Hughson Shuts Out A's in Opener (4/22/43)

With World War 2 in full effect, a lot of the Boston Red Sox stars such as Ted Williams, Dom Dimaggio and Johnny Pesky are overseas and away from the team. One star that stuck around is Tex Hughson and in front of a paltry crowd of 4,553, the Sox defeated the Philadelphia Athletics by a narrow 1-0 score at Shibe Park.

                                             Bud Jamison approves of the win

Jesse Flores got the opening day start for Philly and Eddie Lake drew the first walk of the season. Pete Fox dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance Lake to second. Bobby Doerr popped up and "rookie" Johnny Lazor grounded out to end the inning. Hughson took the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Elmer Valo grounded out to start the game. Jo-Jo White popped up and Eddie Mayo grounded out to end the inning.

Tony Lupien grounded out to begin the top of the second inning before "rookie" Ford Garrison flied out and Skeeter Newsome popped up to end the inning. Hughson kept the pace in the bottom of the second by getting Jim Tyack to ground out to start. Dick Siebert struck out and Pete Suder flied out to end the inning.

Johnny Peacock struck out to open the top of the third and Hughson popped up. Lake flied out to end the inning. Hughson stayed strong in the bottom of the third by getting Irv Hall to pop up to begin. Bob Swift grounded out and Flores struck out to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the fourth inning when Fox led off with a double. Doerr sacrifice bunted Pete to third and he scored on the Lazor ground out. Johnny's first game and he gets what turned out to be the game winning rbi. Lupien lined out to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 1-0.

                                                    First game, first rbi

More than enough cushion for Hughson as he retired Valo on a ground out to open the bottom of the fourth. White singled but was erased on the force by Mayo. Tyack popped up to end the inning.

The Sox got their last hit of the game in the top of the fifth inning although Garrison and Newsome both flied out. Peacock singled but Hughson watched strike three go by to end the inning. Tex got Siebert and Suder to both fly out in the bottom of the fifth before Hall grounded out to end the inning.

Flores hung tough in the top of the sixth inning as Lake grounded out, Fox popped up and Doerr grounded out to end the inning. Hughson got into some cabbage in the bottom of the sixth as Swift singled to open the frame. Flores dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance Swift to second but remained on the Valo ground out. White walked but Mayo flied out to end the inning.

                                    "Those Athletic bastards have NO chance!" - Hughson

Flores continued to pitch well in the top of the seventh inning as Lazor flied out to begin. Lupien struck out and Garrison flied out to end the inning. The Athletics mustered nothing in the bottom of the seventh as Tyack grounded out to start. Siebert flied out and Suder grounded out to end the inning.

The Sox caught a break in the top of the eighth when Suder went OLE! on a ground ball by Newsome to open the frame. They couldn't capitalize as Peacock flied out, Hughson struck out and Lake flied out to end the inning. The Athletics mounted their most serious threat in the bottom of the eighth although Hall grounded out to start. Swift walked and Johnny Welaj pinch ran for him and Bobby Estalella pinch hit for Flores. Hughson picked off Welaj and had him in a run-down but Lake threw the ball away, allowing Welaj to reach second. Hughson recovered to strike out Estalella but Valo and White both walked to load the bases. Mayo grounded out to end the inning and the threat.

Roger Wolff came in the game to pitch and Hal Wagner took over behind the plate for the top of the ninth. Fox flied out, Doerr popped up and Lazor grounded out to end the inning. Hughson came back to finish his work in the bottom of the ninth. Tyack popped up and Siebert grounded out, but Suder singled. Felix Mackiewicz pinch ran for Suder but Hall flied out to end the game. Hughson had tossed a complete game, 3 hit shut-out on Opening Day.

Hero of the Night is Tex Hughson. The big man tossed a complete game 3 hit shutout, walking 4 and striking out 3.

                                                Hero of the Night: Tex Hughson


The Good:

Bobby Doerr was 2 for 4.

Johnny Peacock was 1 for 3.




The Bad:

Eddie Lake was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Tony Lupien was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Skeeter Newsome was 0 for 3.



The Ugly:

Pete Fox was just 1 for 5.

Johnny Lazor was 0 for 3 but walked.

Ford Garrison was 0 for 3.



Final Thoughts:

Who needs Ted Williams when you have the rbi bat of Johnny Lazor and who needs Lefty Grove when you have Tex Hughson? Well at least one of those statements is true and Tex certainly stepped up on Opening Day. The offense on paper looks like total monkey crap but games aren't won on paper. After all, they just beat the Athletics with just 2 hits. The losses of Williams, Pesky and Dimaggio are going to hurt so its up to Doerr to carry the load by himself this season, which is unfair and impossible. Still, for one day the Sox were winners. Tomorrow Joe Dobson makes his season debut opposite Russ Christopher tomorrow afternoon.

Sox Rally To Defeat Senators on Opening Day (4/14/30)

Well the 1930 season is off to a rollicking start for the Boston Red Sox. Prognosticators picked them to finish dead last in the American League but for one day, they kicked them straight in the pants. The Sox rallied to defeat the Washington Senators 4-3 on Opening Day in Griffith Stadium.

