Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe: 1918

I've decided to take a bit of a different approach. Since the length of the season depends on how quickly the Cubs and Red Sox can wrap up the pennants, I've decided to focus on them. Since I'm doing the National League first, that means that the Cubs' games will be made up first. In that spirit, here's their makeup game against the Phillies at Baker Bowl:

Cubs 3, Phillies 1

The Cubs scored twice in the first and once in the sixth to down the Phils and reduce their magic number to eleven. First baseman Fred Merkle and second baseman Charlie Pick provided the run-scoring hits in the first, and third baseman Charlie Deal added a run-scoring groundout in the sixth. Merkle and shortstop Charlie Hollocher led the Chicago offense with two hits apiece. On the mound, Claude Hendrix allowed one run on eight hits over eight innings to get the win. First baseman Fred Luderus' first-inning single knocked in the Phils' only run, and catcher Bert Adams was the only Phil with more than one hit. Brad Hogg went all the way on the mound in a losing cause, giving up three runs on seven hits and five walks.

W- Hendrix (22-7)
L- Hogg (13-15)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 88-50
Giants: 76-56- 9 GB
Pirates: 75-58- 10.5 GB
Reds: 71-64- 15.5 GB
Braves: 61-69- 23 GB
Cardinals: 59-77- 28 GB
Phillies: 55-79- 31 GB
Robins: 49-84- 36.5 GB

Next: The Cubs finish their makeup slate against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Thoughts?
 
Now the Cubs look to get their magic number down to ten against the Reds in Cincinnati:

Reds 7, Cubs 5

The Reds got all their runs in the third, and it was enough to hold off the National League leaders. The big hits in the inning were Greasy Neale's two-run triple and a two-run single from pitcher Dolf Luque. First baseman Jimmy Archer and third baseman Heinie Groh also had run-scoring hits. Luque was the star of the game in every way for Cincy, going three for four at the plate and pitching eight strong innings to get the win.

The Cubs had built a 3-0 lead after two and a half prior to the Reds' uprising. Left fielder Les Mann drove in one run with a sacrifice fly in the first, and he knocked in another with a base hit in the third. He drove in another in the ninth for a total of three on the afternoon. Center fielder Dode Paskert and catcher Bob O'Farrell drove in the other Chicago runs. The Cubs wasted a four-hit performance from shortstop Charlie Hollocher and three hits from right fielder Turner Barber. Speed Martin took the loss on the mound, giving up seven runs on nine hits in seven innings.

W- Luque (7-4)
L- Martin (5-4)

The scene now shifts to St. Louis, where the Giants look to take advantage of the Cubs' stumble to pick up a game:

Cardinals 4, Giants 3

Future Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby and Cuban hurler Oscar Tuero proved to be too much for the Giants to overcome, and their elimination number fell to ten. Hornsby drove in what turned out to be the winning run in the third with a single to center, and his homer in the second off of Giants starter Pol Perritt had given the Redbirds a 1-0 lead. Second baseman Bobby Wallace and catcher John Brock had the other Cardinal RBIs, and center fielder Austin McHenry added three hits and scored a run. Tuero scattered twelve New York hits over eight innings to get the win.

The Giants were led by a four-for-four day from first baseman Jay Kirke, who also scored a pair of runs, and three hits from shortstop Art Fletcher. Center fielder George Burns and right fielder Ross Youngs drove in two of the New York runs, and the other came on a pinch-hit single in the sixth from Benny Kauff. Burns singled and stole second to lead off the ninth inning, but Bill Sherdel came out of the bullpen to retire the next three batters in order and seal the win. Pol Perritt took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits over five innings.

W- Tuero (2-2)
L- Perritt (19-14)

HR- STL: Hornsby (6)

The standings to the moment:

Cubs: 88-51 (Magic Number: 10)
Giants: 76-57- 9 GB
Pirates: 75-58- 10 GB
Reds: 72-64- 14.5 GB
Braves: 61-69- 22.5 GB
Cardinals: 60-77- 27 GB
Phillies: 55-79- 30.5 GB
Robins: 49-84- 36 GB

Next: The Cards and Giants meet again, this time at the Polo Grounds.

Thoughts?
 
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Now let's go to the Polo Grounds for the game between the Cardinals and the Giants:

Giants 5, Cardinals 2

The Giants gained a half game against the Cubs and have opened up a game and a half lead over the Pirates for second place by defeating the Redbirds. The hit that settled the issue was second baseman Larry Doyle's three-run homer in the seventh. One-out singles by pitcher Fred Toney and center fielder George Burns preceded the blast. Third baseman Heinie Zimmerman also went deep, a fourth-inning solo shot. Left fielder Pete Compton drove in the other run for New York. Toney pitched a complete game despite tiring in the ninth and allowing the Cardinals to end his shutout bid. His final line: nine innings, two runs on seven hits.

Third baseman Bruno Betzel and catcher John Brock knocked in the St. Louis runs, and Betzel was the only Cardinal with more than one hit. Gene Pavkard took the loss, giving up all five Giants runs on eight hits in six and two-thirds innings. The Giants finish their makeup games eight and half games behind the Cubs, with their elimination number still at ten.

W- Toney (14-12)
L- Packard (13-13)

HR- NYG: Doyle (4), Zimmerman (2)

Now let's go to Cincinnati for a big tilt between the Pirates and the Reds:

Pirates 5, Reds 3

The Bucs moved back to within a game of the Giants for second place in the National League by downing the homestanding Reds. They were led by a four-RBI afternoon from second baseman George Cutshaw. George began his big day with a two-run single in the first that put the Bucs on the board. He followed that up with another two-run base hit in the seventh. In all, he went three for five while driving in four of the five Pittsburgh runs. Third baseman Bill McKechnie bounced into a force play to score the other. Pitcher Wilbur Cooper scattered eleven hits and four walks during his complete game performance on the mound. He got into trouble in the ninth when the Reds scored twice and had the bases loaded with two out, but managed to get Sherry Magee to ground to first baseman Fritz Mollwitz to end the game.

