Tiant started for the Caps, with his 2-5 record, 3.33 ERA and 20 more IP than hits. Cy Young Award shoo-in Palmer started for the Sox. Nothing offensive for either team in the first three innings, though Sisler was cut down (by Berra!) attempting to steal second right before Ruth hit a towering triple off the top of the Green Monster. Ruth was left stranded at third.
In the fourth, a single by Hack Wilson and then a bunt single by Collins put runners on 1st & 2nd, with nobody out. Dickey attempted to sacrifice, and Tiant bobbled the ball - all safe. What were you saying about "the slightest miscue by either team could lead to a big inning with these line-ups"? Well, three Sox runs scored on slap hits during that inning; Ruth followed with a two-run shot in the fifth, and after two more Sox reached base, Tiant was removed in the fifth with a 5-0 deficit. The Hackster deposited Willie Hernandez' first pitch into the net above the Monster, and the rout was on. The problem with the Caps (this year) has been their bullpen, long and short relief. If their starters falter, watch out!
Mantle and Greenberg hit back-to-back HRs in the 7th off Palmer, who had surrendered only 2 hits to that point. Too little, too late. The final result was a 12-3 Sox victory, as the series heads to the Bandbox for Game 3.
Starters: W. Johnson (BS), R. Ford (CAP). Johnson gets the win, Ford the loss. Blue Sox win series, 4 games to 1.
Jack "Big Cheese" Chesbro gets the nod for the Rockets, while Jim "Phony" Maloney is pressed into service by the Knights. They really needed Hershiser to win Game 2, and now their starting staff is, well, thin.
Top of the first, two outs, and Willie Keeler crushes a Maloney fastball for a solo shot and an early 1-0 edge. Two innings later, with the game tied at 2-2, Johnny Pesky does the (virtually) impossible - he (w)raps one around the Realm's own "Pesky Pole" for a 3-2 Knights lead. I say the feat was virtually impossible because Happy Jack hadn't surrendered a homerun ALL YEAR. This was the first. The Knights scratch and claw for another run, and take a 4-2 lead into the top of the 7th.
Nellie Fox then singles off a (perhaps) tiring Maloney, and Rick Ferrell(!) doubles down the rightfield line to score Fox and cut the Knight lead to 4-3. Shoeless Joe singles, Ferrell advancing to third. Chance then doubles down the leftfield line to tie the score, sending Jackson to third. And that brings up - you guessed it - Keeler, who hits a long fly ball for a SF, giving the rockets a 5-4 lead. Medwick also hits a SF to extend that lead to two runs. Why Maloney wasn't lifted, I have no idea....
While Happy Jack settled down (he smelled blood), Maloney labored on to the ninth with a 7-4 deficit. Wee Willie (who else?) left no doubt, however, he sent Big Jim's 141st pitch sailing past the rightfield foul pole for his second HR of the day, and Medwick greeted long-overdue reliever Charlton with a pop of his own. Final score, Rockets 9, Knights 4, and a 2-1 lead in the series. Keeler, Bancroft and Ferrell had three hits apiece. Keeler (3-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI) could sit the rest of the series and probably still win the MVP...
Starters: Hershiser (KNI), Gibson (RCK). Charlton gets the win, Henke the save, J.R. Richard the loss.
Starters: Cooper (KNI), Chesbro (RCK). Chesbro gets the win, Cooper the loss. Rockets win series, 4 games to 3.
Starters: Vance (RCK), W. Johnson (BS). Wilhelm gets the win, Fingers the save, McLain the loss.
Bottom of the order killed the Sox (Ferrell, 3-3, RBI; Bancroft 2-4, double, 2 RBI) Also Medwick (2-3) and Keeler (2-5, solo HR). Wilhelm, Fingers effective in relief.
Starters: Gibson (RCK), Palmer (BS). Gibson win, Palmer loss.
Rockets get two unearned runs in the first on Foxx's error. Sox suffer first shutout of year vs. spectacular Gibson (9 IP, 3 H, 4 K, 1 BB).
Starters: Mathewson (BS), Chesbro (RCK). Mathewson win, Chesbro loss.
Mathewson scatters 7 hits in 101 pitch performance. Foxx (2-4, double, 2 RBI).
Starters: McNally (BS), Seaver (RCK). McNally win, Seaver loss.
McNally (9 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K) three over minimum. Two of three runs Seaver surrendered should not have been earned. Cobb (2-5, inside the park HR).
Starters: W. Johnson (BS), Vance (RCK). W. Johnson win, Vance loss.
Johnson scatters 8 hits as Rockets' offense sputters. Dickey, Foxx, H. Wilson, Wagner and Sisler had two hits apiece for Sox; Keeler, J. Jackson, and Youngs had two hits apiece for the Rcokets.
Starters: Gibson (RCK), Palmer (BS). Gibson win, Palmer loss.
Another strong performance by Gibson (9 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K).
Crawford's key pinch double in the 4th drives in two, followed by Ferrell's 2-run single is all Gibson needed.
GAME 7: Rockets 1, at Blue Sox 3.
Starters: Chesbro (RCK), Mathewson (BS). Plank gets the win, Lyle the save, and Chesbro the loss.
For the first time in the seven game series, the home team won. Seven errors (4 by the Sox, 3 by the Rockets) led to a sloppy but tense game. Trailing 1-0 in the 8th, Sox scored two after crucial throwing error by Bancroft at SS. Cobb threw out Minoso at home trying to score from second in Rocket's 9th (he had thrown out J. Jackson at home trying to score from second with the go-ahead run in the 8th, and had positioned himself perfectly both times). Lyle gets J. Jackson to ground out with tying runs on second and third in the top of the 9th. Sox win series, 4 games to 3.
Authors: Jay Donahue & Tom Link