                                                     Gene Tunney approves of the win

Firpo Marberry got the start for Washington and Jack Rothrock greeted him with his first base hit of the season. Otis Miller popped up to third base, Tom Oliver flied out to right and Russ Scarritt flied out to center to end the inning. Danny MacFayden got the start for Boston and Washington immediately tagged him in the bottom of the first inning. Sam West flied out but Sam Rice singled and Goose Goslin singled Rice to third. Buddy Myer was hit with a pitch to load the bases and Joe Cronin singled home Rice to give the Senators the lead. The Sox caught a break when Joe Judge hit an infield fly and Goslin was doubled off of third to end the inning. That was huge as the game wore on with the Senators up 1-0.

Marberry cruised in the top of the second inning. Bill Regan and Phil Todt flied out before Bill Narleski lined out to end the inning. MacFayden tried to match Marberry in the bottom of the second inning. Ossie Bluege grounded out but Muddy Ruel was hit with a pitch. Marberry sacrificed Ruel to second with a bunt but West struck out to end the inning.

Johnnie Heving worked a walk to start the top of the third inning and advanced to second on the MacFayden ground out. Rothrock popped up and Miller grounded out to end the inning. MacFayden hung tough in the bottom of the third inning. Rice grounded out and Goslin flied out, but Myer singled. Cronin flied out to end the inning.

The Sox struck back in the top of the fourth inning. Oliver singled and was sacrificed to second by Scarritt. Regan flied out but Todt stepped in with an rbi double to tie the game. Narleski grounded out to end the inning but the Sox had tied it 1-1.

                                                                    Todt Ties It

MacFayden ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning. Judge singled but Bluege grounded into a double play. Ruel and Marberry stroked back to back singles but West struck out to end the inning.

Marberry cruised in the top of the fifth inning. Heving flied out, MacFayden struck out and Rothrock flied out to end the inning. Danny matched him in the bottom of the fifth. Rice lined out, Goslin flied out and Myer grounded right back to the pitcher to end the inning,

Marberry tossed zeroes in the top of the sixth inning as well. Miller lined out, Oliver grounded out, and Scarritt flied out to end the inning. The Senators took command in the bottom of the sixth inning. Cronin grounded out but Judge doubled. Bluege hit one up the elevator shaft and Judge beat out a throw to third on a grounder by Ruel. Marberry aided his own cause with a 2 run double to give the Sens the lead. West struck out to end the inning with Washington up 3-1.

The Sox struck back in the top of the seventh inning. Regan hit one up the elevator shaft but Todt singled. Narleski walked and Heving singled home Todt and advanced Narleski to third. Bill Sweeney pinch hit for MacFayden and walked to load the bases and chase Marberry. Washington manager Walter Johnson brought in Garland Braxton and Sox manager Heinie Wagner countered by pinch hitting Bill Barrett for Rothrock. Bill popped up and Miller flied out to end the inning. The Sox wasted a bases loaded chance but were only down 3-2.

                                                   Heving puts the Sox back in it

George Smith took the mound for Boston in the bottom of the seventh inning. Rice, Goslin and Myer all flied out in short order to end the inning.

The Sox roared back in the top of the eighth. Oliver singled and moved to second on the bunt by Scarritt. Regan struck out but Todt singled home Oliver to tie the game and move Scarritt to third. Narleski gave the Sox the lead with a base hit that scored Scarritt. Heving banged into a double play to end the inning but the Sox had the 4-3 lead.

                                                      Narleski gives the Sox the lead.

Just six outs from victory, Smith turned up the power in the bottom of the eighth. Cronin flied out, Judge hit one up the elevator shaft and Bluege grounded out to end the inning.

The Sox almost rallied in the top of the ninth inning but played like fools. Smith the pitcher singled and was advanced to second on the bunt by Barrett.....only to get picked off. Miller popped up but Oliver walked. Scarritt grounded out to end the inning. Smith returned to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ruel grounded out as Red Barnes pinch hit for Braxton only to ground out. West doubled and Rice walked to put the winning run at first, but Goslin lined out to end the game. The Sox had stolen one 4-3 on Opening Day.

                                                   "I had those bums the whole way" - GS


Hero of the Night is Phil Todt. He was 3 for 4 with 2 rbi's and a run scored.

                                                     Hero of the Night: Todt


The Good:

Jack Rothrock was 1 for 3.

Tom Oliver was 2 for 4 with a walk with 2 runs scored.

Bill Narleski was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Johnnie Heving wa 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Bill Sweeney walked in his only plate appearance.

George Smith got the win with 3 scoreless innings pitched.



The Bad:

Bill Barrett was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Otis Miller was 0 for 5.

Bill Regan was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.



The Ugly:

Russ Scarritt was 0 for 3 but walked.

Danny MacFayden tossed 6 solid innings but gave up 3 runs and left trailing 3-2.



Final Thoughts:

What a a big win on Opening Day. Maybe the Sox will be able to challenge the New York Yankees and these same Senators this year.....well, maybe not. For one day they looked pretty good. Smith looked good in relief and MacFayden didn't pitch bad either. Tomorrow afternoon is the Red Sox Opening Day at Fenway Park against this same Senators team. Red Ruffing goes for the Sox against Lloyd Brown.

