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JIMMY PIERSALL (FEAR STRIKES OUT) ...
Don Lenhardt's grand slam
homer
in the 10th inning, puts the Sox in first place
June 2, 1952 ... The
Sox surged into first place when Don Lenhardt's grand slam homer in
the tenth inning brought them a 6 to 2 win over the Chicago White
Sox.
For 27 innings in this three game series, Lenhardt accounted for
seven outs by hitting into two double plays and striking out three
times. Lenhardt's wallop, his second of the season, broke a 2-2 tie.
Red Sox starter, Willard Nixon and Ken Holcombe, who dueled the full
distance, were deadlocked 1-1 after nine innings. Chicago scored a
run in the top of the tenth inning on singles by Chico Carrasquel and
Nellie Fox.
Now down a run in the bottom of the tenth, Fred Hatfield was first
up. He was hit by a pitch and stopped at second on Dale Wilbur's base
hit. Then after pinch-hitter Sammy White, struck out, Dom DiMaggio
tied the game with a single to right. Billy Goodman was passed
purposely to load the bases and Lenhardt smashed Holcomb's first
pitch over the left field screen.
The White Sox scored their first run in the fourth inning when Sherm
Lollar doubled off the wall and Carrasquel singled him home. The the
seventh, Vern Stephens walked and took third on Clyde Vollmer's
double to left. Jimmy Piersall was inserted to run for for Vollmer.
Walt Dropo dribbled a ball back to the mound and Holcombe trapped
Stephens and eventually ran him down. While that was going on,
Piersall took third base and Dropo took second. Hatfield drew an
intentional walk that loaded the bases. Wibur grounded into a double
play, but it allowed Piersall to score the tying run.
It was Nixon's second win against no defeats. A Ladies' Day crowd of
4967 fans saw the Sox go ahead of the Indians by four percentage
points in the race for the American League's top spot. |
