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BILL JAMES |
THE 1914 "MIRACLE" BRAVES
Bill James two-hits the Reds in a losing effort
May 13, 1914 ... The Braves invaded Redland Field in Cincinnati and lost the ball game 1 to 0. It was a pitcher's battle between Red Ames for Cincinnati and Bill James for the Braves.
Both men pitched splendidly, with James limiting Cincinnati batters to just two hits and Ames limiting Boston to three.
James also just walked one man, to the five issued by Ames. But the pass he gave up, cost James the game. It happened in the first inning. James passed the first Reds batter up, Herbie Moran. Buck Herzog then smashed out a double to score Moran with, what turned out to be the only run of the
game. Johnny Evers threw out the next two batters to end the inning quietly.
Ames was quite shaky in the first inning, walking Evers on four consecutive balls. Johnny went to second on Rabbit Maranville's single through short and to third when Joe Connolly sacrificed. Herzog took Tommy Griffith's ground ball and headed off Evers at the plate, to keep the Braves one
run down with Maranville reaching third. Butch Schmidt hit one to short, getting nipped at first base on a very close decision to end the threat.
A doubleplay kept the Braves from scoring in the third. Herzog booted a ground ball hit by Evers, Maranville sacrificed and Connolly was passed. Griffith then sent a sharp ground ball to second which Heinie Groh grabbed and went over the to the bag to pick off Connolly and throw on to first
for the inning ending double play.
The ninth-inning saw a rally by the Braves but nothing came of it. Butch Schmidt singled to start. Charlie Deal then sacrificed, Otto Hess grounded out and Jim Murray struck out to end the game.
Bill James pitched a splendid game but lost. After the fourth inning no Reds runners made it to first base. |