Basebawful Report of the Month (4/30/15)

Hick Cady had 1 Good, 3 Bad and 1 Ugly

Bill Carrigan had 2 Good, 2 Bad, 1 Ugly and 1 Honorable Mention

Ray Collins had 2 Good, 2 Bad and 1 Jackass

Ralph Comstock had 1 Bad, 1 Ugly and 1 Hero

Rube Foster had 3 Good, 1 Ugly and 1 Hero

Del Gainer had 4 Good, 2 Bad

Larry Gardner had 1 Good, 1 Bad and 1 Ugly

Raymond Haley had 1 Bad

Olaf Henriksen had 1 Good and 4 Bad

Dick Hoblitzell had 3 Good, 3 Bad, 3 Ugly, 1 Jackass and 1 Honorable Mention

Harry Hooper had 5 Good and 7 Ugly

Hal Janvrin had 3 Good, 3 Bad, 3 Ugly and 1 Jackass

Dutch Leonard had 1 Good and 1 Jackass

Duffy Lewis had 5 Good, 2 Bad, 2 Ugly, 1 Hero and 1 Jackass

Carl Mays had 2 Good and 1 Hero

Mike McNally had 2 Good, 1 Bad and 2 Honorable Mention

Wally Rehg had 2 Good and 2 Bad

George Ruth had 1 Good and 2 Ugly

Everett Scott had 3 Good, 2 Bad and 6 Ugly

Ernie Shore had 2 Good, 1 Bad and 1 Jackass

Tris Speaker had 6 Good and 6 Ugly

Pinch Thomas had 3 Good, 2 Bad and 2 Honorable Mention

Heinie Wagner had 4 Good, 3 Bad, 4 Ugly and 1 Hero



Most Valuable Player is Tris Speaker with 6 Good


Least Valuable Player is Olaf Henriksen with 4 Bad


Ugliest Player of the Month is Harry Hooper with 7 Ugly


Heroes of the Month are - Carl Mays, Ralph Comstock, Heinie Wagner, Duffy Lewis and Rube Foster


Jackasses of the Month are - Duffy Lewis, Ernie Shore, Dutch Leonard, Hal Janvrin, Ray Collins and Dick Hoblitzell


Honorable Players of the Month are Mike McNally and Pinch Thomas

Sloppy Defense Leads to Yankees Win (4/29/15)

The whole month of April was a washout for the Boston Red Sox but today's game was the exclamation point. The New York Yankees took advantage of not one, not two, not three but FIVE errors to defeat the Sox 6-4 at Fenway Park to drop Boston to 5-6-1 on the season going into May. Not the best way to end the month of April, that's for sure.

                                                 Aaron Burr hates badly played games

Sox starter Ernie Shore (1-2, 4.30 ERA) wasted no time giving up the game's first run in the top of the first. Then a series of blunders led to a 5 run fourth inning that chased Shore from the game. Dutch Leonard stopped the bleeding but it was too late. The offense mustered a run in the sixth and a run in the seventh then rallied for 2 more in the ninth, but ultimately fell 6-4 to drop below .500 for the season.

Jackass of the Night is a tough one but it will have to be Ernie Shore. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings and gave up 6 runs and made one of the Sox' 5 errors during the game.

                                                     Shore the Jackass


The Good:

George Ruth pinch hit for Heinie Wagner and drove in a run with a double.

Mike McNally singled and scored in his only plate appearance.

Tris Speaker was 2 for 4 with a walk and drove in a run.

Duffy Lewis was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Dick Hoblitzell was 2 for 5 with an rbi.

Dutch Leonard pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings and walked at the plate.

Wally Rehg singled and scored as a pinch hitter.

Ray Collins pitched 2 scoreless innings.



The Bad:

Hal Janvrin was 0 for 4 with an error.

Hick Cady was 0 for 2.

Del Gainer was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Pinch Thomas was 0 for 1 with an error.

Olaf Henriksen was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.



The Ugly:

Harry Hooper was just 1 for 5 but stole a base and scored a run.

Heinie Wagner was 0 for 2 but walked.

Everett Scott was just 1 for 5 with an error but drove in a run.




Final Thoughts:

Thank god this month is over. The Sox are inconsistent on both sides of the ball and are making way too many errors in the field. The weather hasn't been great but that's no excuse for someone like Hal Janvrin to have 6 errors already. Luckily there is plenty of time to get their act together but today's effort just wasn't going to cut it. The Sox end the month at 5-6-1 and hopefully May will be better. Who knows who's pitching next and when due to all this rain.

Yankees Blank Sox on Two Hitter (4/27/15)

Once again the Boston Red Sox are back to .500 and just like in the first game of the year, they got blanked. This time the New York Yankees came to town and Ray Keating allowed just two hits to the anemic Sox offense. Rube Foster (1-1, 1.99 ERA) was game but couldn't match Keating as the Yankees came to Fenway Park and made a statement by handing the Sox a 2-0 defeat.

                                                 Old Hoss Radbourn is disgusted

Quite simply there was absolutely nothing to cheer about if you were a Red Sox fan unless you were at Fenway unless you are a big Rube Foster fan. Keating and Foster dueled each other for 6 innings before Roger Peckinpaugh knocked in a run in the top of the seventh. The Sox failed to counter and Peckinpaugh knocked in another in the top of the ninth off Ray Collins. That was the only scoring of the game as the Yankees won 2-0.

Jackass of the Night is a tough one since the team only mustered two total hits but I'll go with Hal Janvrin. He was 0 for 3 and one of his plate appearances came with Everett Scott on base, meaning he had a chance to double him in or hit a home run to take the lead/tie.

                                                       Janvrin the Jackass


The Good:

Del Gainer walked as a pinch hitter.

Duffy Lewis walked twice in four plate appearances.

One of the rare times the losing pitcher is on the good list. Rube Foster was outstanding tossing 8 innings allowing just 1 run. He also got one of the only Boston hits at the plate.



