|
 |
|
JOE DOBSON |
BOSTON RED SOX ...
THE
CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 3
A
SUBWAY SERIES DISAPPEARS ...
Joe Dobson
shines but Mickey Harris' balk
cost the Sox a doubleheader sweep
May 31, 1948 ... A
balk called against Mickey Harris with the bases full, put the
Philadelphia Athletics back into first place and brought a fiery, but
futile, protest by manager Joe McCarthy. Umpire Jim Boyer stuck to
his guns and his verdict, which sent the winning run across in plate
and cost the Red Sox a chance for a doubleheader sweep. Harris lost a
spirited pitching duel to Joe Coleman by a score of 2 to 1, after Joe
Dobson had blinded Philly on four hits in the opener of the
doubleheader, 7 to 0, shoving them temporarily into second place.
Harris, McCarthy and the entire Red Sox infield converged on umpire Boyer when
he called a balk and motioned Hank Majeski home. But they got nowhere. After the
game in the umpires dressing room Boyer indicated that Harris had started his
wind up with both hands half way above his head and then stopped his delivery.
Coleman's win was his sixth straight. He only has one loss. The Sox gave him
a lot of trouble in the ninth-inning. A walk and a single put two men on, with
just one out, and then Coleman got rid of two tough left-handed batters in
pinch-hitter Johnny Pesky and Ted Williams. Pesky struck out and Williams lifted
a fly ball out to left-field. Before he flew out however, the Kid gave the
24,838 fans a chill, by whacking one out of the park only foul by a few feet.
Harris was hit harder than the five hits in the box score would indicate. The
Sox gave him brilliant support as Jake Jones pulled him out of jams several
times at first base. With one out in the sixth inning and the Sox leading 1 to
0, Harris walked Ferris Fain on four straight pitches. Hank Majeski ripped a
hard single to left and Fain stopped at second. Harris then got a three and two
count on Sam Chapman, finally walking him to fill the bases. Mike Guerra, who
dozen hit very hard are often, was also passed, to force home Fain with the
tying run. Donie White came to bat and with a two and two count, Harris
committed the fatal balk.
Lou Brissie was the starting pitcher in the days opener for Philadelphia. He
did not have the touch and was shelled to the showers by the Red Sox in the
seventh inning. Ted Williams' bat was the loudest. He smashed his 11th home run
and a single to knock in three runs. Vern Stephens drove in two with three
singles and Brissie was ultimately tagged for six runs, passing six. The Sox
went on to win 7 to 0 with Joe Dobson going the distance for the shutout.
The Red Sox have won only 3 games of 15, since leaving Boston, and Dobson has
been the winning pitcher in each game. |
.jpg)
