The Athletics are outhit by a wide margin, but win their third straight game, 4-2
BOSTON, April 25, 1910 – After a Sunday rest, the Athletics and host Red Sox resumed their hostilities on another unseasonably cold day in The Hub of the Solar System. For the third consecutive game, opportunity knocked for both teams, once again, Boston did not answer the door. The Mackmen were outhit by a three to one ratio, but made the most of their chances.
Red Sox manager Patsy Donovan sent the fire balling Joe Wood to the box in hopes of salvaging the third game of the four-game set. Despite being just 20 years of age, Wood and the Athletics are old acquaintances. On October 3, 1908, Wood, just 18, won his first major league game – a rain-shortened, six inning shutout over Mack’s Athletics, 5-0. It was the final game the Athletics ever played in their original home – Columbia Park.
Mack had originally planned to start Chief Bender this afternoon. In a change of plans, however, Mack decided to push Bender back for a start in New York later in the week. Instead, the slender Tommy Atkins was tabbed to make his season debut. The young lefty made his major league debut on the final day of the regular season last year. He was matched up against the great Walter Johnson – and, despite an uneven performance, it was enough to earn the victory.
Of the 4,094 bundled up in wool and fur, there was a special guest at Huntington Avenue Grounds. Former star shortstop George Wright of the 70’s Boston Red Stockings teams was in attendance. The frosty conditions made the hot chocolate vendor everybody’s best friend. The gale blowing out to left field would eventually come into play.
The Athletics looked to start trouble in the very first inning. With two men down, the hot-hitting Eddie Collins singled to left and promptly stole second base. Frank Baker, still mired in his early-season slump, hit a hard come-backer at Wood. The ball took a high hop on the damp field and was sure to go into center field. The younger pitcher leapt in the air and with every bit of his five foot, eleven inch frame, snared the ball and fired to first baseman Jake Stahl to retire the side. Running on contact, Collins would have scored easily on the play.
Boston wasted no time in scoring. Amby McConnell led off with a walk. Harry Lord laid down a bunt to move the runner along. While first baseman Harry Davis charged as the pitch was being delivered, second baseman Collins forgot to cover the bag. Atkins fielded Lord’s bunt and had no play at third. The Red Sox were in business. Donovan ordered Speaker to bunt, and he laid down a beauty toward third base. In a brilliant defensive play, Baker charged the ball and made an off-balance throw to Davis – nipping Speaker by half a step.
Stahl floated one into center field – scoring McConnell. Heinie Wagner hit into a fielder’s choice – forcing Stahl at second with Lord stopping at third base. Harry Niles snuck a grounder past shortstop Stuffy McInnis and the Red Sox had a 2-0 lead. Atkins stopped the bleeding when he got Duffy Lewis to ground out to second.
Collins led off the top of the fourth inning with his team down 2-0. He got a hold of Wood’s fastball and launched a high fly ball in the direction of the short fence in left field. The ball was high enough that it got picked up by the jet stream out to left. The ball started to drift farther and farther. Lewis drifted along until finally reaching the fence. Lewis timed his jump but the sphere landed just out his reach and into the sparsely populated bleachers. It was Eddie’s fifth career home run. Wood got Baker, Davis, and Danny Murphy to fly out in succession to avoid further damage.
The White Elephants kept the pressure on in their half of the fifth inning. McInnis opened with a double to left. The play at second base was so close that when umpire Tommy Connolly made his call, Red Sox captain Lord raced in to argue over his decision. The call, obviously, stood. Ira Thomas fouled out to Lord. McInnis then reached third on a passed ball by catcher Bill Carrigan. Atkins struck out and Hartsel drew a base on base balls. Hartsel broke for second on the first pitch to Oldring. Carrigan avoided making the throw for fear of allowing McInnis to score a cheap run.
Oldring shot a sharp single to left field – easily scoring McInnis. Hartsel, now 36 and having lost a step, was chugging around third. Left fielder Lewis made a perfect, one-hop throw to Carrigan. Hartsel was out by twenty feet. Carrigan, however, muffed the ball on the hop and it bounced to the backstop – scoring Hartsel and allowing Oldring to get all the way to third base. Collins followed with a fly to right-center field. Right fielder Niles caught up to the ball but dropped it immediately, allowing Rube to score the third run of the inning. All of a sudden, the visitors held a 4-2 lead. The snake-bit Baker hit a sharp grounder that was knocked down by McConnell to retire the side.
The score remained 4-2 as the game breezed into the bottom of the ninth inning. Mack decided to keep his young starter in the game with the heart of Boston’s order due up. Lord hit a come-backer to Atkins for the first out, and Speaker followed with a ground ball to Collins for out number two. Stahl, not ready for the shower, poked his third hit of the game to bring up the tying run in the person of Heinie Wagner. The hefty shortstop popped out to Davis and the Athletics have a three-game winning streak.
The box is as follows:
NOTES:
- Third baseman Frank Baker’s early-season struggles continue. Through eight games, he is hitting a meager .182 with one extra-base hit.
- Left fielder Topsy Hartsel isn’t hitting but is getting on base at a healthy clip. After Monday’s 0-1, 3 BB performance, Topsy’s average dipped to .167, but his on-base percentage has soared to .429.
- The Athletics averted disaster in the bottom of the fourth inning. Baker was chasing a foul pop off the bat of Heinie Wagner, Baker slipped on the wet grass and crashed against the fence – hurting his hand. He stayed in the game, but that is an injury to keep a keen eye on as the season progresses.
- Shortstop Jack Barry (ankle) is getting closer to returning to the starting lineup.
- The two teams are slated to complete the four-game set this afternoon (April 26). Weather permitting, of course. The Athletics will then ship off to New York.
American League
Yesterday’s scores (April 25, 1910):
- Philadelphia 4, Boston 2
- New York 5, Washington 2
- St. Louis 6, Detroit 5 (12 innings)
- Chicago 2, Cleveland 0
National League
Yesterday’s scores (April 25, 1910):
- Philadelphia 5, Boston 5 (game called, darkness)
- New York 3, Brooklyn 1
- St. Louis 8, Cincinnati 3
- Pittsburgh at Chicago (rain)
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