The Bad:

Dick Hoblitzell was 0 for 3.

Pinch Thomas was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Olaf Henriksen was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Ray Collins allowed a run in the ninth.



The Ugly:

Harry Hooper was 0 for 3 but walked.

Heinie Wagner was 0 for 2 but walked and stole a base.

Tris Speaker was 0 for 3 but walked and stole a base.

Everett Scott was just 1 for 4.



Honorable Mention:

Mike McNally played second base in the top of the ninth inning.




Final Thoughts:

Another lackluster performance by the Sox who just can't seem to get out of their own way to start this season. They're at 5-5-1 and the only good news is the Philadelphia Athletics are stumbling out of the gate as well. At least the Sox have time to get things right, if the offense ever warms up. The Sox are back in action with Ernie Shore on the mound taking on Marty McHale of the Yankees at Fenway Park.

Sox Rout A's in Rain Shortened Affair (4/26/15)

It was dirty, it was messy, it was rainy but it was a win. The Boston Red Sox sloshed through the mud to defeat the defending American League champion Philadelphia Athletics 9-2 after 7 rain shortened innings. George Ruth (1-0, 5.02 ERA) went the distance as Heinie Wagner and the offense pounded out 9 runs on just 7 hits to secure the victory at Fenway Park.

                                              Bob Fitzsimmons approves of the win

The Athletics struck first in the top of the second with a run but the Sox exploded for 5 runs in the bottom of the fourth, knocking starter Chick Davies out of the game. The Sox added another run in the fifth to chase Jack Harper and another run in the sixth off Rube Bressier. Another two runs off Rube made the score 9-2 before the rains came. After the Sox finished the bottom of the seventh, the umpires had enough and called the game. Down 7 runs with 2 to play, I doubt Athletics manager Connie Mack was going to complain. The Sox had won it 9-2.

Hero of the Night is Heinie Wagner. He was 2 for 2 and outdid the A's by himself with 3 runs batted in and 2 runs scored.

The Good:

Del Gainer was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbi's and 2 runs scored.

Everett Scott was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Hal Janvrin was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Bill Carrigan was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

George Ruth had his first win of the season by tossing a complete game while allowing just 2 runs. He was 0 for 3 at the plate but walked and scored a run.



The Bad:

None



The Ugly:

Happy Hooper was just 1 for 4 but walked scored 3 runs and stole a base.

Tris Speaker was 0 for 3 but walked.

Duffy Lewis was 0 for 2 but walked, scored a run and hit a sac fly.



Honorable Mention:

Mike McNally played second base in the top of the seventh.




Final Thoughts:

Now that's more like it. After getting shut down by Herb Pennock again on Tuesday, the Sox stormed back today (no pun intended) to take this game to get back above .500. April is coming to a close but the Sox didn't come out of the gate firing. Something tells me once Dutch Leonard gets going, he can help tremendously since the other pitchers seemed to be capable of handling themselves in pressure packed situations. Tomorrow the New York Yankees come to down with Ray Keating in tow. Standing in the way will be Rube Foster and the Sox at Fenway Park.

Athletics Beat Rusty Leonard, Pennock Wins Again (4/24/15)

Guess Dutch Leonard (0-1, 9.82 ERA) wasn't ready for prime time this season. Once again Herb Pennock and the Philadelphia Athletics stymied the Boston Red Sox, this time at Fenway Park. The Athletics led by a series of doubles and another error on Hal Janvrin knocked off the Sox 6-3.

                                             Harry Wright doesn't like bad Boston pitching

The Athletics lit up Leonard for 2 runs in the top of the first although the Sox answered with one of their own in the bottom of the first. The Athletics got that run right back in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead. The A's struck back with 2 runs in the 4th to chase Leonard with George Ruth coming in to give up the 6th run. The Sox got a run in the bottom of the eighth and another in the bottom of the ninth, but that was it. Pennock was now 2-0 against the Sox with another complete game effort.

Jackass of the Night is Dutch Leonard. He looked rusty as hell in his season debut, allowing 5 runs in 3 2/3 innings on 7 hits and 2 walks.

                                                Nice going Dutch you Jackass


The Good:

Heinie Wagner was 1 for 3 with a run scored before being carried out on a stretcher.

Del Gainer walked and was hit with a pitch in four plate appearances plus stole a base.

Everett Scott walked twice and scored a run in four plate appearances.

Bill Carrigan walked in two plate appearances.

Raymond Haley walked and scored a run as a pinch hitter.

Rube Foster pitched 2 shutout innings.



The Bad:

Mike McNally was 0 for 2 after coming in for Wagner.

Hal Janvrin was 0 for 4 with an error that cost a run.

Wally Rehg struck out as a pinch hitter.

Hick Cady was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.



The Ugly:

Harry Hooper was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked twice.

Tris Speaker was just 1 for 4 but walked, stole a base and scored.

Duffy Lewis was just 1 for 4 but walked, stole a base and drove in a run.

George Ruth allowed a run in 3 2/3 innings pitched and struck out at the plate.



Honorable Mention:

Pinch Thomas caught the top of the ninth inning.

Dick Hoblitzell pinch ran for Cady.




Final Thoughts:

That damn Herb Pennock again. Its bad enough Leonard wasn't ready to go but losing to the kid again sucks. The offense just missed getting back in the game but this is the second time Herb has shut them down. The loss drops the Sox to .500 at 4-4, not the start you want if you hope to compete for the AL Pennant, something they haven't won in three years. Thankfully the Sox have another game to take out their frustrations on the Athletics. George Ruth goes for the Sox opposite Chick Davies in the final game of this set at Fenway Park.

