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.