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Boston Post, May 4, 1916
SIZZLING SOX ON WINNING STREAK
Eleven Straight Victories Propel Bostons into First Place
BOSTON--A season that had begun uncharacteristically slowly for the Red Sox has recently turned around. The Boston club has looked much more like the outfit that has won three consecutive World Series, and a total of five since 1909.
The Sox have reeled off eleven consecutive victories, enough to enable them to overtake the Detroit Tigers and move into the American League's top spot for the first time this season. The Red Sox are now two games ahead, with a mark of 20 wins and 8 losses.
The Sox' engine has been sparked by some familiar sources of power. Tris Speaker, Batter of the Year for '13 and '14, is off to another good start, batting .358 with eight doubles. Pat O'Farrell is not far behind, at .350, despite a recent slump.
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise has been catcher Bill Carrigan. Back in the starting role after the trade with Chicago that sent Bob Peterson to the White Sox, Carrigan has produced at a rate that would do All-Star Peterson proud. The Holy Cross man leads the league in home runs with three, and has driven in 20 runs, which places him third.
Balance has been the key to the Boston pitching staff this spring. Five twirlers have reached the winner's circle at least three times. Two of them are relative newcomers to the Boston rooter's attention.
Ray Collins is in his first season as a member of the regular pitching rotation, and has won four games despite some difficulty with his control.
"Rube" Kroh, even newer on the scene, has made the injury woes Christy Mathewson has faced this spring more survivable. Kroh has done a very passable imitation of Christy, winning three game, losing none, with an earned run average under two.
And, the perennial favorites, Rose and Wood, are doing the sort of work Boston rooters have become accustomed to from them over the past few successful seasons.
Rose has the team's lowest ERA, while Wood is, in a word, Wood. Smoky Joe continues to ring up strikeouts at an amazing rate, sending 73 batsmen back to the dugout with the sound of "Strike three" echoing in their ears.
While it is reasonable to believe the Red Sox will, in fact, lose again before late September, it is also reasonable to guess that Jimmy Collins' club will remain in contention, and that September will be as thrilling a month as it has been for the past few years.
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