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KEN CHASE |
The Red Sox hang up a double
win over the Indians
August
25, 1942 ... The Red Sox maintained their
drive to get back into the pennant race, by sweeping a doubleheader
from the Cleveland Indians, 4 to 3 in 11 innings and 5 to 1, before a
turnout of 18,965 fans. The double victories were scored behind the
excellent pitching of Ken Chase and Oscar Judd, giving the Red Sox a
record of 14 wins in their last 15 games. It was an eventful
afternoon as manager Lou Boudreau of the Indians was thrown out of the game for
arguing during the ground rules conference before the second game. Jim Tabor hit
his 11th home run of the season and Judd scored his first victory in nearly two
months. Chase kept his record clean while posting his fourth win. Ted Williams
was held hitless on his eight trips to the plate, dropping his batting average
to .340
The first game was a tough one to win and a tough one for Cleveland to lose.
Chase and Tom Ferrick had both pitched well. Ferrick gave up the home run to
Tabor in the fifth inning with Tony Lupien on base, but that had only tied the
score at 2 to 2. The Indians had scored twice in the third on two walks, a hit
by Ferrick, a double by Ken Keltner and a wild pitch.
The game went into extra innings and Lou Boudreau hit a home run above the
wall to start the 11th inning for Cleveland. It was only the fourth hit of the
game off Chase, but it gave the Indians a 3 to 2 lead. But the Sox came through
with the help of some good luck in their bottom half of the inning.
Dom DiMaggio started off with a clean single and Pesky bunted in the second
base. Ferrick tried to make the throw to second, but DiMaggio was ruled safe on
a close play which Boudreau protested. Williams then bounced back to Ferrick
giving him a chance for a perfect doubleplay, but the pitcher didn't immediately
know what to do, throwing to Boudreau at second to force Pesky, but Ted was safe
at first. Boudreau's throw went into the Red Sox dugout, as he was upended by
Pesky's slide. DiMaggio was able to score the tying run on the throw and
Williams moved over to second base.
After the bruised Boudreau had gathered himself, Bobby Doerr was
intentionally walked and Lupien followed with an unintentional walk. With one
out, the Cleveland infield played in. Lou Finney hit a hot ground ball that was
deflected by Ray Mack, the secondbaseman over to Boudreau, but there was no play
as Williams was able to make it home with the game-winner, 4 to 3.
The Indians also grabbed the lead in the second game, when Keltner scored
from third in the first inning on a short passed ball. But the Red Sox tied the
score in their half of the inning on DiMaggio's triple off the scoreboard
against Vern Kennedy, and Pesky's fly ball to center. A walk to DiMaggio in the
third, Pesky's single to right and Williams short fly ball put the Red Sox ahead
2 to 1.
It became an easy victory in the seventh, when the Red Sox scored three
times. Judd singled and DiMaggio beat out a bunt. On Pesky's attempted
sacrifice, pitcher Joe Heving threw the ball past thirdbase trying to get Judd,
who was then able to score. An intentional walk was given to Williams followed
by another base on balls to Bobby Doerr, which forced in DiMaggio with another
run.
The Sox got their last run when Tabor singled to deep short, scoring Pesky.
Rusty Peters, the shortstop, made a fine play, but Keltner field to cover third
and missed a force play which would've cost the Sox a run. The final score was 5
to 1 and Judd, who gave up seven hits picked up his eighth victory of the year. |