Sox Beat A's in Ninth on Error (4/22/15)

The Boston Red Sox won their first game at home this season in dramatic style. Trailing 6-5 to the Philadelphia Athletics in the final frame, the Sox rallied due to an error from second basemen Eddie Murphy to walkoff on the defending AL Champs 7-6 to open Fenway Park in style.

                                                    John F Fitzgerald approves of the win

The once great Napoleon Lajoie also committed FIVE errors throughout the game. The Sox struck first with a run in the bottom of the second but the A's responded with 4 off starter Ernie Shore in the top of the third. The Sox responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth but the A's scored runs in the top of the fifth and sixth to take a 6-2 lead and chase Shore from the game. The Sox got a run in the bottom of the seventh to chase Athletics starter Weldon Wyckoff then got 2 more in the bottom of the eighth against Bob Shawkey. Down 6-5 and at their final out, Eddie Murphy allowed a crucial error which led to the 7-6 victory for the Sox.

Hero of the Night is Ralph Comstock (2-0, 2.00 ERA). He tossed 3 innings of shut-out relief to earn the win and he scored a run at the plate.

                                                            Ralph the Hero


The Good:

Harry Hooper was 2 for 5 with a walk, run scored and an rbi.

Tris Speaker was 2 for 3 with 2 walks, a run scored and an rbi.

Duffy Lewis was 2 for 5.

Hal Janvrin was 1 for 3.

Del Gainer walked with the bases loaded as a pinch hitter.

Hick Cady was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and run scored.

Wally Rehg stole a base and scored as a pinch runner.

Pinch Thomas stole a base and scored as a pinch runner.



The Bad:

Mike McNally was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Ernie Shore sucked. He lasted just 6 innings and allowed 6 runs off FOURTEEN hits. He also was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Olaf Henriksen was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.



The Ugly:

Heinie Wagner was 0 for 5 but walked.

Dick Hoblitzell was 0 for 3 with an error but walked twice and drove in a run.

Everett Scott was 0 for 4 but walked, stole a base and scored a run.




Final Thoughts:

How about those runnin' Red Sox? Twice they sent in a pinch runner, twice they stole a base and twice they scored runs. Every run counted in this improbable win over last year's pennant winners. The Athletics have lost 5 of their first 7 games so they're not off to a good start. Sure the Sox are just 4-3 but its better than that. The Sox return to action against the Athletics next time with Dutch Leonard, last year's ERA champion, making his season debut opposite Herb Pennock, who blinded the Sox on Opening Day. Hopefully this time around will be different.

Senators Pound Sox (4/21/15)

Gadzooks that was bad! Last year's ace Ray Collins (0-2, 6.43 ERA) got absolutely hammered by the Washington Senators while Joe Boehling set down the Boston Red Sox offense. The Sox committed an incredible 5 errors which set the stage for a convincing 11-3 victory at Griffith Stadium.

                                      Eberhard Anheuser can't stand blowouts

Once again Rip Williams lit up the Red Sox but this time had help from Chick Gandil and a home run by Clyde Milan. The Senators pounded out 11 runs on 9 hits as they smashed Collins into submission. Ralph Comstock got tagged for two runs himself in mop up duty. The only two real highlights for the Sox was a 2 run bomb courtesy of Duffy Lewis and the first hit in the major league debut of Mike McNally. Otherwise the Senators took the series with the 11-3 win.

Jackass of the Night is Ray Collins. He allowed NINE runs, albeit 6 earned, in just 6 innings in what was just an absolutely garbage day for the Sox.

                                                         Collins is the Jackass


The Good:

Harry Hooper walked once in two plate appearances before the leaving the game.

Mike McNally was 1 for 2 with a run scored in his major league debut.

Tris Speaker was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Duffy Lewis was 2 for 4 with a home run.

Del Gainer was 1 for 2 with an rbi.

Hal Janvrin was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Rube Foster walked as a pinch hitter.



The Bad:

Wally Rehg was 0 for 2 after coming in for Hooper.

Heinie Wagner was 0 for 2 with an error.

Dick Hoblitzell was 0 for 2.

Bill Carrigan was 0 for 2 with an error.

Raymond Haley was 0 for 2.

Ralph Comstock allowed 2 runs in 2 innings.



The Ugly:

Everett Scott was just 1 for 4 with an error.




Final Thoughts:

Holy smokes what a beatdown. Its bad enough everything the Senators hit found a hole but when you commit FIVE errors, that's when you know you've had a bad day. Maybe the Sox spent too much time at Third Base last night, who knows. The good news is tomorrow is another day and speaking of tomorrow, its the Fenway Park home opener. This year the defending champion Philadelphia Athletics are in town with Ernie Shore getting the start against Weldon Wyckoff.

Hooper, Foster Lead Sox Past Senators (4/20/15)

After getting dispatched by Walter Johnson yesterday, the Boston Red Sox offense returned to form against the lowly Washington Senators, defeating them with the pitching of Rube Foster (1-0, 2.84 ERA) and the offense led by Harry Hooper. Foster was outstanding, holding the Senators to two runs as the Sox took the third game in this four game set 5-2 at Griffith Stadium.