Starting pitcher Roy Mitchell pitched a complete game for the Reds as well, and he was two for four with an RBI at the plate to boot. Venter fielder Greasy Neale and right fielder Tommy Griffith drove in the other runs for the Reds, while left fielder Manuel Cueto (no relation to pitcher Johnny that I know of) and shortstop Lena Blackburne had a pair of hits apiece. Mitchell went all the way despite giving up five runs on eleven hits and seven walks in a losing cause.

W- Cooper (21-15)
L- Mitchell (4-2)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs- 88-51
Giants: 77-57- 8.5 GB
Pirates: 76-58- 9.5 GB
Reds: 72-65- 15 GB
Braves: 61-69- 22.5 GB
Cardinals: 60-78- 27.5 GB
Phillies: 55-79- 30.5 GB
Robins: 49-84- 36 GB

Next: The Pirates go home to host the Cardinals in a three-game makeup series.

Thoughts?
 
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Now for the makeup series between the Pirates and Cardinals at Forbes Field:

Pirates 2, Cardinals 0 (Game 1; 10 innings)

The Bucs closed to within a half-game of the Giants for second place, as George Cutshaw took reliever Oscar Tuero deep to right center field for a two-run walkoff homer. The inning started when shortstop Lute Boone worked a walk. Tuero got center fielder Max Carey to pop out to catcher John Brock for out number one and right fielder Billy Southworth to fly to right for out number two, but Cutshaw took his 1-2 offering over the wall in right center for the win.

Both starting pitchers went the first nine innings; Carmen Hill of the Bucs gave up five hits, while the Cards' Red Ames gave up seven hits and five walks. The only player with more than one hit in the first nine was Pirate third baseman Bill McKechnie, who went two for three. The Cardinals had a chance to win in the tenth when third baseman Bruno Betzel walked, stole second, and moved to third on Brock's groundout, but was stranded when Bob Fisher (batting for Ames) popped out to third. Right fielder George Anderson walked, but center fielder Cliff Heathcote grounded to first to end the inning. The Bucs' best chance to win in regulation came in the eighth, when Cutshaw singled to right center with one out, then stole second and third before being stranded when first baseman Fritz Mollwitz grounded to short and McKechnie grounded to first.

Roy Sanders got the win in relief for Pittsburgh by pitching out of the mess in the St. Louis tenth. He and Hill ended up combining on a five-hit shutout.

W- Sanders (8-10)
L- Tuero (2-3)

Cardinals 2, Pirates 1 (Game 2)

Heathcote had three hits and knocked in a run, and first baseman Gene Paulette added two hits and an RBI as the Redbirds evened the series. Paulette's single to left knocked in Anderson with the game's first run in the top of the first, and Heathcote's base hit scored catcher Mike Gonzalez with the other St. Louis run in the fourth. Meanwhile, starting pitcher Lee Meadows held the Bucs to a run on six hits in eight innings before turning the game over to Bill Sherdel in the ninth.

The Bucs got their run in the bottom of the fourth on Mollwitz's RBI single. Fritz led the Pittsburgh offense by going three for three plus a walk for the game. Unfortunately, starter Erskine Mayer was less than sharp, as he went only five and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and three walks and taking the loss.

W- Meadows (9-14)
L- Mayer (18-8)

Pirates 5, Cardinals 4 (Game 3)

The Bucs ended up with two out of three, as they nipped the Redbirds in the finale. They were led offensively by right fielder Billy Southworth, who went four for four, scored a run, and drove in two, including the eventual game-winner with a fifth-inning single. He was assisted by Mollwitz, who collected two more hits and an RBI, and shortstop Lute Boone, who went two for three and scored a run. Starter Wilbur Cooper wasn't at his best; he gave up four runs on six hits over six innings, but that was still good enough to win. Sanders took care of the final three innings, holding the Cards scoreless despite giving up two hits and two walks.

Fisher, who started this game at second base, had three of the eight Cardinal hits and scored a run. Paulette, Brock, left fielder Austin McHenry, and shortstop Rogers Hornsby each drove in a run. Sherdel was pressed into service for an emergency start despite having just finished Game 2, and pitched like it, giving up all five Pirate runs on eleven hits in seven innings.

W- Cooper (22-15)
L- Sherdel (7-13)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 88-51 (Magic Number: 10)
Giants: 77-57- 8.5 GB
Pirates: 78-59- 9 GB
Reds: 72-65- 15 GB
Braves: 61-69- 22.5 GB
Cardinals: 61-80- 28 GB
Phillies: 55-79- 30.5 GB
Robins: 49-84- 36 GB

Next: The Reds head to Boston for a makeup game with the Braves.

Thoughts?
 
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Now for the makeup game between the Reds and Braves in Boston:

Reds 2, Braves 1

The Reds kept their microscopic pennant hopes alive by winning a tight one against the Braves. Greasy Neale's single to right in the seventh was the game-winning hit. Neale had two hits and an RBI, but the Cincy offense was paced by a three for four day from second baseman Lee Magee. Lee's namesake Sherry (first base) knocked in the tying run with a base hit in the sixth. The Reds ended the day with eleven hits, but Braves starter Dick Rudolph held them scoreless through the first five innings.

Speaking of the home squad, they were held in check by Reds starter Jimmy Ring, who pitched a complete game, giving up just one run on five hits. Third baseman Red Smith's base hit in the first plated Boston's only run of the game. Rudolph ended up the losing pitcher after giving up both Cincinnati runs on eight hits over six and two-thirds innings.

The Reds maintained their elimination number of two as they head for Brooklyn to take on the Robins in the National League's final makeup game.

W- Ring (10-5)
L- Rudolph (10-11)

Since I'm a bit behind, I'll do Reds-Robins here to finish the National League.

