1903 World Series (Game 2)

Game 2 (at Boston (A))

Bucs call on Phillippe for Game 2.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are thrilled that they won't have to face Cy Young in Game 2, after Young shut the Bucs down in Game 1, 4-0. The Pirates are looking to even the series with Deacon Phillippe on the mound, against the Boston Americans' Bill Dinneen.

Kitty Bransfield gets his first hit of the series, a two-out triple that sailed over the head of center fielder Patsy Dougherty, Bransfield took advantage of Dougherty's weak outfield arm, making it to third safely just under the tag. Bransfield keeps his World Series magic rolling with 20th career World Series hit. Bransfield would score on the next play, as the young Jimmy Sebring smacked a single past the diving third baseman Jimmy Collins.

Boston's Jimmy Collins hits a one-out bloop single out of reach of Bucs' second baseman Claude Ritchey, and then steals second on a close throw by catcher Ed Phelps. Tying run on second, and Buck Freeman steps up to the plate, Deacon Phillippe doesn't want anything to do with Freeman & his 13 HR's for the season, and intentionally walks him, hoping that Chick Stahl will hit into a inning-ending double play. The pitch to Stahl, it's popped up behind third, and Tommy Leach brings down out number two. The .251 season batting average of Hobe Ferris steps into the box to face Phillippe, the pitch, this one is hit, a little looper to shallow left, the shortstop Honus Wagner may have a chance, his back is to the plate, he turns and reaches, and it drops for a hit... the runners were off with the pitch, and Collins is well-around third, he'll tie it up, 1-1, Freeman reaches third, as Ferris holds first. The batter is now George LaChance for the Boston Americans, Phillippe delivers, base hit right field, Freeman trots home, Ferris goes to third, the throw from Ritchey, and he's safe! First & third, and there is still two outs, the Pirates struggling to get this last out. The catcher Phelps visits Phillippe at the mound, trying to settle him down, all he needs is this out, and see if his bats can reclaim the lead. Lou Criger steps up to the plate, the Game 1 hero, he grounds it to short, Wagner to first, and that will do it, as Boston now leads 2-1 after four.

Boston's Ferris.

Bottom of the 5th, Bill Dinneen hits a grounder to second, and the ball happens to bounce off the heel of Claude Ritchey's glove, and Dinneen's safe on a error by the second baseman. After a deep fly out by Patsy Dougherty, Freddy Parent hits a deep grounder to short, Honus Wagner had no play at second, he throws it to first, and it's high pulling the first baseman Kitty Bransfield off the base. Runners on 1st & 2nd, one out, with two errors by the Pirates here in the 5th (Wagner charged with throwing error). Phillipe delvers and it's a base hit to left by Jimmy Collins, runners move up, and we now have bases loaded for the dangerous Buck Freeman. The pitching coach comes out to talk strategy with the Deacon Phillippe. Freeman steps into the box, Phillippe looks over at third, sets up, delivers, Freeman swings... and misses! Big K for Phillippe, Deacon is pumped, it will now be up to Chick Stahl to make something of this inning for Boston, after a couple of Pirates miscues. Stahl ends up hitting a routine fly to center fielder Ginger Beaumont. Just a loud inning with no results. The Americans still lead 2-1.

Tommy Leach smacks a lead-off double over Patsy Dougherty's head in center. The Red Sox' third baseman/manager Jimmy Collins walks on over to the mound, he waves over to the bullpen, he's calling on Cy Young, the man that the Pirates did not want to see. A bit of a shocking move since Bill Dinneen (the Boston starting pitcher) just allowed only his 4th hit of the ballgame. Young will face Claude Ritchey. Young is coming off a five-hit shutout Game 1 performance of 7 strike outs; Young sets, delivers, Ritchey flies to center, Leach hesitates and doesn't tag up on Dougherty's weak arm, we'll see if that comes back to bite them. Mr, Showcase, Kitty Bransfield steps up to the plate, trying to tie the game with one hit, but Bransfield goes down swinging. It's up to Jimmy Sebring here in the top of the 7th, the pitch from Young, base hit right field, Chick Stahl is after it, Leach is around third, they are sending him, Stahl has a strong arm, the throw, the play at the plate and he's safe, as Sebring stays at first. Ed Phelps hits it to Freddy Parent at short, who flips it to second for the third out. We are at the 7th Inning Stretch all knotted up at two apiece!