                                                      James J Corbett approves of the win

The Senators struck first with 2 runs off Foster in the bottom of the first inning but the Sox answered with 2 in the third off starter Bert Gallia. The Sox took the lead in the top of the sixth and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. They wrapped up the scoring with a run off Doc Avers in the top of the ninth as Foster slammed the door in the bottom of the ninth to earn his first win of the season.

Hero of the Night is Rube Foster. He went the distance to earn his first win of the year, scattering 8 hits while allowing just two runs. He also was 2 for 3 at the plate, drove in a run and scored.

                                                      The rube is the Hero


The Good:

Heinie Wagner was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.

Tris Speaker was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Everett Scott was 2 for 4.

Pinch Thomas was 2 for 3 with a run scored.



The Bad:

Duffy Lewis was 0 for 4.



The Ugly:

Harry Hooper was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs and scored.

Dick Hoblitzell was just 1 for 4.

Hal Janvrin was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.




Final Thoughts:

Now that was more like it. The Sox needed a good start from Foster and he delivered. It also got the offense it was desperately lacking yesterday against Walter Johnson. The Sox need to sustain this kind of production if they have any hope of competing for the pennant. Tris Speaker is only hitting .150 so far but his offense will come.  If Foster, Leonard and Wood can be the trio of terror their potential shows, this will be a very formidable team to beat down the road. The Sox and Senators play their finale tomorrow with Ray Collins going up against Jim Boehling at Griffith Stadium.

Rip Williams, Senators Sink Sox (4/19/15)

After yesterday's rainout allowed Walter Johnson enough time to pitch today's game, he lived up to his billing as a great pitcher. Even so, one man nearly singlehandedly beat the Boston Red Sox and it wasn't Johnson. Rip Williams, the Washington Senators 1st basemen, drove in all four of Washington's runs as Johnson shut down the Boston attack. When it was all said and done Washington had won the game 4-2 at Griffith Stadium.

                                             Archduke Ferdinand doesn't like Walter Johnson

The Sox wasted no time scoring when Tris Speaker drove in Harry Hooper in the top of the first inning, then Hooper drove in rookie pitcher Carl Mays in the top of the fifth. The Senators fought back to tie the game when Williams drove in 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ray Collins replaced Mays in the 7th and allowed 2 runs in the bottom of the eighth to give the Senators the lead. Johnson slammed the door in the top of the ninth to give the game to the Senators.

Jackass of the Night is Dick Hoblitzell. He went 0 for 4 and bungled an error in the field.

                                                  Dick the Jackass


The Good:

Harry Hooper was 2 for 3 with a walk, run scored and rbi.

Tris Speaker was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Pinch Thomas was 1 for 3.

Carl Mays tossed 6 innings of 2 run ball, also he singled and scored at the plate.



The Bad:

Heinie Wagner was 0 for 3.

Duffy Lewis was 0 for 4.

Everett Scott was 0 for 3.

Olaf Henriksen struck out as a pinch hitter.

Ray Collins took the loss allowing 2 runs in 2 innings.



The Ugly:

Hal Janvrin was 1 for 3 but committed 2 costly errors.



Honorable Mention:

Bill Carrigan caught the bottom of the eighth.




Final Thoughts:

Not much you can do against a pitcher the caliber of Johnson, luckily he only pitches once every 4 days. He shut down the Sox offense pretty good and he certainly is something else. The defense coughed up 3 errors which led to two unearned runs. Mays pitched well all things considering and hopefully next time out he'll get some run support. Tomorrow is the final game of the series and Rube Foster gets the ball against Bert Gallia at Griffith Stadium.

Sox Stun Senators in Ninth (4/17/15)

The Boston Red Sox got back to their winning ways in today's game against the Washington Senators, stunning the home crowd with a thrilling 7-5 victory at Griffith Stadium. Senators starter Jim Boehling was game but tired by the end and Walter Johnson was asked to stop the Sox in the ninth inning. It didn't happen as the Sox scored 2 runs off Johnson, getting one final shut-down inning from Ernie Shore to win the game.

                        Harry Van Meter approves of the win

The Sox and Senators battled through most of the game although starter Rube Foster didn't have it. The Senators took the lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th off Shore but the Sox won it in the ninth inning.


Hero of the Night is Duffy Lewis. He was 2 for 4 with 2 runs batted in, a walk and 2 runs scored.

                                                     Lewis is the Hero



The Good:

Harry Hooper was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and an rbi.

Hal Janvrin was 1 for 3 with 2 runs batted in and a run scored.

Ernie Shore earned the win by tossing 5 1/3 innings, allowing just 2 runs. He slammed the door in the ninth inning after the Sox had taken the lead.



The Bad:

None



The Ugly:

Heinie Wagner was just 1 for 4 but walked, scored and drove in 2 runs.

Tris Speaker was 0 for 4 but walked, stole a base and scored.

Dick Hoblitzell was 0 for 2 but was hit with a pitch.

Everett Scott was just 1 for 4.

Hick Cady was 0 for 2 but walked and scored.

Rube Foster was knocked out in the fourth inning after allowing 3 runs, but at the plate he walked and scored.




Final Thoughts:

That was a big early season win not only against the Senators, but against Walter Johnson as well. Granted, Johnson was ice cold but to get some runs off him is a rare treat. Rube Foster looked rusty as all hell but hopefully he'll find his groove. After all, the Sox can't rely on Ernie Shore to bail them out in every single game. Somebody besides Dutch Leonard and Smoky Joe Wood is going to have to step up on the mound, maybe Foster can do it as the season goes on. Tomorrow is Game 2 of this series and rookie Carl Mays gets the unenviable task of matching up against Walter Johnson. Good luck Carl.

