Athletics Top Pilgrims (4/29/01)

That's three games and three losses for the new Boston Pilgrims of the American League. After John McGraw's Baltimore Orioles scored over twenty runs against Jimmy Collins' crew, today Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics put a hurting on the Pilgrims, scoring eight runs against George Cuppy. Bad defense also plagued the Pilgrims as they committed three errors which allowed four unearned runs to score. Meanwhile Bill Bernhard held the Pilgrims to just 5 runs. The bats failed to deliver with runners in scoring position as they managed 13 hits but only five runs. It all added up to yet another defeat as the Athletics beat the Pilgrims 8-5 in front of just 3,000 people at Columbia Park.

                                              James J Corbett laughs at the Pilgrims loss

Jackass of the Night is George Cuppy. He got rocked for 8 runs despite going the distance. He allowed 13 hits and struck out no one. He was 1 for 4 at the plate with an rbi.

                                                                      George Jackass

The Good:

Charlie Hemphill was 2 for 5.

Jimmy Collins was 3 for 5 with a run scored.

Buck Freeman was 3 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Lou Criger was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

The Bad:

Hobe Ferris was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

The Ugly:

Tommy Dowd was just 1 for 4 with an error but walked, stole two bases and scored a run.

Chick Stahl was just 1 for 5.

Freddy Parent was just 1 for 4 with an error but drove in a run and scored a run.

Final Thoughts:

Things aren't starting out well for the Pilgrims that's for sure. That's three straight games where the pitchers allowed 8 or more runs. You're not going to win too many games giving up that many runs a game. Hopefully this is just April jitters because its a new league, new teams and bad weather going around right now. The problem for the team is pitching and defense, that's another game with multiple errors for the Pilgrims. If they cut down on their infield mistakes that would be less runs allowed and maybe the Pilgrims would win a few more games on that factor alone. Hopefully things will come around because the Pilgrims will be playing in front of nobody at the Huntington Avenue Grounds at this rate. Tickets are cheaper than the Boston Beaneaters but nobody wants to pay to see a losing team. The Sox look to end April with their first win tomorrow afternoon when Cyclone Young (0-1) takes the mound against Billy Milligan of the Athletics. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Columbia Park.