Reds 5, Robins 0

Hod Eller took just a hundred and one pitches to toss an eight-hit shutout at the Robins before a sparse crowd at Ebbets Field. Five of the right Brooklyn hits came from two sources: first baseman Jake Dauber, who went three for four, and shortstop Ivy Olson, who went two for four. Eller pitched out of first-and-third situations in the first and fourth, but wasn't really challenged all day otherwise. Meanwhile, the Cincy offense pounded Brooklyn pitching for fourteen hits. Neale and left fielder Manuel Cueto had three apiece, and Cueto drove in a pair of runs, as did right fielder Tommy Griffith. Lee and third baseman Heinie Groh also had a pair of hits apiece, and Groh scored a pair of runs while Neale scored the other three.

Robins starter George Smith went all the way as well in a losing cause, giving up all five runs and all fourteen hits. His day lasted a hundred and thirty-seven pitches.

W- Eller (18-13)
L- Smith (8-8)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 88-51 (Magic Number: 10)
Giants: 77-57- 8.5 GB
Pirates: 78-59- 9 GB
Reds: 74-65- 14 GB
Braves: 61-70- 23 GB
Cardinals: 61-80- 28 GB
Phillies: 55-79- 30.5 GB
Robins: 49-85- 36.5 GB

Next: We start to work on the American League.

Thoughts?
 
We begin our work on the American League with a pair of forfeits. For reasons unknown, the Indians forfeited a doubleheader to the Browns on September 2, the final day of the regular season. These forfeits were never added to the official team records, most likely because they wouldn't have made any difference in the outcome of the pennant race. But we'll add them in this universe, which leaves the standings looking this way:

Red Sox: 79-53
Senators: 74-58- 5 GB
Indians: 76-62- 6 GB
White Sox: 67-64- 11.5 GB
Yankees: 66-66- 13 GB
Browns: 63-69- 16 GB
Tigers: 57-77- 23 GB
Athletics: 53-82- 27.5 GB

Next: The White Sox head to St. Louis for a three-game makeup series with the Browns.

Thoughts?
 
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Before we do anything else, let me re-add the makeup days for the AL that I accidentally erased. Here's Makeup Day 1:


Indians 7, Athletics 6

The Indians come from behind with two in the last of the ninth to beat the A's and keep up with the Red Sox in the American League race. Braggo Roth's single ties the game at six, and left fielder Smokey Joe Wood drives in center fielder Tris Speaker with the winning run two batters later.

W- Morton (15-8)
L- Watson (7-11)

Senators 2, Tigers 1 (19 innings)

First baseman Joe Judge grounds into a fielder's choice in the bottom of the nineteenth to bring home catcher Earl Ainsmith and keep the Sens within shouting distance in the American League race.

W- Harper (12-10)
L- Dauss (12-18)

Yankees 5, Browns 4 (19 innings)

Pinch hitter Jack Fournier drives in the winning run with a nineteenth-inning single as the Yanks begin their climb back to .500.

W- Finneran (4-6)
L- Lowdermilk (2-7)
 
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Here are Makeup Days 2 and 3:

Tigers 6, Yankees 5

A bases-loaded walk to left fielder Bobby Veach brings home shortstop (and future Pirate manager) Donie Bush with the winning run as the Tigers remain barely alive in the race for the American League pennant with an elimination number of six.

W- Cunningham (7-7)
L- Finneran (4-7)

Indians 3, Yankees 2 (12 innings)

Third baseman Terry Turner beats out a grounder to third by a half step, bringing home Braggo Roth with the winning run in the bottom of the twelfth. The Tribe is now within two and a half games of the idle Red Sox.

W- Coumbe (14-7)
L- Caldwell (9-9)

Athletics 2, Senators 1

First baseman George Burns' double in the bottom of the ninth brings home left fielder Mertin Kopp with the winning run. The Senators are now four games behind the Red Sox and a game and a half behind the Indians for second place.

W- Johnson (2-5)
L- Ayers (10-13)

All pitchers' records were accurate at the time the results were originally posted. The standings check, so I won't repost them.
 
Now to St. Louis for the makeup series between the White Sox and Browns:

Browns 7, White Sox 3 (Game 1)

The Browns scored three in the fourth and four in the seventh to down the White Sox. Center fielder Earl Smith struck the fourth's key blow with a two-run single, and an error from Sox third baseman Babe Pinelli scored the first run of the seventh and opened the door for what followed. First baseman George Sisler paced the St. Louis offense with three hits and a run batted in, and third baseman Pete Johns went two for four, drove in a run, and scored two more. Second baseman Joe Gedeon and right fielder Ray Demmitt knocked in the other runs for the Browns. Starter Rasty Wright gave up two runs on nine hits over eight innings to get the win on the mound.

The White Sox got three hits and an RBI apiece from first baseman Chick Gandil and left fielder Nemo Leibold. Center fielder Wilbur Good was two for five and scored a run. Starter Eddie Cicotte was pulled after just four innings due to a stiff shoulder, but still suffered the loss, as he gave up three runs on four hits.

W- Wright (9-3)
L- Cicotte (13-22)

White Sox 8, Browns 0 (Game 2)

Sox starter Dave Danforth no-hit the Browns for six and a third innings until Demmitt's single to left broke it up. He needed just ninety-seven pitches to complete his one-hit masterpiece. The seventh was the only inning in which the Browns had more than one baserunner, and at one point Danforth retired thirteen straight St. Louis batters.

Meanwhile, his teammates were putting on an offensive show. Good led the way, going three for five and driving in a pair of runs. Catcher Ray Schalk was two for four with two runs scores and two RBIs, and second baseman Johnny Mostil was two for four and scored three times. The Browns didn't help themselves defensively, either; they committed three errors, and all three of the runs the Sox scored in the second were the direct result of miscues: two misplayed fly balls for errors and a passed ball. Time of Game 2: two hours on the nose.

