Young lefty locks down the Red Sox, 3-0
BOSTON, April 22, 1910 – Young southpaw Harry Krause arrived at the Huntington Avenue Grounds this afternoon and held the high-powered Red Sox offense off the board for a full nine innings. It was precarious at times, but a whitewashing, nonetheless.
Connie’s White Elephants arrived at the Hub late this morning and headed to their hotel for a quick lunch before heading to the ball grounds for their first tussle with Boston this season. The Red Sox offense would present a challenge – they had just scored 21 runs in four games against Washington; winning three of the four. The young outfield of Duffy Lewis, Tris Speaker, and Harry Hooper, dubbed the Speed Boys by the local press, has star potential.
Krause, making his season debut, is coming off a superb 1909 campaign and is on the verge of stardom. The baby-faced San Franciscan finished his maiden campaign 18-8, with seven shutouts and a 1.39 earned run average. Mack is expecting a repeat performance.
The day was cold, grey, and damp. An overnight rain left the outfield a sloppy mess. The Athletics had a promising start to the game as lead off man Topsy Hartsel drew his usual base on balls to commence a contest – this one off Red Sox starter Charley Hall. Rube Oldring and Eddie Collins each followed by grounding into a fielder’s choice. Frank Baker struck out and the Athletics came out with nothing across in their half of the initial frame.
The Red Sox looked as if they would continue their early-season, offensive onslaught in their half of the first. Amby McConnell walked and Harry Lord followed by shooting a single to right. Krause, unable to locate the plate, walked Speaker and the Hubmen had every station occupied with nobody out. Jake Stahl roped a low liner that would have easily plated a pair of runs. However, second baseman Eddie Collins had other plans. He speared the smash and threw to first baseman Harry Davis to double off Speaker who was caught in no-man’s land. Heinie Wagner popped a foul ball to Davis for the final out.
Hall and Krause – after his first inning, high wire act – both settled into a relative groove. The Red Sox had their chances throughout. Three runners reached third base and seven reached second – all without denting the dish a single time. The Red Sox threatened again in the fourth inning. After two were down, Wagner singled and Harry Niles doubled. Hooper had a chance to plate two runs with a safety to the outfield. He got a hold of a Krause offering and sliced it to deep left field where Hartsel flagged it down – and, once again, Krause was off the ropes.
The Elephants finally tallied a run in the sixth inning. Collins doubled to deep center field and advanced to third on Baker’s ground out. Collins scored on a bingle by the struggling Davis and the visitors had a 1-0 lead. The Red Sox avoided further damage in the inning when shortstop Wagner made a running, over-the-shoulder catch on a ball flared by Stuffy McInnis.
The Red Sox kept the pressure on, and each time Krause and the Athletics’ defense answered the call. In the bottom half of the sixth, Boston nearly answered back. Lord was safe on an error by Krause and took second on Speaker’s sacrifice. Stahl worked a walk and Wagner flied out to right fielder Danny Murphy. With two down, Boston manager Patsy Donovan called for a double steal. Lord and Stahl executed it to perfection. Again, two were in scoring position. Once again, Krause buckled down. Niles popped a foul to Davis who snared it at the edge of the grandstand to nullify another Boston rally.
It remained a one-run game until the ninth inning. Ira Thomas hit a slow grounder to second baseman McConnell who bobbled the ball, recovered, then threw the ball in the dirt where Stahl was unable to make the scoop. Krause bunted to Stahl, who foolishly attempted to nab Thomas at second – both runners were safe. Hartsel followed with a sacrifice to Hall who took the out at first. Oldring then split the right-center field gap with a ringing triple that scored both runners to give the Mackmen a 3-0 cushion. Collins fouled out and Baker struck out, ending the frame.
The Red Sox had one last chance. After retiring Stahl and Wagner, Niles singled and Duffy Lewis, pinch hitting for Hooper, got a hit of his own. Bill Carrigan came up to the plate, representing the tying run. As he had all day, Krause focused on the task and coaxed Carrigan to loft a can of corn to Hartsel – ending the hostilities for the day.
The box is as follows:
NOTES:
- Friday’s decision in Boston was 21-year old Harry Krause’s twentieth career victory and eighth career shutout.
- The sky was so dark and ominous that batters from both teams had a tough time seeing and gauging the speed of pitches – especially, Charley Hall’s fastball.
- In the eighth inning, Red Sox second baseman Amby McConnell took an inside pitch from Krause which seemed to hit the knob of the bat and called a foul ball. McConnell protested to home plate umpire Bill Dinneen that he was hit on the wrist. Dinneen agreed and awarded McConnell first base.
- Mack will send Eddie Plank to the box this afternoon. Red Sox manager Patsy Donovan will counter with knuckleballer Eddie Cicotte.
American League
Yesterday’s scores (April 22, 1910):
- Philadelphia 3, Boston 0
- Detroit 5, Cleveland 2
- New York 3, Washington 1
- Chicago at St. Louis (rain)
National League
Yesterday’s scores (April 22, 1910):
- Philadelphia 3, Boston 0
- Pittsburgh 4, St. Louis 0
- Brooklyn 3, New York 1
- Cincinnati at Chicago (rain)
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