October 11, 1903
Pittsburgh, PA
As the series moves to Pittsburgh, the fans in Pennsylvania were waiting with a huge gathering as the team train brought home their heroes with a 2-0 series lead. Today’s game faces Bill Dinneen (A Y) vs. Sam Leever (A Z).
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the second when Fred Clarke led off with a single and was on second with two out when first baseman Bill Bransfield hits a grounder up the box for an RBI single. The inning ends with the home team ahead 1-0.
The Pirates extend the lead in the bottom of the third when Leever draws a leadoff walk and Honus Wagner hits a two out double, followed by an RBI single by Clarke to make the lead 3-0 Pirates.
The Red Sox get their first hit of the game and more in the 4th as Chick Stahl walks to open the inning and Jimmy Collins comes to the plate and calls for the hit and run. Leever’s 1-1 pitch is bashed into the left field corner and Stahl scores on the RBI double. John Freeman slams another double a couple of pitches later and the Red Sox lead 2-1. Shortstop Freddy Parent then hits a floater just out of Claude Ritchey’s range at second for an RBI single.
Leever appears to have settled down and gets the next two batters, but light hitting Candy LaChance hits one into the right field corner for an RBI triple and as Dinneen strikes out to end the inning, the score is now 4-3 Red Sox.
The visitors finally break this wide open in the 6th inning as Parent hits a one out double, and light hitting Lou Criger gets a hanging curve and crushes a two run homer and that ends Leever’s day. George Merritt comes in and ends the inning, but Boston is now comfortably ahead 6-3
Nothing changes from here as Dinneen has settled in and Merrit looks unusually sharp. Merritt gets lifted for a pinch hitter in the 7th and Bill Scanlan has come in as the Red Sox come to bat in the top of the 9th. Boston goes to town as LaChance gets his second hit of the day on a one out single. Dinneen hits a grounder that Wagner throws into the seats and runners are on second and third with just one out. Pat Dougherty strikes out, but Stahl hits a single to center and both runs score and Stahl moves to second on the throw. Collins slaps a single past third and Stahl scores with Collins taking second on the play at the plate.
Freeman rips his third extra base hit of the day with his second double of the afternoon to right and Collins scores easily. Parent rips a single past Bransfield and the Red Sox get their 5th and final run of the inning. The Pirates don’t score in the bottom of the inning, and the hammer falls as Boston wins 11-3 to make this a 2-1 series lead for Pittsburgh.
