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FRITZ
OSTERMUELLER |
A BRAND NEW FENWAY PARK OPENS
...
Wes Ferrell pinch hits the Sox
to a 13 winning win
August 11, 1934
... Twice
the Yankees hit home runs to go ahead of the Red Sox in this game.
But the Red Sox finally put across the deciding run in a 13 inning
classic pitchers' duel between Fritz Ostermueller and Jimmie DeShong.
Babe Ruth belted his 19th home run of the season and 705th of his
career, in the eighth inning to put the Yankees ahead 1-0. But in the
bottom of the ninth after Roy Johnson doubled to center and moved to
third, when Yankees centerfielder Ben Chapman threw the ball past
thirdbaseman Jack Saltzgaver, Carl Reynolds hit a fly ball to center
that allowed Johnson to come in and tie the game.
The game moved into extra frames and except for a solitary hit,
Ostermueller kept the Yankee bats quit until Tony Lazzeri pounded a
go-ahead homer in the 13th inning.
DeShong was equal to the task until the bottom half of the inning.
After Johnson popped up, Carl Reynolds slammed a double. Moose
Solters followed with a tough shot at shortstop Frankie Crosetti, who
made a nice play to field the ball, but threw the ball past Lou
Gehrig at first, allowing Reynolds to score the tying run and Solters
to move down to second.
DeShong intentionally passed Lou Legett, but then also walked Red
Kellett. So with one out and the bases full, Ostermueller gave way
for Wes Ferrell to bat for him. Ferrell didn't disappoint. He lined a
single to left bringing home Solters with the game winner.
Ostermueller, who had lost his last two starts by 2-1 scores, gave up
just seven hits and the two home runs in 13 innings. It was Babe Ruth’s last
season as a Yankee and Fritz struck him out in the first inning. He rewarded the
rookie left-hander with an autographed baseball after the game |