Sox Tie A's Amidst Ejections (4/16/15)

After the Philadelphia Athletics won on Opening Day and the Boston Red Sox took the rematch yesterday, the rubber match didn't give a clear cut winner. The two teams fought to a 6-6 tie as guys were getting thrown out left and right before the game was called. The prevailing issue that's the A's are far less formidable now that Home Run Baker, Jack Barry, Eddie Collins and Chief Bender are gone. The Sox could have the inside track to the pennant this season if it all goes well.

                                                   The repeat champion A's are gone

As for the game, there was a lot of offense and not much pitching. 20 year old George Ruth couldn't get it done but the offense picked him up big time. The Sox bolted to a 6-1 lead on the backs of Larry Gardner, Duffy Lewis, Heinie Wagner, Everett Scott and Tris Speaker. Then Ruth got hammered in the fifth inning as the A's fought back to make it 6-5. Then Dutch Leonard, Smoky Joe Wood, Ernie Shore, Wally Rehg and Raymond Haley were all thrown out of the game for running out onto the field.

                                  "Hey Smoky Joe Wood yer outta here!" - Tommy Connolly

When action resumed, Ralph Comstock gave up the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Carl Mays, fresh off his opening day win, pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the tie. There was no winner or loser in this one.

There is no Jackass or Hero of the Night since the game ended in a tie.



The Good:

Harry Hooper walked 3 times in 5 plate appearances and scored 2 runs.

Heinie Wagner was 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.

Dick Hoblitzell was 1 for 1 with 2 walks, a stolen base and a run scored.

Everett Scott was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Carl Mays pitched a scoreless 9th inning.



The Bad:

Bill Carrigan was 0 for 3.

Olaf Henriksen was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Hal Janvrin was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.



The Ugly:

Tris Speaker was 0 for 5 but drove in a run, stole a base and scored.

Duffy Lewis was 0 for 2 but walked, drove in a run and scored.

Larry Gardner was just 1 for 4 with an rbi.

Babe Ruth got lit up for 5 runs and got knocked out in the 5th inning however he was 1 for 2 at the plate and scored a run.

Ralph Comstock allowed the tying run to score in four innings pitched although he walked in his only at-bat.



Honorable Mention:

Pinch Thomas caught the bottom of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

If the A's are going down this year, the Sox may be the ones to beat them. It took a near perfect effort from Herb Pennock for the Sox not to have taken 2 out of 3 in Philly to start the year. The Sox need Joe Wood to return to 1912 form and for Leonard and Shore to have good years. Anything else is a bonus really. Tomorrow the Sox travel to our nation's capital to play the Washington Senators. Rube Foster makes his season debut opposite Jim Boehling.

Sox Late Rally Sinks A's (4/15/15)

After a pathetic opening day performance by the Boston Red Sox, they redeemed themselves a day later by stunning the defending American League champion Philadelphia Athletics with a late rally in the ninth inning to take home a 5-3 victory at Shibe Park.

                                                 John L Sullivan approves of the win

The Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead but starter Ray Collins faltered and left the game trailing 3-2. Olaf Henriksen pinch hit for Ray and walked, scoring on the rbi single by Harry Hooper. Rookie Carl Mays made his major league debut in the bottom of the seventh inning and shut-out the A's the rest of the way. The Sox added two runs in the top of the ninth with Mays slamming in the door in the bottom of the frame to win their first game 5-3.

Hero of the Night is Carl Mays. In his very first professional game he tossed 3 shut-out innings for his first major league win.

                                             The submarine pitcher is the Hero

The Good:

Heinie Wagner was 2 for 4 with a walk and an rbi.

Tris Speaker was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, a stolen base and a run scored.

Duffy Lewis was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base.

Dick Hoblitzell was 3 for 5 with an rbi.

Larry Gardner was 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.

Ray Collins got a no-decision as he pitched 6 innings of 3 run ball.

Olaf Henriksen walked and scored as a pinch hitter.



The Bad:

None.



The Ugly:

Harry Hooper was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as it was an rbi single.

Everett Scott was just 1 for 4.

Bill Carrigan was 0 for 2 but walked and drove in a run.




Final Thoughts:

Now that's more like it. After their freezing cold performance against Herb Pennock and the A's yesterday, this was a nice bounceback win to show that they can hang with the AL champs. After all the Sox and A's are arguably the two best teams in the American League so it may come down to one of them winning the pennant. The Sox have the offense to match the A's but the question is if they have the pitching. It remains to be seen although the big 20 year old lefty George Ruth takes the mound tomorrow in the finale against Rube Bressier at Shibe Park.

Sox Almost No-Hit on Opening Day (4/14/15)

Talk about a horrible opening day for the Boston Red Sox. 21 year old Herb Pennock of the Philadelphia Athletics was just one out away from no-hitting the Sox until Harry Hooper hit a chopper over the mound and beat out Nap Lajoie's throw. That salvaged the day in near sub-zero temperatures for the Sox who were defeated 2-0 in front of about 8,000 hearty souls at Shibe Park.

                                "That's all they got, one goddamned hit?" - Woodrow Wilson

The play of the game came when Pennock himself drove in Wally Schang to give the A's the lead. With Pennock pitching a no-no, that's all they needed.

