by Scott Fennessy
Chicago, IL
9/19/1905
Today’s game features Tom Walker a grade C pitcher against Chicago ace Ed Reulbach, an A&C starter. Given the Cubs recent offensive surge I was expecting a blowout again. Initially the Reds did everything in their power to give them a huge lead early, but the Cubs wasted opportunities in each of the first three innings and there was still no score at the end of three innings.
Cincinnati was held in check again by “Big Ed” and his pitching was finally rewarded in the fourth inning. Frank Chance slips a grounder just out of Miller Huggins reach at second and he immediately takes advantage of one of Cincinnati’s biggest weaknesses – catching. The Reds have three catchers; none of them are very good defensively, which really hurts, because none of them are hitting over .170 either. So Chance is off with the second pitch and steals easily.
The resurgent Art Hofman, who is clearly on his best run of the year, hits a solid single to right and Chance comes around to score the first run of the day. Walker then gets two quick outs moving Hofman over to second when Johnny Kling hits a single to left scoring another run. Reulbach gets a single putting runners on the corners and Billy Maloney works a base on balls to fill the bags for Jim Casey. Jim had a tough first half, but like Hofman is really responding well in his new role and he gets a single to right field. This nearly splits the gap, but Fritz Odwell cuts it off, but not until two runs score and it is now 4-0 Cubs. Walker gets Frank Schulte to end the inning, but the damage has been done.
The score remained unchanged until the 7th inning when Cincinnati finally cracks the scoreboard. Tommy Corcoran rips a first pitch fastball into left center for a double. Tommy’s a solid shortstop, but really not much of a threat with the bat, as evidenced by his .210 average. Miller Huggins, who has had a horrible year with the bat and had lost his job earlier in the year has come around lately and slaps a floater over Johnny Evers head for an RBI single. Kling comes to the mound for a brief chat and calms his starter down. Reulbach then retires the side and the score is 4-1 Cubs.
The Cubs however get the run right back, as Walker, who has only started 3 games this year is running out of steam and Chance gets a single with one out and steals second with ease. Hofman gets a walk and catcher Ed Phelps and the manager come to the hill to stall for time as John Vowinkel warms in the pen. Unfortunately the conference does no good and only delays the inevitable as Johnny Evers drills a single to right that scores Chance and puts Hofman on third. Joe Tinker hits a grounder that scores another run, and ends Walker’s day. Vowinkel comes in to get the final out, but the Cubs extend the lead to 6-1.
Reulbach gets a pretty easy eighth inning and Vowinkel is asked to finish the game for the Reds. He may regret this as the Cubs bats explode in the bottom of the inning. Reulbach gets a rare two hit day. Maloney tries to bunt the runner over, and this one rolls slowly down the third base line. Joe Kelley can only watch as it dies before it can go foul and runners are on first and second. Casey drops a single into shallow center scoring Reulbach and runners are on the corners. Casey steals second just over Corcoran’s tag and both runners are now in scoring position. Schulte hits a single to left that scores Maloney, but was hit too hard to allow Casey to score. That did not matter as Schulte gets his first hit of the day and an RBI as well. Chance is hit by Vowinkel’s third pitch the bases are now full. Hofman hits one into center field to score two more and runners are on the corners again. Evers gets his second straight hit of the day to score another run. Unfortunately for Johnny, he tries for second and Phelps guns him down to end the inning. Reulbach allows a one out single to Corcoran but the Reds fail to score and the Cubs win big again by a score of 11-1.
Cincinnati outfielder Jim Seymour had another two hit day and is now hitting .314. Huggins and Corcoran also had two hits each as well. Regarding Tommy Corcoran, in 1901, which I believe was his rookie season he recorded 10 assists in one game, which is still the major league record.
Billy Maloney continues to disrupt at the top and Casey is really looking great in the two spot. Schulte has been the number two threat after Chance most of the season. Chance now just needs 23 at bats to qualify for the batting title. He is currently hitting .350 and in second place behind the incredible Mike Donlin of the Giants and his .377 mark. Ed Reulbach’s record now sits at 25-5. Pending the result of the pending Giants-Phillies double header later today the Cubs are ½ game in front of the Giants.
