|
 |
|
EARL JOHNSON |
BOSTON RED SOX ...
THE
CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 3
A
SUBWAY SERIES DISAPPEARS ...
The Sox
rebound with five runs in the 8th inning
August 9, 1948
... No
game scheduled
August 10, 1948
... Timely hits by Dom DiMaggio and Vern
Stephens gave the Red Sox a dramatic 9 to 6 win over the Yankees at
Yankee Stadium before 67,691 fans. The victory propelled the Sox back
into the thick of the American League pennant race. The Sox
collected only seven hits off Ed Lopat, Frank Hiller, Tommy Byrne and Vic
Raschi, but they didn't need any more because of the free passes issued to them.
They had two big rallies with three runs in the first inning and five in the
eighth-inning that enabled them to come from behind, and were the result of two hits
and four walks.
Neither starting pitcher, Jack Kramer for the Red Sox or Lopat for the
Yankees was around at the finish. Kramer lasted 6 2/3 innings, as his aching
right shoulder clearly affected his usual pinpoint control and resulted in him
being knocked out the game in the seventh inning. Tex Hughson, who relieved him
and pitched only a third of an inning, was credited with the win, his third.
Earl Johnson finished up the last two innings for the Red Sox and got a save.
Entering their big eighth-inning, the Sox who led 3 to 0 and 5 to 3 at
different stages, were trailing 6 to 4 with Tommy Byrne setting him down with
comparative ease and seemingly on his way to a victory. But Byrne, who issued
six of the 11 base on balls, walked Billy Goodman and Birdie Tebbetts to open
the inning. After he threw one ball to Stan Spence, who was batting for Hughson,
he was taken out and the Yankees called in their ace, Raschi. His control was no
better and he threw Spence three more balls to load the bases. Up came Dom
DiMaggio, who had already singled to open the three run first inning, singled
home the fifth run in the sixth and then made brilliant catches all over the
outfield. Dom blooped a hit into short right that scored Goodman and Billy
Hitchcock, who was sent in to run for Tebbetts, tying up the game at 6 to 6.
After Johnny Pesky sacrificed, Ted Williams was given an intentional walk to
again load the bases. Then Vern Stephens came up and hit a line drive that
bounced into the stands, scoring Spence and DiMaggio and putting Williams on
third-base. Wally Moses ran for Ted and scored on Bobby Doerr's sacrifice fly to
left, making it 9 to 6.
Earl Johnson came in to pitch the eighth and after walking George McQuinn,
got Billy Johnson to hit into a doubleplay, and then got Phil Rizzuto to end the
inning. In the ninth, Stuffy Stirnweiss reach with a single to right with one
out. Johnson then walked Charlie Keller and Joe DiMaggio hit one back to the
mound that Earl couldn't handle and the bases were loaded. But he got Yogi Berra
to fly out to right and the game was over.
The Sox gained an important win that put them in the third place over the
Yankees, cutting down their margin behind the Athletics, who split a
doubleheader, and sliced the Cleveland lead over them to two games, as the
Indians lost to Detroit. Birdie Tebbetts suffered a possible broken finger on
his throwing hand, when Billy Johnson stepped on his hand as Birdie dove back to
third on a rundown play. |
.jpg)