W- Danforth (7-15)
L- Davenport (11-13)

White Sox 6, Browns 3 (Game 3)

The Pale Hose settled for taking two out of three after beating the Browns in Game 3. Buck Weaver was the offensive star in this one, going two for five and driving in three runs. Good was just that once again, going two for four and scoring three times, which means that he ended the series seven for fourteen. Pinelli, Gandil, and Leibold drove in the other Chicago runs. Frank Shellenback got the win, giving up one run on six hits over seven and two-thirds innings. He also walked six batters.

Left fielder Jack Tobin was the hitting star for St. Louis, going three for five. Smith knocked in a pair of runs with a ninth-inning triple, and catcher Hank Severeid walked with the bases loaded in the eighth to drive in the other. Sisler scored twice despite going hitless in four at-bats. Tom Rogers took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits over six and two-thirds innings.

W- Shellenback (10-13)
L- Rogers (8-12)

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 79-53
Senators: 74-58- 5 GB
Indians: 76-62- 6 GB
White Sox: 69-65- 11 GB
Yankees: 66-66- 13 GB
Browns: 64-71- 16.5 GB
Tigers: 57-77- 23 GB
Athletics: 53-82- 27.5 GB

Next: The Sox head home to host the Tigers in a makeup doubleheader.

Thoughts?
 
Now it's time for the doubleheader between the Tigers and White Sox:

Tigers 5, White Sox 4 (Game 1)

The Tigers withstood a furious ninth-inning rally by the homestanding Sox to take Game 1. The Sox trailed 5-2 entering the last of the ninth, when Babe Pinelli led off with a single to left. Tigers reliever Eric Ericson then hit Ray Schalk in the elbow with a pitch to put two men on. Pinch hitter Eddie Murphy (batting for reliever Dave Danforth) then walked to load the bases. Back-to-back fielder's choices from Wilbur Good and Nemo Leibold scored Pinelli and Schalk respectively to cut the Detroit lead to 5-4, but Buck Weaver's grounder to first baseman Art Griggs ended the game.

Griggs led the Tigers' offense, going three for four and driving in a pair of runs, while catcher Oscar Stanage went two for four with two runs scored and two RBIs. His seventh-inning solo homer put the Tigers up 3-2 at the time and stood up as the game-winning hit. Third baseman Bob Jones drove in the other Detroit run. The Sox were led by Pinelli and Johnny Mostil, each of whom went two for four with a run scored and an RBI.

Veteran pitcher Wild Bill Donovan got the win, going eight innings and allowing four runs on nine hits. Reb Russell took the loss for the Sox; he gave up three runs on five hits in seven innings.

W- Donovan (2-0)
L- Russell (8-6)

HR- DET: Stanage (2)

Tigers 2, White Sox 1 (Game 2)

The Tigers completed their sweep of the Sox before a standing room-only crowd at Comiskey Park. George Harper provided the game-winning hit in the seventh, a two-run double that scored Griggs and Ty Cobb to give the visitors a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Cobb had singled with one out and stolen second, and moved to third on a groundout by left fielder Bobby Veach. Griggs had then walked to set up Harper's double. Jones was the only Tiger with more than one hit. Buck Weaver had two of the four Chicago hits, and first baseman Chick Gandil drove in their only run with a first-inning single. The other hit belonged to right fielder Shano Collins.

Bernie Boland went all the way on the mound for the Tigers, giving up just one unearned run on four hits and throwing exactly one hundred pitches. Eddie Cicotte went all the way for the Sox in a losing cause, giving up two runs on six hits and throwing a hundred and six pitches.

W- Boland (16-11)
L- Cicotte (13-23)

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 79-53
Senators: 74-58- 5 GB
Indians: 76-62- 6 GB
White Sox: 69-67- 12 GB
Yankees: 66-66- 13 GB
Browns: 64-71- 16.5 GB
Tigers: 59-77- 22 GB
Athletics: 53-82- 27.5 GB

Next: The A's and Yankees clash in a makeup doubleheader at the Polo Grounds.

Thoughts?
 
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Now it's time for the doubleheader between the A's and the Yankees at the Polo Grounds:

Yankees 6, Athletics 1 (Game 1)

The Yanks scored five times in the fifth, and that was the difference in their victory over the last-place A's. It all started after two out when Philly center fielder Merito Acosta misplayed a fly ball off the bat of Yankee right fielder Roxy Walters. Shortstop Joe Dugan then butchered New York center fielder John Hummel's grounder, and from there the Yankee offense went to work. Five consecutive singles later, this game was out of reach. Those who contributed the singles were third baseman Frank "Home Run" Baker, second baseman Del Pratt, first baseman Jack Fournier, left fielder Ham Hyatt, and shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh. The Yanks finished their scoring when catcher Truck Hannah homered in the eighth. The Yanks totaled thirteen hits for the game; Fournier led the way with three, while Baker and Peckinpaugh had a pair apiece. On the mound, George Mogridge went all the way, holding the visitors to two hits and throwing just ninety-eight pitches.

The A's got their hits from left fielder Merlin Kopp, whose infield single led off the fourth, and catcher Cy Perkins, who homered leading off the eighth. Starter Mule Watson took the loss, giving up the five runs in the fifth on a total of eight hits over five innings. Due to the errors which set them up, none of the runs were earned.

W- Mogridge (17-15)
L- Watson (7-12)

HR- PHA: Perkins (2)
NYY: Hannah (3)

Athletics 7, Yankees 1 (Game 2)

In this one, it was the A's who held the Yanks in check, limiting them to one hit. Pitcher Slim Love tied the game at one with a single in the bottom of the second, and that was it for the New York offense. Meanwhile, the visitors racked up eleven hits. Leading the way was third baseman Larry Gardner, who went three for four and drove in a pair of runs. First baseman George Burns wen two for three plus two walks and drove in a pair of runs, including the game-winner in the fourth. Second baseman Jimmy Dykes drove in two big insurance runs with a seventh-inning double, and Kopp went two for five and scored twice.

