by Scott Fennessy
8/24/1905
Philadelphia, PA
The Cubs continue their east coast trip and come to Philadelphia to face the struggling Phillies. It is hard to believe about 3 weeks ago they were beginning to turn things around and trying to make a move on the Pirates for third place, but the wheels fell off the wagon, and now they are in danger of being overtaken by the Reds, and worse yet, the Cardinals have put together a few wins and are gaining as well.
Today’s game features Jake Weimer, who is one of the elite pitchers in the NL against Frank Corridon, who after a great start has fizzled and is settling in for a mediocre season. Neither team does anything in the first, although John Titus, who is the best hitter the Phillies have, got a two out double only to watch as Johnny Evers makes a great diving stab at Hugh Duffy’s one hop smash and throw him out to end the inning.
The Cubs come through in the second as Jim Casey leads off with a walk and is on second with two out when Joe Tinker slaps an opposite field single to plate the first run of the day. Weimer, who is having a solid year as a hitter then drops a soft single to left and runners are on first and second. Billy Maloney then hits a single to right scoring Tinker, but shortstop Mickey Doolan cuts the throw and fires to Ernie Courtney at third and Weimer is out with ease to end the inning.
The Cubs press the advantage in the third as Evers gets a leadoff single and with the hit and run on Frank Schulte goes with the pitch and this one is hit hard to right center. Duffy chases it down, but Schulte slides in just under the tag and is safe with his 14th triple of the season, and Evers makes the lead 3-0 Cubs. Weimer gets a scoreless third and this already looks bad for the home team.
No changes until the 5th inning when again with two outs the Cubs bats come alive. Schulte gets a single to left, and it’s nice to see “Wildfire” start coming around. They really need his bat. Chance then gets a single and quickly steals second to put runners on second and third and now the pressure is all on Corridon, and he does not answer the call. Jim Casey who is another middle lineup guy that looks to be coming out of a prolonged dry spell as he rocks one to deep center field. Sherry Magee gets to it, but not until it is too late, and Casey is in with a two RBI triple and the blowout is on. Johnny Kling flies to right to end the inning, but as Weimer continues to roll in the bottom of the inning it is now 5-0 Cubs.
The score was still the same in the 8th inning as Chance leads off with his second hit of the day and was still on first with one out when Corridon makes his final mistake of the day and grooves a fastball to Kling. Johnny hits this one hard and deep, and all he can do is hang his head as it clears the wall for a home run. This is number five for the season, tying him with Chance for the team lead.
The Phillies bullpen takes over, and despite using their two worst relievers the Cubs get nothing more and Weimer cruises to his 27th victory of the year as the Cubs win 7-0. Pending the results of the Reds/Giants later today in NY they could be back in first.
