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WALLY SCHANG |
ON THIS DATE (May 5, 1920)
... Wally Schang came back to the lineup and
brought his punch with him. He got into his first game of the season
today, when he pinch-hit for Roxy Walters in the ninth-inning and
laced out a screeching two base hit, which drove in the tying run and
giving the Red Sox a chance to win a game, that had appeared to be
hopelessly lost. They won it in the 13th inning by a score of 4 to 3.
It was over the Philadelphia Athletics at Fenway Park. Philadelphia
appeared to have the game won in the ninth-inning, when the score was 3 to 1 in
their favor with two outs. Kid Foster had started something with a single and
was allowed to take second without any opposition. The Philly pitcher, Walter
Kinney didn't pay any attention to him and didn't hold him on first base, not
pitching from the stretch. Foster saw that and stole second. Then, he stole
third without a throw. Kinney's full attention was getting the batter, Everett
Scott. The strategy worked because Scott lofted a fly ball out to Tillie Walker
in left field. Unfortunately for the Athletics, Walker dropped the ball. Foster
scored and Scotty made it to second base. Now the Red Sox for only one run down.
The fans started cheering and clapping their hands in a rhythm to motivate the
team.
Wally Schang, who up to this time had not appeared in a game the season,
sitting out because a contract dispute. But he reached an agreement with the
team on Tuesday and was trotted out to bat in place of Walters. Sam Jones
meanwhile was put in to run for Scott at second base. With two strikes against
him, Schang lined a base hit into right field, that went between George Burns
and Amos Strunk. He ended up on second base while Jones trotted home with the
tying run. The Fenway crowd went into a frenzy because the winning run was now
on second base. They cheered for five minutes as pinch-hitter Mickey Devine came
up to bat for Joe Bush. Kinney was finally able to get out of it and send the
game into extra innings.
Herb Pennock came into pitch and Hob Hiller trotted out to play shortstop.
Connie Mack's troops were not able to do anything with Pennock for four innings.
Then came the 13th inning. Mike McNally led off with a sizzling single to right,
and as Jimmy Dykes and Ivy Griffin moved in to head off a bunt, Mike Menosky
crossed them up by popping the ball over their heads for a single. Tim Hendryx
then sacrificed them over and Foster came up with a sacrifice fly that put
McNally over with the winning run. |
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