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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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FENWAY'S FIRST TEAM July 25, 1912 ... Cleveland lefty Vean Gregg shaded Ray Collins in the getaway game at Fenway, a lone run garnered by Art Griggs in the second inning, enabling the Naps to snare the game and an even break in the series. Nine thousand fans were on hand to observe the Red Sox and encourage them before they started their second invasion of the Western cities. They went home disappointed but with words of praise for a remarkable job done by Gregg for Cleveland. He held the Red Sox to four singles and apparently had them eating out of his hand throughout the afternoon. Gregg was given perfect support, but it seemed as if the victory by the Cleveland players, plucked out yesterday, was almost entirely due to the splendid performance of their pitcher. Two golden opportunities that the Red Sox had to tie the game, if not win it, were lost. From a distinctly Boston standpoint it would be attributed to very poor performances with the bat. From the Cleveland viewpoint it was the class displayed by Gregg, who tightened up when he approached the danger mark, being the reason the Sox didn't score. Gregg issued only one pass and in but three of the nine innings, did the Red Sox get a man on base. But let it be noted that Ray Collins should not be forgotten. He pitched a fine game, but the three hits which was followed by an infield out in the second inning, gave the opponents the one run in the game. It was a great pitcher's battle indeed. Collins retired after eight good innings so that Neil Ball could pinch-hit for him in the ninth. Hugh Bedient pitched the last inning and all the Naps got was a scratch infield hit off him. But the six hits secured off Collins and a pass man was the game. With little hitting down around him, the Vermont farmer might have walked away a winner. The game was an interesting one although it was not a thriller. Tris Speaker had six putouts with one of the catches being a tough one. Heinie Wagner covered an immense amount of ground at shortstop and Bill Carrigan made a great catch, after a long run of a foul pop up. Steve Yerkes had a busy afternoon, although he contributed the only fielding blunder of the game. Clyde Engle played for Larry Gardner at third, as Larry had a sore left leg and was being rested. When the Red Sox took the field, the fans give them a splendid ovation. The first inning saw no scoring, but in the second Art Griggs singled to left and Terry Turner punched a safe one to right. After Joe Birmingham flied out, Buddy Ryan hit one to Wagner at deep shortstop. The only chance in the world that Heinie had for an out, was to get Turner at second, but Terry beat the throw. With the bases now full Steve O'Neill hit one down to Yerkes and Griggs scored. In the first three innings Carrigan was the only man to reach first, with a walk in the third, but catcher O'Neill nipped him trying to steal second. It looked as if the Sox would start something in the fourth. After Harry Hooper went down, Yerkes and Speaker winged singles to right and center. Turner fielded Lewis' grounder and tried to get Speaker at second, so Yerkes took third. Clyde Engle hit an easy fly out to Ivy Olson leaving Yerkes and Lewis marooned on base. Cleveland threatened to score again in the ninth, while Bedient was pitching. After Turner had been put away by Hooper, Birmingham ripped one back at the pitcher which caromed off his leg and bounded over to Heinie Wagner. A short passed ball put Birmingham on second and he hiked down the third-base when Ryan was retired. O'Neill, who knocked in the only run, tried in vain, but went the strikeout route to end the threat. Gregg got the Red Sox down in order in the ninth and walked away with the satisfaction of having pitched a gem of the ballgame. |
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