1905 Chicago Cubs replay update: Cubs onslaught continues in sweep of game two

by Scott Fennessy

9/25/1905
Chicago, IL

Game two for today features Fred Mitchell, another Brooklyn pitcher having a difficult year is making a rare start today. Fred has seen a LOT of work from the bullpen this year, and is merely getting a chance to prove he is no worse than any of the other stiffs that occupy the pitching staff. His opponent is Ed Reulbach, making his first start after that epic game two against the Giants when he took a no hitter into the seventh.

Neither pitcher gives up a hit in the first, and it is the Dodgers that strike first. John Hummel walks to start the second and steals second with one out. Bob Hall is hit by a pitch and runners are still on first and second with two outs when Lou Ritter hits a grounder to Johnny Evers, and he rushes the throw and it sails into the seats allowing Hummel to score and Hall moves to third and Ritter is awarded second base. Fortunately Mitchell grounds out and the Dodgers only score one run.

The Cubs come right back in the bottom of the inning as Evers hits a grounder right at Mitchell, and he misplays it into an error. Chance steals second and is still there with two out when Joe Tinker hits a rocket into the left field corner that scores Chance with the tying run and he gets a double. Kling strikes out and the inning is over and the score tied.

Nothing happens again until the bottom of the fourth inning. Chance draws a walk with one out and Evers singles to right and runners are on the corners. Hofman hits a grounder that Charlie Malay can’t pick up cleanly and Chance scores the lead run and runners are on first and second. Mitchell then uncorks a wild pitch and runners are on second and third. Tinker hits a grounder into the hole at short and while Malay makes a great stop and throw to get the batter, both runners advance one base and another run is in. Kling then gets an infield single, but the runner has to hold at third and the inning ends with the Cubs leading 3-1.

Reulbach is getting into a groove as the Dodgers go scoreless again in the 5th. Unfortunately for Mitchell the end is near as Billy Maloney rips a double into the right center gap to lead off. Jim Casey, who is on his hottest streak this season gets another hittable pitch and he drives this over Jimmy Sheckard in center for another double and the Cubs score again. One out later Chance gets an RBI single and the bullpen is already in action for Brooklyn. Evers grounds out and it looks like Mitchell can get through the inning, but Hofman has other plans and he gets a pitch he likes and he goes the other way. This one is into the corner and Chance scores for the Cubs again and “Circus Solly” is in with a stand up triple.

Oscar Jones, who in a staff of terrible pitchers is the worst on the staff, but at this point it really does not matter. Tinker gets his second hit of the day, and his third RBI and the blowout is officially underway. Jones is lucky to get the third out and the inning ends with the Cubs comfortably on top 7-1.

As the Dodgers go down quickly the Cubs are apparently making up for lost time earlier in the year as the pounding continues. Reulbach hits a squibber that the first baseman boots and Maloney, who had been in a bit of a slump hits an infield single that puts runners on first and second. Casey then hits another deep fly ball that Sheckard can’t get to and Casey gets a bases clearing triple. Ritter and the manager visit the mound and the bullpen already going and the message to Jones is clear. Start getting hitters out. Unfortunately for Brooklyn the message was not received. Schulte hits a grounder up the middle for an RBI single. Jones does get the next two hitters, but the Cubs score 4 more and now lead 11-1.

Another perfect inning for Reulbach, who is clearly more comfortable than his last start and the Cubs reward him yet again in the bottom of the 7th when Maloney gets a one out single and then steals second. For a struggling hitter he now has three hits and two steals, giving him 70 swipes for the season. Casey flies to shallow left and Schulte gets another RBI single to center and Ritter comes to the mound to stall the inevitable change of pitchers. It does not help as Chance then rips an RBI double, and when Johnny Evers gets a single through short a couple of pitches later, the manager has seen enough and ready or not the Dodgers need a relief pitcher.

Unfortunately for them they really don’t have anyone that has not seen a ton of innings lately and utility player Charlie Babb comes in. It is his second appearance of the year, and they are hoping that he improves on his 5 earned run in one inning stint in a blowout earlier this year. Oddly enough he does just that.

The Dodgers go down quickly in the 8th and ninth innings, and Babb retires 4 of the 5 hitters he faces and allowed just a soft single by Kling in the 8th. Thankfully the double header is over and the Cubs complete the sweep 14-1. They are now 2 games up on the Giants, but New York has played 4 less games, so I don’t feel comfortable yet.