Deacon Phillippe on the mound still for the Bucs, since they don't have much of a pen really. He will face the pitcher Young, CF-Dougherty, and SS-Parent. Cy Young hits a hot smash to Claude Ritchey at second, he dives, knocks it down, the throw, not in time! Young beats out the throw, as they give him the hit. Patsy Dougherty hits a fly out to center, for out number one. Freddy Parent hits one deep to right, but not deep enough as Sebring brings it down, Young back to first, two away. Phillippe delivers, and it bounces out of the catcher's mitt, Young makes his way down to second, score that a passed ball on catcher Ed Phelps. The go-ahead run is now a big hit away, with Jimmy Collins stepping up to the plate. Collins batted .296 this season for the Americans. Phillippe sets up, the pitch, and it's wide -- ball four, runners now on first & second for Buck Freeman. The Pirates intentionally walked him earlier, but decide to face him this time, the pitch comes in... it's smacked to left-center, the center fielder Ginger Beaumont is on the run, he's running out of room, it's gone! A opposite-field home run for Freeman, only the second home run in World Series history -- the first one belongs to the Pirates' current third baseman Tommy Leach, for his HR in Game 7 of the 1901 World Series against the Chicago White Sox. The Americans now own a commanding 5-2 lead in this game, where offense is hard to come by. Chick Stahl eventually grounds to first for final out of the inning.

Buck Freeman delivers big blow for Boston.

Jimmy Collins makes a defensive upgrade with Jack O'Brien in left, replacing possible hero Buck Freeman. Cy Young remains on the mound, who came out of the bullpen to relieve in the top of the 7th. Gene Curtis will come in to lead-off the inning, pinch-hitting for Pirates' starter Deacon Phillippe; Curtis batted .421 in limited action this season (8-for-19). Young with the pitch, Curtis grounds it to first, the flip to Young covering first, one out. Ginger Beaumont flies to left. Young brings it home, Fred Clarke hits this one to center, routine, that's three away, and Boston is now 3 outs from making this a 2-0 series lead.

Ed Doheny, the southpaw, who was the slated Game 3 starter, takes the mound for the Pirates. Doheny gets through the inning with ease, 1-2-3.

Top of the ninth, the Americans still going with Cy Young. The great Honus Wagner leads it off, as his Pirates find themselves down 5-2. The pitch from Young, Wagner lays off the pitch, ball four, as Tommy Leach approaches the plate. Young delivers, Leach smacks it to short, Parent over to second for one, over to first, no.. they won't get the throw off as the second baseman was taken out by Wagner, one down, one on. Next brings up the lefty Claude Ritchey, Young looks over to first, brings it to the plate, Ritchey smacks this one deep in the hole, the third baseman Jimmy Collins just reaches it, but won't be able to get a throw off, as Ritchey makes first safely, with Leach moving up to second. The tying run is at the plate in Kitty Bransfield, he only had 2 HR's though in 505 at-bats in 1903, he will have to hit this one into the gap. Young takes his time, delivers, it's a easy grounder for Hobe Ferris at second, shuffles it over to Parent for one, Parent over to first -- Double play! That is the ballgame, and the Pirates bench is quiet, as the Boston faithful in the stands are now singing.

The Bucs have not been able to do anything against the Red Sox pitching. Cy Young has now pitched 12 scoreless innings, and wins his 2nd game of the series (this one in relief). No word on who's pitching Game 3 for the Pirates, the Red Sox are still going with their Game 3 starter, 20-game winner Tom Hughes (112 K's & 2.57 ERA in 244.2 innings).

The Boston Americans are now in the driver's seat.

FINAL: Boston 5, Pittsburgh 2