|
 |
|
MEL PARNELL |
BOSTON RED
SOX ...
THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 3
A
SUBWAY SERIES DISAPPEARS ...
Mel Parnell &
Earl Johnson keep the Sox in the race
September 30, 1948
... The Red Sox can still when the pennant in
the American League and today they beat the Senators 7 to 3 in that
goal. Only 5000 fans appeared at Fenway Park to say goodbye to
Washington. It would take three straight Detroit wins over Cleveland
and a sweep of the two game Yankee series by the Red Sox, for them to
take the pennant. With the Indians not playing today, the Red Sox and
Yankees picked up one half game in their pursuit. The Yankees beat
the Athletics, 9 to 7, and now both teams stand 1 1/2 games behind
the Indians. For a while during this game, it looked like today
would be one of those wasted golden opportunity sessions. Doubleplays broke up
promising opening innings for both teams. With two gone in the second inning
Birdie Tebbetts bounced a single off the left-field fence and Red Sox pitcher,
Mel Parnell blooped a single into left, to get things going. Singles by Dom
DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky drove two runs home and a walk to Ted Williams filled
the bases. But Vern Stephens struck out the halt their drive.
In the fifth inning, still up 2 to 0, the Red Sox put it away and scored five
runs, something which they have not been doing too much in the past month. Bobby
Doerr started by grounding out and then Stan Spence hit a towering drive into
the right field grandstand. Billy Goodman and Tebbetts followed him with singles
and DiMaggio doubled the two across. Pesky singled Dominic home and Williams
singled Johnny over to third. Starter Walt Masterson was then taken out of the
game in favor of Sid Hudson. Hudson then fed four straight balls to Mickey
Vernon and Bobby Doerr brought Williams home with the final run.
Mel Parnell hadn't been accustomed to get that many runs, and when the
Senators came up in their half of the sixth he walked the first batter. Then Ed
Stewart whistled a line drive into the right field grandstand, to make it 7 to
2. Parnell retired the next three men in order but got shaky again in the
seventh when he let up another run. Manager McCarthy decided to bring in Earl
Johnson from the bullpen and he responded by allowing one hit and no runs over
the final 2 1/3 innings to keep the Red Sox pennant hopes alive. |
.jpg)
