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BOBBY DOERR'S GRANDSLAM |
BOSTON RED SOX ...
THE
CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 3
A
SUBWAY SERIES DISAPPEARS ...
Bobby Doerr's
grandslam
gives the Sox an early win
July 19, 1948
... Bobby Doerr's grand slam homer and
southpaw Mel Parnell's wonderful pitching, gave the Red Sox a 4 to 1
victory over the St. Louis Browns at Fenway Park before a crowd of
26,000 fans. Doerr's smash into the left-field screen wrapped up the
verdict in the first inning. Parnell, for his second straight outing,
was practically invincible. He put down the Browns while only
allowing six hits. Bobby Doerr's home run, his 17th of the season
and his eighth this month, was the first Red Sox grand slam of the season. It
was the one bad pitch that Browns starter Fred Sanford made. After the first
inning he gave the Sox only three scattered hits over the next six.
Johnny Pesky singled with one out in the first and Stan Spence spanked a line
drive into right-center. Al Zarilla just missed a leaping catch after a long
run, as the ball grazed his fingertips and bounded away, allowing Spence to pull
up at second base. Vern Stephens was then walked intentionally to bring up Doerr
with the bases loaded. He took a called strike and then worked the count to
three and one. Sanford came in with his next pitch and Doerr parked it into left
field screen. After that Sanford silenced the Red Sox bats, with the exception
of Pesky's single in the second, Doerr's single in the third and Spence's
double, which rightfielder Don Lund was able to hang on to in the fifth.
But the Browns couldn't figure out Parnell either. In chalking up his second
straight win and sixth of his career, he didn't permit St. Louis more than one
hit per inning except in the eighth. And that one was a fluke when Chuck Stevens
was credited with a hit when his ground ball struck Bob Dillinger, the base
runner, who had singled.
The Brown scored one and that came in the second inning. Whitey Platt got a
triple when Dom DiMaggio tried to make a shoestring catch of his line drive to
center. The ball went all the way to the fence and then Gerry Priddy flied to
center for the sacrifice.
Ted Williams took his first real work out since he was sidelined with a chest
cartilage injury. He took his regular turn in batting practice and swung easily.
He also worked out in left field shagging flyballs. It is still undetermined
when he will be able to play. Braves infielder Sibbi Sisti worked out with the
Red Sox infield during batting practice. He has lost 12 pounds since being
knocked out by a sinus infection, feeling a little weak but generally much
improved. |
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