On the mound, A's starter Roy Johnson breezed through eight and a third innings before giving up back-to-back walks to Baker and Pratt. Skipper Connie Mack then called Willie Adams out of the bullpen to finish things up, and it only took him two pitches to induce a game-ending 5-4-3 double play from Fournier. Love took the loss for the Yanks, giving up five runs on seven hits and an astronomical eight walks in six and two-thirds innings.

W- Johnson (3-5)
L- Love (13-14)

To finish our makeup games, here's a clash between the Red Sox and Senators from Fenway Park in Boston:

Red Sox 3, Senators 2 (11 innings)

Down to their last strike in the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox got a game-tying home run from little-used catcher Wally Mayer, then took advantage of a defensive miscue from the Senators to win the game in the bottom of the eleventh. Third baseman George Whiteman lined a ball over the head of Washington left fielder Burt Shotton, and when the future manager of the Dodgers tried to field it, he ended up literally kicking the ball into the left field corner. Whiteman ended up at second, and was knocked home on first baseman Stuffy McInnis's base hit to left. McInnis had also driven in the earlier Red Sox run with a double into the left field corner in the sixth that broke a scoreless tie. Milan and Schulte had more than one hit apiece for the visitors.

The Sens got both of their runs in the top of the ninth. Center fielder Clyde Milan led off with an infield hit, moved to third on right fielder Frank Schulte's single to right, and scored on a groundout by second baseman Howie Shanks. Schulte went to third when Boston shortstop Everett Scott misplayed opposite number Doc Lavan's grounder and scored when catcher Val Picinich singled to left.

Sad Sam Jones got the win in relief for the Sox, as he held the Sens to just one hit over the final two innings. Reliever Ed Hovlik took the loss for Washington. Senators starter Jim Shaw had held the Sox to one run on three hits (albeit with six walks) over eight innings, while Boston starter Jean Dubuc allowed two runs on seven hits over nine.

W- Jones (17-7)
L- Hovlik (2-2)

HR- BOS: Mayer (1)

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 80-53
Senators: 74-59- 6 GB
Indians: 76-62- 6.5 GB
White Sox: 69-67- 12.5 GB
Yankees: 67-67- 13.5 GB
Browns: 64-71- 17 GB
Tigers: 59-77- 22.5 GB
Athletics: 54-83- 28 GB

Next: We're back in real time as we examine September 10 in the National League.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Tuesday, September 10:

Reds 2, Cubs 1 (11 innings)

Cubs starter Roy Walker was working on a four-hit shutout through eight innings, with the Cubs' run coming on a Charlie Hollocher sacrifice fly. But in the bottom of the ninth, he gave up a leadoff single to Edd Roush, who stole second immediately and eventually ended up at third with two out. He then walked Greasy Neale. Cubs skipper Fred Mitchell then turned to future Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland "Pete" Alexander to nail things down, but Cincy shortstop Lena Blackburne lashed his 1-0 spitter into right center field to score Roush and put Neale at third with the winning run. Ivey Wingo grounded out to end the inning, though.

In the bottom of the eleventh with one out, first baseman Hal Chase doubled to left. Hollocher then muffed Tommy Griffith's slow roller to short to put Reds on the corners, and Neale ended the suspense on the first pitch he saw with the game-winning base hit to left center. Dolf Luque got the win for Cincy, while Alexander took the loss. The Cubs' lead over the Giants is now down to seven games, and their magic number to clinch the pennant is still ten.

W- Luque (8-4)
L- Alexander (2-2)

Cardinals 5, Pirates 2

If one didn't know better, he or she would have sworn that the Pirates were the last place team today, as they committed five errors, four of which led directly to St. Louis runs. Add to that a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs from center fielder Jack Smith to lead the Redbird offense and eight workmanlike innings from starting pitcher Red Ames, and you get a comfortable win in the Cards' next-to-last home game of 1918. Starter Bob Harmon took the loss for Pittsburgh, while George Cutshaw had the Bucs' lone RBI. The series concludes with the Cardinals' home finale tomorrow at Robison Field.

W- Ames (11-14)
L- Harmon (3-8)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 88-52 (Magic Number: 10)
Giants: 77-57- 8 GB
Pirates: 78-60- 9 GB
Reds: 75-65- 13 GB
Braves: 61-70- 22.5 GB
Cardinals: 62-80- 27 GB
Phillies: 55-79- 30 GB
Robins: 49-85- 36 GB

Next: September 10 in the American League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here are the American League games for Tuesday, September 10.

Washington 7, New York 2
W - Harry Harper (13-11)
L - Slim Love (13-15)

The Senators' charge continued as Joe Judge collected five hits and drove in four runs.

Boston 3, Philadelphia 2
W - Dutch Leonard (9-6)
L - Mule Watson (7-13)

The Bosox survived a late rally from the worst team in the league to keep pace. Babe Ruth pitched two innings of relief for what would today be a save. The Sox' magic number is now down to fifteen.

Cleveland 10, St. Louis 1
W - Jim Bagby (18-17)
L - Tom Rogers (8-13)

The Tribe scored seven of their ten runs in the second on their way to a blowout win.

Detroit 6, Chicago 2
W - George Cunningham (7-7)
L - Joe Benz (9-9)
HR - DET: Donie Bush (1)

Here's something unheard of nowadays: Bush had a grand slam, inside-the-park home run in the fourth.

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 81-53
Senators: 75-59- 6 GB
Indians: 77-62- 6.5 GB
White Sox: 69-68- 13.5 GB
Yankees: 67-68- 14.5 GB
Browns: 64-72- 18 GB
Tigers: 60-77- 22.5 GB
Athletics: 54-84- 29 GB

Next: September 11 in the National League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the National League Report for Wednesday, September 11:

Phillies 3, Braves 0

Philly ace Mike Prendergast tossed a five-hit shutout. The visitors get their runs on an Irish Meusel two-run triple in the third and a throwing error from Boston catcher John Henry on a pickoff attempt in the sixth. Milt Stock also contributed three hits and a run scored. But the story is Prendergast, who walked only two in addition to the five Braves hits and finished his 103-pitch performance in an hour and fifty-five minutes. Braves ace Art Nehf takes the loss, and no Boston player gets more than one hit. Three of the hits are bunched together in the fourth, but Prendergast pitches his way out of the bases-loaded jam by getting Al Wickland to hit into a fielder's choice. This series will continue here at Braves Field tomorrow.

