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TED WILLIAMS SCORES |
BOSTON RED SOX ...
THE
CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 3
A
SUBWAY SERIES DISAPPEARS ...
The Sox and Browns split a doubleheader,
but Bobby Doerr is injured
August 29, 1948
... The St. Louis Browns prevented the Red Sox
from increasing their lead in the American League, as the two teams
split a doubleheader at Fenway Park, by scores of 10 to 2 for the Red
Sox and 12 to 4 for St. Louis.
After five consecutive failures, Joe Dobson finally landed his 14th win in
the opening game. He was aided by Birdie Tebbetts, who hit a grand slam homer
and by a three run homer from Ted Williams. The Browns then went on a hitting
binge in the second game, as they smashed four Sox pitchers for 20 hits,
including home runs by Al Zarilla, Les Moss and Don Lund.
Both games were settled in the first inning. The Browns scored a run in their
half of the first in the first game, but the Red Sox came back with seven runs,
as they chased Karl Drews and his successor Bryan Stephens. Drews started by
throwing eight straight balls to Dom DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky. He then threw
two balls to Ted Williams and finally got a ball over the plate, only to see
Williams send it sky high, sailing out into the bleachers. After Vern Stephens
popped out, Bobby Doerr and Stan Spence both singled. That brought in Bryan
Stephens from the bullpen. The first thing he did was walk Billy Goodman to load
the bases. Then Tebbetts sent a scorching line drive over the left-field wall
for a grand slam homer, that clinched the decision.
In the second game, Mickey Harris was given the job of keeping alive a
four-game Sox winning streak, but he didn't have it. He retired Bob Dillinger to
start out the game, but Zarilla lined a drive into right field grandstand for a
home run. Singles by Gerry Priddy, Whitey Platt and Don Lund scored another run.
Mickey picked off Platt from third base, but walked Hank Arft and then Les Moss
lined one into the screen to make it 5 to 0. Earl Johnson took over and gave up
two hits, but prevented any further scoring.
Johnson gave up three more runs in the second inning including Lund's home
run. In the third after he gave up three singles, and was taken out in favor of
Tex Hughson. The Browns cashed in with two more runs before Tex struck out Lund
to end the inning, but the score was 10 to 0.
The Red Sox were able to scored three runs in their half of the fourth when
Williams opened with a single, and Gerry Priddy fumbled a line drive from Vern
Stephens. Doerr doubled to left to score Ted and Stephens scored when pitcher,
Ned Garver, threw out Billy Goodman. Matt Batts drove home Doerr with a double
for the third Boston run. Boston's final run in the ninth was produced on
DiMaggio's double and Pesky's single.
The Red Sox lost the services of Bobby Doerr indefinitely. While racing for
an infield hit in the eighth-inning of the second game, Doerr pulled the muscle
in his left thigh. He had aggravated it earlier when he stumbled over first base
on his way to getting a double. Doerr has played through 69 consecutive games
without an error. He handled 381 chances in succession. The record is held by
Stuffy Stirnweiss who went 71 games and 383 chances. Billy Goodman will move
over to second base to fill in, and first base will be taken over by Jake Jones.
Because the Yankees, Indians and Athletics also broke even in their
doubleheaders, the Sox maintain their 1 1/2 game advantage over the second-place
Yankees. |
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