Stumpf, the Speed Boys were able to win their 14 straight game from the Highlanders, by a score of 4 to 1. Charley Hall was on the mound for Boston and while the visitors made twice as many hits off him, they were only able to score once. That run came when Steve Yerkes was not able to keep the ball out of the dirt on a throw to Jake Stahl in trying to complete a doubleplay, while a runner was making it home from third base. It was a game that New York deserved to win, except for the fact that Hall pitched so well in tight spots, that someone was left on base in six different innings. Six Boston players reached first base, and four eventually found their way around the diamond to score. Harry Hooper, Tris Speaker, and Duffy Lewis where the Red Sox who did the hitting. Hooper's bunt and Speaker's double in the fourth inning provided the Red Sox with a run needed to meet the one the Yankees and scored in their half, on Hal Chase's double and a hit by Guy Zinn that brought him in. Two innings later, after Hooper slammed a hard liner at Zinn, Yerkes hustled around to second base on Stumpf's wild throw, and then McConnell passed Speaker to take a chance with Duffy Lewis, who he had already gotten twice with strikeouts. This time however Duffy smacked a double to left which brought in two runs. Duffy reached third himself while the ball was being relayed home and then scored on a vicious drive that Dutch Sterrett was able to handle but could not turn for a play at the plate. New York, who did not get a hit for the first three innings, got to Hall for two in the fourth, and also singled in each of the four succeeding innings. For the afternoon, thirteen New York players reached first base, with five seeing second and three runners reaching third. But they did not take advantage of the opportunities to score when they were given to them by Charley Hall. The Red Sox did not see first base in the first three innings, during which McConnell struck out Hooper, Lewis, Cady and Hall. Speaker was the only Boston player who even was able to lift out a fly ball to the outfield. During that time, Hall issued New York three base on balls, followed by sacrifice hits, but none were followed up by a necessary run producing clout. Heinie Wagner as splendid day in the field, skillfully handling nine chances. In the third inning, when New York had men on first and second with two out, he went behind second base to play what looked like a sure hit by Bert Daniels, but picked it up and got the force out at second. Earlier, he made a great play on Hal Chase and all afternoon was covering ground and throwing people out at first. |
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