W- Prendergast (14-16)
L- Nehf (16-16)

Giants 5, Robins 0

It was hardly a model of efficiency, but three Giants hurlers combined to blank the Robins on eleven hits and keep their team on pace with the Cubs. The pitchers in question were Jesse Barnes, Jeff Tesreau, and Fred Anderson. Barnes lasted six innings and gave up nine of the Brooklyn hits. In fact, the Robins outslugged their visitors eleven to ten, but ended up with literally nothing to show for it. Four different members of the G-Men drove in one run each, and Benny Kauff, Heinie Zimmerman, and Walter Holke all had two hits apiece. The Giants scored twice in the third, once in the fourth, and twice in the eighth.

Right fielder Jim Hickman, shortstop Ivy Olson, and second baseman Ray Schmandt had two hits each for Brooklyn, while Rube Marquard took the loss on the mound and unfortunately became a twenty-game loser.

This win means that the Giants could possbly move within six and a half games of the Cubs in the National League race if the leaders stumble again in Cincinnati.

W- Barnes (8-1)
L- Marquard (9-20)

Reds 1, Cubs 0

And stumble the leaders do, despite a five-hitter from staff ace Hippo Vaughn. Lena Blackburne's second-inning single scored the Reds' only run, but one was all they needed, as Jimmy Ring and Mike Regan combined to shut out the Cubbies on nine hits. Dode Paskert had three of them and Charlie Deal two, but none of them led to anything, and the game ended with the tying run at third. Edd Roush haf two of the five hits for the Reds. Vaughn needed just eighty-seven pitches for his tarnished gem, while the Reds' hurlers combined for just a hundred and four, so the game sped along, with the official time at one hour and forty-eight minutes.

The Reds now get set to welcome the last-place Cardinals for their final two home games, while the Cubs go home to host the Pirates.

W- Ring (11-5)
L- Vaughn (23-12)

Cardinals 1, Pirates 0

Yes, all four games in the National League today ended in shutouts, as the Redbirds got their lone run on a second-inning single from Gene Paulette and Bill Doak tossed a five-hitter at the slumping Buccos. Only one player on either side had more than one hit: St. Louis right fielder Bruno Betzel, who went two for three. Pirate starter Ralph Comstock went all the way as well, giving up just one run on seven Redbird hits. This was yet another lightning-fast game, as Comstock threw ninety-seven pitches, while Doak threw only ninety-five. Time of the game: one hour and forty-four minutes.

W- Doak (10-16)
L- Comstock (5-7)

Here are the National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 88-53 (Magic Number: 10)
Giants: 78-57- 7 GB
Pirates: 78-61- 9 GB
Reds: 76-65- 12 GB
Braves: 61-71- 22.5 GB
Cardinals: 63-80- 26 GB
Phillies: 56-79- 29 GB
Robins: 49-86- 36 GB

Note: The series in Cincinnati and Chicago were moved up from the end of the season so that travel among the National League teams could be restricted to the Eastern ballparks (Boston, Philly, New York, Brooklyn) going forward.

Next: September 11 in the American League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the American League Report for Wednesday, September 11:

New York 2, Washington 0
W - George Mogridge (18-15)
L - Jim Shaw (17-13)

Mogridge struck out fifteen Senators, one of the highest strikeout totals this year.

Boston 7, Philadelphia 1
W - "Bullet" Joe Bush (17-13)
L - Vean Gregg (9-16)
HR - BOS: Babe Ruth (13)

Ruth's dinger came as a pinch hitter; he then pitched two innings of relief.

Cleveland 5, St. Louis 0
W - Guy Morton (18-8)
L - Rasty Wright (9-4)

Tris Speaker had two triples and drove in four of the Indians' five runs. The Indians have now moved ahead of the Senators and into second place by half a game.

Detroit 6, Chicago 5
W - Eric Erickson (5-6)
L - Dave Danforth (7-16)
HR- DET: Donie Bush (2)

A three-run comeback in the top of the ninth gave the Tigers the lead. Erickson then struck out the side in the bottom of the inning (Chick Gandil, Shano Collins, Buck Weaver). The Chisox' loss drops them into a virtual tie with the Yankees for fourth place.

Here are the American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 82-53
Indians: 78-62- 6.5 GB
Senators: 75-60- 7 GB
(tie) White Sox: 69-69- 14.5 GB
(tie) Yankees: 68-68- 14.5 GB
Browns: 64-73- 19 GB
Tigers: 61-77- 22.5 GB
Athletics: 54-85- 30 GB

Next: September 12 in the National League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the National League Report for Thursday, September 12:

Phillies 4, Braves 2

The Phils topped the Braves at Braves Field. Three different members of the Fightins had three hits apiece: Fred Luderus (for whom one of the hits was a home run), Irish Meusel (who knocked in a pair of runs), and Dave Bancroft. Catcher Ed Burns had the other Philadelphia RBI. Al Wickland and Ed Konetchy knocked in the Boston runs. On the mound, the day belonged to Philly starter Brad Hogg, who went all the way, limiting the Bravos to just six hits. Pat Ragan took the loss for Boston. The series finale is tomorrow here at Braves Field.

W- Hogg (14-15)
L- Ragan (9-18)

HR- PHI: Luderus (6)

Giants 1, Robins 0

Giants starter Pol Perritt not only teamed with Fred Anderson to blank the Robins on seven hits, thus becoming a twenty-game winner on the year, but he also knocked in the winning run with a seventh-inning single. On the Brooklyn side, starter Larry Cheney limited the G-Men to six hits, but gave up four walks and needed a hundred and twenty-four pitches to throw his complete game. Center fielder Jim Hickman and second baseman Ray Schmandt had two hits each for Brooklyn, the only players on either side to accomplish that feat today.

