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MIKE
HIGGINS |
JIMMIE FOXX'S MVP SEASON
...
The Sox pull out another
comeback victory
out of an apparent loss
August 26, 1938
... The Red Sox were on the verge of letting
down a wildly enthusiastic Ladies Day crowd of 26,800 patrons when
the Sox pulled off still another of their patented thrillers, to beat
the White Sox 9 to 8 in the 10th inning of the second game in today's
doubleheader. Trounced by a 12 to 2 count in the opener, the Sox
appeared headed for a twin setback and the loss of second place to the pursuing
Cleveland Indians, when they staked Chicago to an early 4 to 0 lead at the start
of the nightcap. Jimmie Foxx paces a stirring comeback with two home runs and a
double, leading his team from the deficit to an 8 to 6 lead in the
eighth-inning. But then the White Sox knotted the count at 8 to 8 in the
ninth-inning.
A good part of the second game resulted from the decision of both managers to
stick with their original pitchers as long as possible, due to the current
amount of doubleheaders being played. Dick Midkiff lasted seven innings for the
Sox, during which he yielded 14 hits and six runs. Duncan Rigney worked eight
innings for the White Sox and gave up 13 hits and eight runs.
Along with Jimmie Foxx, Midkiff kept himself in the contest with the power of
his own bat. He wrapped out a double and a single, scoring a run and driving in
another. These two tallies coupled with Foxx's 36th and 37th home runs, each of
which came with nobody aboard, and another pair of runs that resulted from
Chicago errors, comprise the Red Sox offense that left the count tied at six
apiece going into the eighth-inning.
Midkiff gave way to Emerson Dickman when he gave up two singles in
succession, to open the Chicago eighth. But then Dickman struck out Mike
Kreevich and forced Jimmy Dykes, who would made three straight hits, to hit into
a doubleplay.
The Red Sox went to town in their half of the eighth-inning, for the two runs
that looked to have the contest showed up. Singles by Bobby Doerr, Dickman and
Joe Vosmik were followed by Foxx's double, that put them over after two were
out, putting the Sox up 8 to 6.
But Dickman couldn't hold it together as he walked a pinch-hitter and gave up
two singles, followed by another walk and an infield out that tied up the game.
Jim Bagby after getting shelled in the first game, set down the White Sox in
order and forced the game into the 10th inning.
Doc Cramer walked to open the 10th and then Joe Vosmik promptly bunted him to
second. Foxx, who was six for nine at the plate for the day, was purposely
passed. Joe Cronin flew out to Walker and Cramer moved to third when Walker
dropped the ball trying to return it to the infield. He then was able to trot
home when Higgins slammed a line drive over Walker's head in right field.
There was not much to the first game when the White Sox jumped on Bagby for
four runs in the third inning. Given this lead which his teammates slowly
increased, Ted Lyons carefully steered his way to his seventh win of the season
and 204th career victory. Bagby lost the first game, but was the pitcher of
record, winning the second game. |
