1905 Chicago Cubs replay update: Brown faces the Phils

by Scott Fennessy

West Side Grounds

Chicago, IL 6/19/1905

The Cubs face the Philadelphia Phillies today. I am really looking forward to this series as they have really made a push lately and are threatening to make a three team race of this. Right now Sherm Magee (left) is possibly one of the hottest hitter in baseball having hit 3 triples and 3 home runs this week, including being the first player in Fen Baseball history to hit two in one game, taking the Pirates bullpen in back to back at bats. Today’s starter for the Phils is Tully Sparks who is 8-5 with an ERA under 2 Mordecai Brown who has been hot and cold all year goes today after having a strong outing last time out for the Cubs.

Both pitchers start off strong, Brown stopped a two out Phillie rally in the first, and then retired the next 7 hitters through 3 while Sparks was perfect through 2. The Phillies defense however opened the door for the Cubs and they took full advantage. Kling hits a grounder that saw shortstop Doolan throw over Bransfield’s head for an error. The now suddenly hot Jim Casey slaps a single to center and steals second. Two out later and both runners in scoring position Sparks looks to be getting out ok, but Evers hits a blooper to center scoring both runners and with Hofman’s grounder to end the inning 0-2 Cubs in front.

Nothing doing for either team as the Phillies waste a leadoff double by Titus in the 4th. In the bottom of the 5th the Cubs put some distance in the score with a leadoff single by Kling, another single, stolen base by Casey and Brown rips a 2 RBI single to make it 0-4 Cubs. Sparks calms down and gets the next three hitters to end the inning. Both pitchers look fantastic the rest of the way. Brown almost got the shutout, but a two out rally in the 9th on back to back doubles by Magee and Doolan to end the game 1-4 Cubs.

For the Phillies Titus had his 10th double of the year and is leading the team with a .307 average. Magee had two more hits and while he is hitting just .254 he has had extra base hits in 5 straight games. Sparks looked pretty good and while he did allow 5 hits, they were all in the fatal 3rd and 5th innings.

For the Cubs Evers continues to recover from his slump with a small 2 game hit streak. Johnny Kling who is really clicking on all cylinders has another two game streak and Casey has a 3 game streak. Frank Chance and Frank Schulte went hitless ending their streaks. Brown had a terrific game, possibly his best of the year. He allowed just 4 hits, three of them doubles he is now 9-6 on the year and lowered his ERA to 3.08 and his WHIP to .92.

Cubs 36-11 .766
Giants 34-13 .723

[photo credit]