BOSTON RED SOX ...
THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 3
A SUBWAY SERIES DISAPPEARS ...
The Tigers give the game away to the Sox

May 4, 1948 ... Art Houtteman, the Detroit Tigers young right-hander, had to endure slipshod treatment by his teammates today in the 6-3 defeat handed to him by the Red Sox. Dave Ferriss won his first victory of the year for the Sox, but he would still be licking his wounds had it not been for the complete collapse of the Tigers at Fenway Park.

Houtteman's big trouble was teammate Pat Mullin in right field. Mullin couldn't catch of ball hit right to him, and then tried to catch one that belonged to his teammate in the sixth inning with disastrous results. Ferriss had been removed for pinch-hitter Wally Moses with the score tied at 3 to 3. Moses singled to center to score Sam Mele and Dom DiMaggio was at bat with one out. He hit a fly ball to center, much closer to Hoot Evers then to Mullin. But Mullin wanted to show everyone that he was a good player and sped after the ball. Evers could have put the ball in his back pocket, yet never had a chance as Mullin kept running and stuck his glove in front of Evers and dropped the ball. Moses stopped at third on the play and then Johnny Pesky grounded out to Eddie Mayo at second base and Moses was thrown out at the plate.

The side should've been retired, but Ted Williams came up and smashed a single to center to score DiMaggio with Pesky going the third. Then Vern Stephens hit a tremendous triple to center to score both of the runners, making the score 6 to 3 in favor of the Red Sox. Houtteman was through for the day after Bobby Doerr flied out. Mullin's previous misplay came in the first inning. Pesky doubled to right-center and Williams on a line drive to right which Mullin moved in for and then just dropped.

Houtteman had a moment of defensive brilliance in the third inning, but he was let down by Mayo. The Tigers scored a run in the opening half of the inning, to take the lead momentarily, 1 to 0. DiMaggio doubled off the left-field wall to open the inning and Pesky flied out to Evers. Ted Williams hit a routine grounder to Mayo, but the secondbaseman fell on his face stopping the ball, allowing Ted to get the first with a base hit. Houtteman tried to pick DiMaggio off the bag at third, but his throw went into the dirt and rolled into the dugout allowing the Red Sox to tie the game.

The Tigers provided more brilliance on the bases during the fifth inning. Mayo singled and George Kell hit a doubleplay ball down to Doerr, but Bobby threw wild on the toss over to Vern Stephens and the ball went into left field. Pat Mullin laid down a perfect sacrifice, only to find Mayo making a late start for third and Ferris got the force play. Kell then tried to steal third and Birdie Tebbetts threw him out.

Dom DiMaggio walked in the fifth and stole second, going to third on Pesky's infield out. Williams was then walked intentionally but Stephens backfired on the Tigers' strategy by bouncing a single over Kell's head, giving the Red Sox a 2 to 1 lead.

It's any consolation to Houtteman, who now has a 0-3 record, the Red Sox think he is one of the great pitchers of the future. Birdie Tebbetts gave them high praise as did Ted Williams.

Dominic DiMaggio's two doubles hopefully had shook him out of his slump. He is now batting .188 and Johnny Pesky collected a hit and he is batting .216. Sam Mele also had a double and is batting .214. Williams had two hits and is now batting a robust .419.