1905 Chicago Cubs replay update: Revenge on the Bucs

by Scott Fennessy

7/7/1905
Chicago, IL

The Cubs face the Pirates today in a double header. The Cubs are feeling strong today as Johnny Evers returns from a lengthy DL stint from an injured wrist. Manager Frank Chance has made some moves as he felt the Giants pulling away and the Pirates closing fast.. Art Hofman is on the bench as Jimmy Slagle has won the left field job. Evers moves back into his #2 spot, Slagle moves to the # 7 spot although if Joe Tinker continues to struggle he may move up a bit.

For the Pirates Charlie Case goes in game 1 against Jake Weimer who has been one of the best in baseball this year so it is looking great for the home team.

The Buccos go 1-2-3 in the first, but the Cubs, who lead the league in first inning scoring do it again as Evers gets a single in his first at bat today, a single to right. He reads Case and returns after a couple of tosses to first, and is off with the pitch and steals second. With two out Case looks to get out of the inning undamaged, but Chance does it himself with a solid single to right center. Beaumont makes a good throw, but it is cut off by Bill Clancey, and the throw to second almost gets Chance, but he’s safe. Johnny Kling draws a walk, but Case gets Tinker and the inning ends 1-0 Cubs.

The Pirates come right back though as manager Fred Clarke, who gets a Weimer fastball and pulls it down the first base line just out of Chance’s reach. This looks like trouble and it is; it goes to the corner and Clarke is in with a stand up triple, his 10th of the year and tying him with Tom Leach for the team lead. Dave Brain then takes a 1-1 pitch through the hole between Evers and Casey on the left side and Clarke scores with ease. Ritchey singles and runners are on the corners but Weimer gets Case Heine Peitz to hit a slow roller between first and second. Chance has to come for it and makes the flip to Weimer racing for the bag, it’s going to be close and heeeee’s OUT! But wait, Weimer is in pain, and there is some blood coming out of the cut sock in his ankle where Pietz foot came down. It is bad, and Jake is going to miss 9 games, and that’s 3 starts for the uncrowned ace of the staff. This is not good as they really struggled when Reulbach missed some games last month. Buttons Briggs gets Case to end the inning tied at 1.

Chance has the team fired up with a rousing rant in the dugout and they respond right away. Slagle draws a walk and the hit and run is on with the hot hitting Jim Casey. Slagle’s off with the pitch, and Casey gets a pitch he can hit; it’s over Leach’s head and goes to the wall. The third base coach waves Slagle home, and Casey is in ahead of the relay with a double. Briggs moves him to third with one out, and Billy Maloney hits one to straight away center, and Beaumont makes the catch, but has no chance at Casey and the bruins score again and make it a 2 run lead. Case settles down and ends the rally, but the Cubs now lead 3-1.

Both Briggs and Case settle in and this is a pitchers duel. This is big for the Cubs as Briggs had struggled in previous relief appearances. Nothing much happens until the bottom of the 6th as Tinker hits a rocket that third baseman Dave Brain can’t handle and he’s on with an error. The hit and run is on, but this time Clarke is ready and had called for a pitchout. Tinkers is out by a mile! Not good. Slagle then takes one for the team by being hit for the 4th time in just 26 games. Casey’s grounder gets him to second and Briggs, who is a terrible hitter manages to draw a walk. Maloney then hits tie 1-2 pitch hard, but right at Wagner, the toss to second and Briggs is out, but the speedy Maloney beats the throw and the run scores. Unfortunately Case stops the Cubs from any further scoring but the Cubs now have an insurance run.

It would come in handy as Briggs finally gets touched as Ginger Beaumont gets a one out single and was on second with two out as Honus Wagner rips a single to center scoring Beaumont. That however ends the scoring for the afternoon as the Cubs win 4-2.

The Pirates played good enough to win on most days, but the Cubs played just a little better and get a much needed win. Briggs looked great in relief allowing just one run on 4 hits in 7.1 innings.

The Cubs have been fighting injuries a bit lately and we will see if they can survive this latest blow to their roster.

[photo credit]