9.18.2009

A GAME OF INCHES AND CHEWED FINGERNAILS

CURLY OGDEN NO STOOGE AS NATS NICK US AGAIN, 5-4

By Calvin J. Butterworth
Detroit Free-Enterprise

July 9, 1924

WASHINGTON, D.C.—This reporter was gracious in his praises for yesterday's taut defeat at Griffith Stadium, but if we endure one more of these tragic nail-chewers I shall be more than ready for the Tigers to unleash a mashing.

Ken Holloway faced Curly Ogden today at the grand ball yard at Pomeroy and Georgia, and Washington didn't wait around until the final frame to tally forth this time. Leibold walked, Harris doubled him to third, and the recently-dormant Goslin singled them home for a quick 2-0 lead.

Bassler doubled for Detroit with two gone in the 4th and a Del Pratt single brought him in, but a Goslin double and Bluege single in the bottom of the inning restored the two-run cushion. Heilman then tripled to begin our 6th and Bassler got him across with a grounder, but these Senators simply never rest. A Rice walk, Tate single and Bluege scoring fly made it 4-2 and pushed us on to the later act of the game.

Ogden was giving up nothing but occasional large swats, but every one brought trouble. Indeed, here was Topper Rigney in the 8th taking the stage, belting a ball out to the fence in deep center field, the ball clearing the barrier a mere inch from Leibold's rising glove for a rare Tiger home run!

Then...In the 9th, a Burke walk and Woodall pinch single put the winning runs afloat and tired Ogden, but manager Harris stayed with his starter to keep from going to his chancy bullpen. Cobb touched Curly for a game-knotting single, but Rigney, Blue and Heilman all failed to escape the infield with their struck balls. Blue, in fact, had a miserable day, whiffing thrice and hitting into a double play his other time at the dish.

Dauss was in for our relief, but after smoothly retiring Washington in succession in the 9th, his 10th was a dropped tray of dishware. Sam Rice doubled with one out and Muddy Ruel, yesterday's local hero, picked up the baton again, rifling a shot over the leaping Pratt and into the left corner for the winning Nat digit.

So we are left eight games below the royal seat. Two brutal losses that could have been won would be cause enough for depression, but tomorrow the Bengals must rebound against the Big Train himself. True, they have beaten him twice already in this campaign, but Mr. Johnson has a score to settle, and one would be foolhardy to bet against him securing such a ruby.

DET 000 101 011 0 - 4 7 0
WAS 200 101 000 1 - 5 9 0

Other American League contests today:

at YANKEES 10-14-4, WHITE SOX 7-14-0
Could it be? Have the Gothams reclaimed their swagger with a third straight victory and second in a row over the spiraling Chicagoans? Despite fourteen Sox safeties and four gaffes from the home club, Joe Bush still notches his ninth win thanks to Bob Meusel's double, home run, and four knocked in. Again not heard from was the Sultan of Snore, the less-than-mighty Bamino, who in his last ten games has driven home exactly one run. Still, with a win tomorrow New York will be a mere half game behind said Sox.

INDIANS 3-11-1, at ATHLETICS 1-7-0
Sherry Smith out-hurls Baumgarten in a rare pitching festival between these two hit-mad outfits.

BROWNS 13-21-1, at RED SOX 4-11-1
Boston's recent clubbing of the Mackmen was apparently an aberration, as Danforth outwits them and the Browns rack up nine extra-sack hits, even with Ken Williams still absent.










AMERICAN LEAGUE through Wednesday, July 9
Washington Senators 5429.651
Detroit Tigers 4738.5538
Chicago White Sox 4438.5379.5
New York Yankees 4239.51911
St. Louis Browns 3845.45816
Cleveland Indians 3747.44017.5
Boston Red Sox 3547.42718.5
Philadelphia Athletics 3549.41719.5

No comments:

Post a Comment