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NIGHT BASEBALL &
JACKIE ROBINSON ... June 18, 1947 ... Johnny Pesky sent fans home with sweet dreams of another American League pennant. At five minutes after 1 AM this morning, he poked out his fifth hit of the night/morning to score Eddie Pellagrini with the run that enabled the Red Sox to score a tense 15 inning triumph over the St. Louis Browns, 6 to 5. The Red Sox staged four comebacks to keep their current winning streak alive. Pesky's hit extended it through eight games. Birdie Tebbetts opened the winning rally with a single to left. Pellagrini ran for him and took second on Glenn Russell's sacrifice. After Don Gutteridge grounded out, Pesky came through with the lifesaver. Again could not have gone any further because of the American League curfew. It was the longest night game in Boston of all time. The victory put the Red Sox one half game behind the league-leading New York Yankees. During the night, Ted Williams smashed out three hits, but it was Pesky's best performance of his big-league career. He has had 12 hits in his last four games and added 31 points to his batting average. The Red Sox jumped out to a one to nothing lead in the first inning. Pesky reached on an error that Vern Stephens bobbled. He scored when Ted Williams scorched a line drive down the right-field foul line that rolled around the corner. The Browns tied up again in the sixth inning, and went ahead 2 to 1 in the eighth. Red Sox starter Mickey Harris, who had been in trouble throughout most of the game, but had worked his way out of jams, gave up a double to Bob Dillinger. After he walked Geoff Heath, manager Joe Cronin replaced him with Johnny Murphy, who proceeded to walk Stephens to load the bases. Jerry Witte came up and drew another walk off Harris to score Dillinger. However in the bottom of the eighth, Pesky led off with a single but was forced at second base by Wally Moses. Browns starter Ellis Kinder then walked Williams and was replaced by Bobby Muncrief. Bobby Doerr tied up the score with a single to center that scored Moses, making it 2 to 2. Sox reliever Bob Klinger battled Moncrief into the 13th inning. Billy Hitchcock led off the inning for the Browns and smacked a home run to put them out in front 3-2. But the Red Sox came back in their half of the inning when Doerr lashed a ball to right-center field that was good for a triple. After two ground ball outs, Dave Ferriss was sent up as a pinch-hitter and singled home Doerr with the tying run. The game moved into the 14th inning and the Browns again when out in front 4 to 2. The Sox came back again. Pesky reached on a drag bunt, but was forced out at second again by Moses. Ted went the opposite way this time and knocked a double off the left-field wall, but Moses had to hold up at third base. Sam Mele was next up and lined one to center field, scoring both Moses and Williams to tie it up again. The game moved into the 15th inning, and Harry Dorish gave up a single and a walk, but the Sox got out of trouble when Mel Parnell came in and got Stephens to fly out to center field. Then came the bottom of the 15th and it would have to be the last inning, as the teams were at the curfew. The curfew was not needed. It was Johnny-on-the-spot Pesky dramatically bringing the curtain down on one of the most exciting games of the season. |
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