Jackass of the Night is a tough one since they only had one hit but I'll go with Duffy Lewis. He's the cleanup hitter and had one of the only chances to do any sort of damage when Tris Speaker drew a walk just before he came to bat. A bloop or a blast could have tied the game.

                                                       Lewis the Jackass

The Good:

One of the rare times the losing pitcher ends up on the good list. Ernie Shore pitched the best he could, pitching a complete game and only allowing 2 runs. Any other day that would have been enough for a win.

The Bad:

Heinie Wagner was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Dick Hoblitzell was 0 for 2.

Del Gainer struck out as a pinch hitter.

Everett Scott was 0 for 3.

Larry Gardner was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Hick Cady was 0 for 3.

Wally Rehg was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

The Ugly:

Harry Hooper was just 1 for 4.

Tris Speaker was 0 for 2 but walked.

Final Thoughts:

Nothing like opening the season almost getting no-hit on a freezing cold day. God bless the A's fans that put up with it until the end. I'm sure the offense will come eventually but that was as bad as it gets for opening day. Ernie Shore pitched his ass off but had nothing to show for it. Tomorrow the Sox look for revenge when they send Ray Collins to the mound opposite "Bullet" Joe Bush at Shibe Park.

A's Hold Off Sox in Defeat (4/12/13)

Two games in a row the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Athletics have come down to the final out. Unfortunately for Boston, both times it was Connie Mack's A's that have come out the winner. Neither Jack Coombs of the A's or Hugh Bedient of the Red Sox could last more than an inning and when the game more or less reset in the second inning, only the A's scored a run which led to a 5-4 Philly win at Fenway Park.

The game really came down to the top of the third inning with Dutch Leonard (0-1) on the mound facing Stuffy McInnis in a 4-4 game. If Leonard had struck him out the game would have remained tied, instead he drove in Eddie Collins with what would eventually be the winning run. The problem was the Red Sox smacked around Jack Coombs who Connie Mack curiously started 2 days after Opening Day but Eddie Plank was up to the task. Plank scattered 6 hits in 8 2/3 shutout innings to win the game and pave the way for Boston's defeat.

Jackass of the Night is Hugh Bedient. You would think the Sox would be able to smack Coombs around given he started just two days ago, so if Hugh had even a half decent start, the Sox may have won this one.

                                                         Jackass of the Night: Hugh Bedient


The Good:

Tris Speaker was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Hal Janvrin was 2 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Bill Carrigan was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

One of the rare times the losing pitcher makes the good list but Dutch Leonard was outstanding in long relief, tossing 8 innings of 1 run ball. The one run just happened to be a difference maker. He also was 1 for 2 at the plate.



The Bad:

Neil Ball struck out as a pinch hitter.

Clyde Engle failed to reach as a pinch hitter.

Jake Stahl struck out as a pinch hitter.



The Ugly:

Harry Hooper was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.

Steve Yerkes was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Duffy Lewis was 0 for 2 but drove in a run.

Larry Gardner was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Heinie Wagner was 0 for 3 but walked and drove in a run.




Final Thoughts:

Once again this is not how the Boston Red Sox wanted to open the season. After losing a slugfest on Opening Day, they lose a battle of long relief pitchers today. The A's have always been a good team, as they repeated as champions in 1910 and 1911, so this is a great test to find out if the Sox can hang with them this year. So far they can....but Philly seems to have that something extra. It would be unfair to expect Smoky Joe Wood to have a similar season to 1912 but he's got to be great to match Chief Bender and the A's this year. The Sox start a series on Monday with the newly named New York Yankees, no longer the Highlanders. Smoky Joe Wood looks to rebound from his Opening Day disaster opposite Ray Caldwell.

A's Edge Sox on Opening Day (4/10/13)

The defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox provided offensive spark by scoring 9 runs but unfortunately the Philadelphia Athletics wanted to establish dominance in the American League by pouncing on the Sox for 10 runs to knock off Boston 10-9 at Fenway Park.

The key play came in the top of the sixth with Jack Lapp on third base and Jack Coombs on second. Eddie Murphy hit a routine grounder to Heinie Wagner and Lapp bluffed home, so Wagner tossed home to catcher Hick Cady. Lapp jogged back to third...only to see Coombs standing there. Coombs made a mad dash back to second in a rundown and made it....only for Murphy to be standing there. They had Murphy dead to rights at first....and Charley "Sea Lion" Hall the pitcher heaved the ball into the stands for a run scoring error. The A's ultimately won 10-9.

Jackass of the Night is Sea Lion Hall. His error turned out to be the difference in the game as he allowed 3 runs total.

                                "Maybe I shouldn't heave the ball into the bleachers!"


The Good:

Steve Yerkes was 2 for 5 with 3 rbi's and 2 runs scored.

Duffy Lewis was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.

Olaf Henriksen was 1 for 1 as a pinch hitter, driving in a run and scoring.

Rube Foster pitched a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Hick Cady was 0 for 2.

Les Nunamaker was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Clyde Engle was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.



The Ugly:

Harry Hooper was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored twice.

Tris Speaker was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in a run and scored.

Larry Gardner was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.

Hal Javrin was 0 for 3 but drove in a run.

Heinie Wagner was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Smoky Joe Wood only lasted 5 innings and gave up 7 runs, but walked and scored at the plate.



Final Thoughts:

Not exactly the best way for the champs to make their season debut. Saturday Hugh Bedient makes his season debut against....Jack Coombs....again. Is Connie Mack out of his mind?