vs.
September 24
Red Sox 2, Yankees 1
If the Yankees don't make it this year, you can't blame it on their pitching. Alan Hack (19-15, 2.46) pitched 8 scoreless innings but faltered just enough in the 9th to hand victory over to the Boston Red Sox, who need just one more win to clinch their 11th winning season in 13 years. This time, though, it wasn't one of the holdovers from the Sox dynasty of the mid-1920s who killed the Yanks. It was 25 year old rookie Jason Moore (4-2, 2.21) who scattered 5 hits and gave up just the one unearned run in the 7th.
The Red Sox were just 8-13 vs. the Yankees this year but got 2 of their victories at the most inopportune times. At the beginning of this month they also stole a win at Yankee Stadium. They went on to lose that series 2 games to 1 but had they been swept, this game would have been to tie the pennant race.
"It ain't over till it's over," said Yankees manager Dan Elder, refusing to believe in magic numbers and similar sabermetric hooey.
Yankee killer Jason Moore killed the, er, Yankees.
Other Key Games
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Cleveland 2, Chicago (A) 1
The Yankees' loss to the Red Sox was particularly damaging in that it came just after New York fans learned of the Indians' improbable Sunday morning victory over the White Sox. Brian Cowell (5-8, 3.56) stymied the White Sox over 9 innings and C Dave Echols (.286, 5, 55) doubled in the only 2 runs the Indians needed.
Giants 13, Braves 2
It's hard to believe that this is the same Braves team that gave the Reds so much trouble earlier in the week. The Giants struck early and struck often, building up a 9 run lead after 3 innings and adding 4 more in the 7th. CF Mason Taylor (.353, 23, 87) went 2 for 4 with a walk, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. Cleanup hitter 3B Emory Jefferson (.307, 13, 96) added 2 hits and 3 RBIs of his own. Thanks to their weekend sweep, the Giants are now in the driver's seat in the NL pennant race.
Reds 8, Cubs 4
The Reds did what they had to do against the Cubs a day after they fell to the same club. Roman Loomis (25-4, 2.22) wasn't quite his normal tricky self but he got the job done and finished the game for Cincinnati. They were also helped by a 2-hit performance from 3B Jay Calvin (.361, 5, 86), who now sees himself in a fight for the NL batting title, and 4 base knocks from 1B Bob Leonhart (.338, 4, 90).
Other Notes
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The Tigers won't finish .500 this year but they've clinched their best season performance since 1926, when they finished 76-78. They've lost 90 games or more 4 times during that span. This year their turnaround is based on power (78 homeruns, good for 2nd in the AL) and speed (66 steals is #1 in the league).
1B Walter Carlson (.198, 1, 20), who was unceremoniously dumped by the Philadelphia Athletics earlier this year despite being just 2 hits away from 3,000, was picked up by the Boston Braves to replace ailing slugger Bill Norman (.288, 17, 57), who will likely miss the season with a hamstring injury. "Sure, there's some publicity involved," manager John Albin told us. "We want to give the fans a chance to see a man break that barrier. But we think Walter can help us as well, now and maybe in the future."