The Giants refuse to go away quietly, and have a chance to close within six games of the National League lead should the Cubs lose to the Pirates. This series will conclude tomorrow at Ebbets Field.

Stat of the week: The Robins haven't scored since Saturday's eighth inning against the Braves, a span of thirty-seven consecutive scoreless innings.

W- Perritt (20-14)
L- Cheney (11-15)

Pirates 5, Cubs 1

We may be in the process of seeing one of the great comebacks/choke jobs in baseball history; the Cubs' lead now stands at six. They took a 1-0 lead into the eighth inning. Les Mann had provided that run in the fourth with a double. They then proceeded to self-destruct royally in the top pf the eighth, giving up five runs on five hits and committing two costly errors. Max Carey's two-run single gave the Bucs the lead, George Cutshaw's two-run triple provided insurance, and Dode Paskert's muff of a fly ball off the bat of Bucco left fielder Lee King, which allowed Cutshaw to score, provided the final humiliation. Pittsburgh ace Wilbur Cooper went all the way, holding the Cubs to six hits, three of which come off the bat of Max Flack. Lefty Tyler took the loss for the Cubs, who wrap up their home season against the Bucs tomorrow while trying desperately to get back on track.

W- Cooper (23-15)
L- Tyler (20-9)

The National League standings to the moment:

Cubs: 88-54 (Magic Number: 10)
Giants: 79-57- 6 GB
Pirates: 79-61- 8 GB
Reds: 76-65- 11.5 GB
Braves: 61-72- 22.5 GB
Cardinals: 63-80- 25.5 GB
Phillies: 57-79- 28 GB
Robins: 49-87- 36 GB

Next: September 12 in the American League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the American League Report for Thursday, September 12:

Washington 4, New York 3 (11 innings)
W - Burt Shotton (1-0)
L - Hank Thormahlen (7-4)
HR - NYY: Wally Pipp (3)

The Senators jumped ahead when Joe Judge scored on a suicide squeeze. Then Shotton came in and retired the side in order.

Boston 8, Philadelphia 0
W - Sad Sam Jones (18-7)
L - Willie Adams (7-13)
HR - BOS: Babe Ruth (14)

The Red Sox got all their runs in their first four innings, including a four-run first capped by the Ruth dinger. In a statistical oddity, the Sox' magic number to eliminate the second-place Indians is ten, but their magic number to eliminate the third-place Senators is twelve.

Cleveland 4, St. Louis 1
W - Johnny Enzmann (6-7)
L - Allen Sothoron (14-13)

Enzmann got it all going with his bat, a two-run double in the third. Tris Speaker and Doc Johnston had RBI doubles later in the game. The Indians thus maintain their half-game lead over the Senators for second place.

Chicago 6, Detroit 5
W - Frank Shellenback (11-13)
L - Bill James (6-13)
HR - DET: Ossie Vitt (1)

James threw a wild pitch that brought Fred McMullin in with the winning run. Combined with the Yankees' loss, this win puts the Chisox back in fourth place by themselves.

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 83-53 (Magic Number: 10)
Indians: 79-62- 6.5 GB
Senators: 76-60- 7 GB
White Sox: 70-69- 14.5 GB
Yankees: 68-69- 15.5 GB
Browns: 64-74- 20 GB
Tigers: 61-78- 23.5 GB
Athletics: 54-86- 31 GB

Note: Much like I did with the Western parks in the National League, I'm moving up all the games in the American League's Eastern parks (Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington) to reduce travel concerns. The games scheduled from September 30-October 7 will thus be played over the next week, and everyone will finish in the West (Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis).

Next: The National League on September 13.

Thoughts?
 
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Since the magic numbers for both league leaders are equal now, I think we'll do the American League first for a change.

Here's the American League Report for Friday, September 13:

Boston 5, New York 1 (Game 1)
W - Carl Mays (24-13)
L - Ray Caldwell (10-11)
HR - BOS: Babe Ruth (14)

Mays allowed four hits and an unearned run, striking out ten. This was the first game of an unscheduled doubleheader due to the blue laws that prevented what would have otherwise been Sunday baseball at Fenway Park.

Boston 6, New York 1 (Game 2)
W - Sam Jones (19-7)
L - Ray Caldwell (10-12)

The Red Sox reduced their magic number to eight with another win over the Yankees. Harry Hooper and George Whiteman had four hits each. No, those aren't misprints; Caldwell lost both ends of the doubleheader, and Jones won his second start in as many days.

Philadelphia 3, Washington 1 (Game 1)
W - Mike "Mule" Watson (8-13)
L - Walter Johnson (25-14)

Johnson pitched decently, but received no offensive support. Larry Gardner's two-RBI triple in the eighth was the difference maker. This was another "blue law" doubleheader, this time for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia 2, Washington 1 (Game 2; 10 innings)
W - Vean Gregg (10-16)
L - Doc Ayers (11-14)

After allowing a RBI double by Joe Judge, Gregg retired twenty-five straight batters. He made a hundred and forty-six pitches over the ten innings, a number that's unheard of today. Larry Gardner was the hero for the second game in a row, as he doubled in George Burns with the game-winning run. The two losses today couldn't have come at a worse time for the Sens; they're now a game and a half behind the Indians for third place and nine games behind the Red Sox.

Detroit 8, St. Louis 2
W - Rudy Kalilo (9-14)
L - Tom Rogers (8-14)
HR - DET: Ty Cobb (4)

The rare dinger from Cobb capped a six-for-six afternoon at the plate.

