9.09.2009

THE EIGHTH CIRCLE OF HELL

LATE RELIEF HORRORS DOOM BENGALS IN 5-4 LOSS TO WEAKENED BROWNS

By Calvin J. Butterworth
Detroit Free-Enterprise

July 5, 1924

It was a pleasant twenty-four hours for our lads, this newfound perch on the second pennant run of the American League ladder, only to drop back in the arms of the grinning White Sox in a most humilating fashion.

Dixie Davis, famous for hoodwinking Tiger bats on a few other occasions this year, was at it again. holding Detroit to a handful of walks and one Topper Rigney single in the first five frames. Four straight singles off Syl Johnson gave St. Louis a 2-0 jump back in the 3rd, and it seemed our deadly offensive torpor of two weeks ago had returned.

But not exactly. A Heilman single and Manush double off the top of the right fence put men on second and third to lead the 6th. Bassler got one home with a fly, but Jones and Burke both made easy outs and it stayed 2-1. The irrepressible George Sisler then got his third hit in the 7th, a run-plating single, but here came the Tigers again! Al Wingo pinch-hit for Johnson and worked a walk, Rigney singled in front of Harry Rice, who then threw the ball asunder to put us at second and third again. Blue hit a run-scoring deep fly but this time Cobb was productive and doubled in the tieing digit to drive weary Davis from the hill. Things looked rosy, as we had momentum and McManus had already joined Ken Williams on the Browns' injury card.

Yet it was here that the dark fates were summoned from below to conspire against us. One Hub Pruett rode in from afar on his relief horse, a pitcher who is usually brilliant or hideous. The former was in vogue. Heilman fanned weakly on three pitches, Manush grounded to McMillan, and the rally's head was lopped off.

Tragically, Detroit's relief was in name only. Herm Pillette issued a single to Jacobson and double to Collins and was expunged from his job. Dauss gave it a try and was even worse, as Bennett singled in one run, Rice doubled in another and pitcher Pruett rocked him for another double and four runs on the inning. Dutch Leonard replaced him to end the onslaught, but it was far too late. Pruett threw two more scoreless frames to tuck us into bed, and second place was no longer ours alone.

We return to League Park in Cleveland tomorrow for one likely annoying skirmish, before hitting the rails for our second eastern swing of the campaign. The first stop is dreaded Washington, D.C., so it is a good thing we are currently without health issues.

SLB 002 000 140 -7 14 1
DET 000 001 200 - 3 7 1

Other American League games today:

at SENATORS 7-12-1, YANKEES 1-5-0
It appears the great Yankee revival has been junked after just one day. Or maybe it is just a halt at the Big Train's crossing. Johnson improves to 12-6 with a masterful 5-hitter, and collects three singles and a double off Hoyt and Mamaux at the plate to aid his cause.

RED SOX 12-16-1, at ATHLETICS 1-7-2
On the other hand, Boston continues to pound the Mackmen into elephant dung. With the Bostons plating eight runs off Gray in the 4th and Howard Ehmke giving Philadelphia no chance with his arm, the poor Athletics have now been outscored 39-1 in the three games, with another double-header to be played at Shibe on Monday.

at WHITE SOX 6-7-0, INDIANS 4-8-3
Chicago's bad luck suddenly evaporates again. Sherry Smith's fine effort for the Tribe is wasted when the Sox score four runs in the first two innings on awful gaffes by outfielders Summa and Jamieson and third-sacker Fewster. Doubles by Sewell and Myatt tie the score in the 6th, but a Myatt passed ball precedes a Falk double in the 7th for the game-deciders.










AMERICAN LEAGUE through Saturday, July 5
Washington Senators 5228.650
Chicago White Sox 4435.5577.5
Detroit Tigers 4536.5567.5
New York Yankees 3939.50012
St. Louis Browns 3644.45016
Cleveland Indians 3545.44317
Boston Red Sox 3444.43617
Philadelphia Athletics 3347.41319

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