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.

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.