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 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 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.