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 85-53 (Magic Number: 8)
Indians: 79-62- 7.5 GB
Senators: 76-62- 9 GB
White Sox: 70-69- 15.5 GB
Yankees: 68-71- 17.5 GB
Browns: 64-74- 20 GB
Tigers: 62-77- 23.5 GB
Athletics: 56-86- 31 GB

Next: September 13 in the National League.

Thoughts?
 
Here's the National League Report for Friday, September 13:

Braves 5, Phillies 4

Despite being outhit twelve to six, the Braves topped the Phils, mostly because of Philly's five errors. Two second-inning errors led directly to a three-run Boston outburst, and another one helped Boston to escape a 4-3 deficit in the fourth. Roy Massey led the Braves offense with two hits and an RBI, and the other Boston RBIs came from center fielder Jim Kelly, Red Smith, and starting pitcher Dick Rudolph, who gutted out six innings to get the win. Reliever Jake Northrop earned the save.

The Phils wasted a four for five performance from center fielder Cy Williams, who made the start despite an extremely painful sprained ankle that he reinjured in the seventh diving for a fly ball. He, Irish Meusel, and Gavvy Cravath drove in the Philadelphia runs. Starter Joe Oeschger was tagged with the loss despite holding the Braves to five hits in seven innings, though he also gave up five walks.

W- Rudolph (11-11)
L- Oeschger (8-19)

Cardinals 7, Reds 4 (11 innings)

Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, the Reds closed their home season on a down note, as the Redbirds scored three times in the eleventh to complete a stunning comeback win. The Reds scored all of their runs in the first two innings, with Heinie Groh driving in a pair and Lee Magee and Ivey Wingo one each. But the Cards, playing their best baseball of the year, came back with three in the fifth and one in the sixth to tie. Austin McHenry's two-run single in the fifth was the big hit, and other runs scored on a fielder's choice and a Cincinnati error, one of four committed by the home team on the day. (The visitors had three of their own.) Then, after two quick outs in the eleventh, Walton Cruise and second baseman Bob Fisher drew back-to-back walks, and Mike Regan was sent into the game by skipper Groh to face Rogers Hornsby, who spanked one down the left field line to score both Cruise and Fisher. Hornsby would later come home on an infield hit from center fielder Cliff Heathcote. Bill Sherdel got the relief win for the Redbirds, while Dolf Luque suffered the loss.

W- Sherdel (8-13)
L- Luque (8-5)

Giants 5, Robins 3

The good news for the Robins was that they broke their scoreless streak with two runs in the bottom of the first. The bad news was that the Giants collected thirteen hits on their way to another big win that could leave them just five games behind the Cubs at the end of play today. George Burns was the offensive star for the Giants, going three for five with a home run that tied the game at three leading off the New York fifth. Walter Holke's single, one of his three hits on the day, scored the go-ahead run in the seventh. Larry Doyle's base hit in the ninth scored an insurance run, and Art Fletcher and starting pitcher Red Causey have the other Giant RBIs. The home team gets two hits and an RBI from Hy Myers, and other runs batted in from right fielder Zack Wheat and second baseman Mickey Doolan. Causey gave up just six hits in eight innings to get the win. Jack Coombs took the loss for the future Bums. Now to Chicago to see if the Cubs' stumble continues.

W- Causey (13-7)
L- Coombs (8-16)

HR- NYG: Burns (5)

Pirates 2, Cubs 1 (10 innings)

Ladies and gentlemen, there is now officially a pennant race in the National League. The Cubs dropped another heartbreaker to the visiting Buccos to close their home season, and are now just five games ahead of the Giants. The Cubs got their run in the bottom of the third when Max Flack grounded into a force play to drive in starting pitcher Claude Hendrix. Lee King did the same in the Pittsburgh seventh to drive in Max Carey and tie the game at one. Through nine innings, both Hendrix and Pirates starter Frank Miller were going strong; Hendrix gave up just four hits, Miler five.

In the top of the tenth, King singled with one out and stole second with two out. Catcher Jimmy Archer's base hit figured to score King, but Pirate manager Hugo Bezdek, coaching at third, held King up. With the winning run ninety feet away, Bezdek sent veteran Tommy Leach up to hit for Miler, and he grounded one to short. Charlie Hollocher fielded the ball barehanded, but dropped it before he could get a throw off, and King walked home with what turned out to be the winning run.

W- Miller (12-9)
L- Hendrix (22-8)

The standings in the National League to the moment:

Cubs: 88-55 (Magic Number: 10)
Giants: 80-57- 5 GB
Pirates: 80-61- 7 GB
Reds: 76-66- 11.5 GB
Braves: 62-72- 22 GB
Cardinals: 64-80- 24.5 GB
Phillies: 57-80- 28 GB
Robins: 49-88- 36 GB

Next: September 14 in the American League.

Thoughts?
 
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Here's the American League Report for Saturday, September 14:

Boston 7, New York 1
W - Dutch Leonard (10-6)
L - Slim Love (13-16)
HR - BOS: Babe Ruth 2 (16)

In the dead ball days, hitting two out of the park was considered a miracle. Consider it done at Fenway Park, where Ruth showed glimpses of what would be his legendary glory. In the process, he helped the Red Sox reduce their magic number to seven.

Washington 3, Philadelphia 0
W - Walter Johnson (26-14)
L - Vean Gregg (10-17)
Another shutout from the Big Train keeps the Sens from losing more ground to the Bosox.

Note: I highly doubt that Vean Gregg would have started three games in four days for the A's, even in 1918 when pitchers pitched a lot more than they do today. I'm letting the results stand as Desmond wrote them out of respect for him, though.

The American League standings to the moment:

Red Sox: 86-53 (Magic Number: 7)
Indians: 79-62- 8 GB
Senators: 77-62- 9 GB
White Sox: 70-69- 16 GB
Yankees: 68-72- 18.5 GB
Browns: 64-74- 21.5 GB
Tigers: 62-77- 24 GB
Athletics: 56-87- 32 GB

Next: The National League Report for September 14.

Thoughts?
 
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