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JIMMIE
FOXX |
Joe Cronin's 9th inning
double helps the
Sox sweep a doubleheader from the Indians
August 4,
1937 ... The Red Sox had already won eight straight
games by winning the first game of a doubleheader with a score of 8
to 5. But they were losing the second game 5-4, with two outs and
nobody on base, going into the bottom of the ninth inning of the
second game.
Then Buster Mills banged a double off the left field wall and Doc
Cramer worked Indians pitcher Lloyd Brown for a free pass. Joe Cronin
was up next. He looked at a couple of called strikes before hitting a
steaming line drive over Earl Averill's head in center. Mills scored
easily and Cramer followed him in, giving the Sox an exciting
walk-off sweep of the afternoon, 6 to 5.
15,000 fans saw the Indians jump out into a five run lead in the
first game. With one out in the fifth inning, Mills doubled. Cramer
singled to left and Mills had to hang on at second. A double by
Cronin brought in Mills with the Sox first run. Cramer tried for
third and thirdbaseman Sammy Hale let the throw get by him, letting
Cramer score another run.
Jimmie Foxx grabbed a fast ball and sent it into the left field
screen for his 27th homer, bringing in Cronin ahead of him and making
the score 5-4.
In the sixth inning the Sox chased starter Denny Galehouse who walked
Ben Chapman. He took second on Moe Berg's sac bunt. Rube Walberg, who
had replaced Archie McKain in the fourth inning, hit a grounder to
thirdbaseman Jack Kroner who made a poor throw to first and Walberg
was safe. After Mills flied out, Cramer singled in Chapman and when
the ball got by Moose Solters in left, Walberg raced home with the
go-ahead run, 6-5.
Walberg tired in the seventh, walked two batters and Jack Wilson took
over. Wilson induced a pop up and a ground ball to put out the
threat.
Singles by Foxx and Mike Higgins, preceded McNair's sac bunt and a
single by Chapman. The Indians scored once more but the Sox
maintained the lead and won 8 to 6.
The Sox got off to a great start in the first inning of the late
game. Mills singled and Cramer drew an walk. Buster stole third and
came in when catcher Joe Becker's throw got by Hale, the
thirdbaseman. The Sox scored two more times in the fifth inning when
Gene Desautels reached on a base hit, went to third on another hit by
Mills and scored on Cramer's squeeze bunt. Cronin next laced a triple
to center that scored Mills, putting the Sox up 3-0.
Fritz Ostermueller pitched two-hit ball going into the seventh, but
wilted and gave up a pair of doubles and a single that scored two
runs for Cleveland. In the eighth he fell apart. With one out he gave
up a base hit and after a fly ball, Earl Averill singled to center
and Hal Trosky lined a double that brought in two more runs and put
the Tribe out front, 4-3. Johnny Marcum came on to pitch and got the
third out.
Jimmie Foxx opened the eight inning by clocking a ball over the left
field screen, off the roof of a house on Lansdowne Street and onto
the railroad tracks, for his 28th home run of the season and tying
the game at four apiece. But a double by Hale and a single by Becker
regained the lead for the Indians in their half of the ninth. |
