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Ira Flagstead helps win in
12 innings while |
ON THIS DATE (September 14, 1923) ... George Burns made an unassisted triple play in the game between the Red Sox and the Indians. Unfortunately less than 2500 fans saw the performance, with the attendance being unusually sparse because of the cold and the threatening weather. Incidentally, the Red Sox beat the Indians 4 to 3, in a 12 inning battle, culminating with a thrilling finish. With the bases loaded, Ira Flagstead came through with a line drive to left-field which scored the tying and winning runs. Joe Shaute pitched a great game for the Indians except in the first inning and the last inning, when the Red Sox scored all their runs. He was taken out of the game in the 12th inning with the bases full and nobody out and it was against Guy Morton that Flagstead got the game-winning hit. Al Devormer batting in place of Mike Menosky led off with a double against the scoreboard. Joe Harris was intentionally passed and Rube Lutzke fumbled the attempted sacrifice by Howie Shanks. Then Morton came into pitch and Flagstead put on the finishing touches when he sent the ball on a line to left-field. Charlie Jamieson made a desperate effort to cut off Harris with the winning run, but his throw was way off target and the game was over. The first two Red Sox runs were put over in their half of the first inning when Val Picinich doubled and scored on a single by John Collins. Collins went to third on a single by Burns and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Harris. From then on, until the 12th inning, the Red Sox only got four hits and were never in scoring position. The triple play by Burns and a great doubleplay by Flagstead, McMillan and Burns, choked off possible rallies by the Indians, in the second and third innings. In the sixth inning however, they tied up the score at 2 to 2 on a single with two outs and then two singles in succession that scored one run. A hit batsman filled the bases and a free pass forced over another run. The Indians then broke the tie in the top of the 12th. Sox pitcher Jack Quinn walked the first batter and Picinich fumbled a sacrifice bunt made by the second batter. Jamieson popped out and then Homer Summa singled to center, scoring a run. Tris Speaker followed with a single to left, but Mike Menosky made a great throw and nipped Joe Shaute at the plate when he tried to score from second. That play saved the game as Joe Sewell was thrown out at first to retire the side. Then came Devormer with his double, Harris with his walk, Shanks muffed bunt followed by Flagstead's winning hit. But the game highlight wasn't that. It was the unassisted triple play pulled off by George Burns. In the second inning, Riggs Stephenson singled to center off Quinn, who next walked Lutzke. The next batter, Frank Brower, hit a line drive on a hit-and-run, that looked like it was headed to right field. Burns sprinted toward second and cut off the ball 15 feet from the first base bag, just as Lutzke shot by him on his way to second. Burns sprang after Lutzke, who pulled up and was tagged for the second out. Burns then beat Stephenson, tagging him as he tried to get back to the second base bag, for the final out. |
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