1912 World Series: Game 5

It is Hugh Bedient's day to shine.

From The Boston Globe, October 13, 1912

Jake Stahl surprises the crowd at Fenway by starting Bedient, instead of Ray Collins who started game two.  The word is that the Sox were reluctant to pitch Hugh because of his wildness. [NOTE:  Bedient only walked 55 and threw two wild pitches in 231 innings that year so I can't pin down the source for this story].  McGraw counters with Christy Mathewson, throwing on two days rest.  They proceed to pitch a joint masterpiece.(Bedient)

But it doesn't start out that way.  Bedient walks the first batter on four pitches before getting out of the inning.  In the bottom of the first, Christy gives up singles to two of the first three Sox batters putting runners on 1st and 2nd.  Duffy Lewis hits a hard grounder down the left field line which looks like it could be a double but Buck Herzog knocks it down behind third base and forces out the lead Sox runner at the bag.   Mathewson strikes out Gardner to end the threat.

Then, in the bottom of the third, Harry Hooper hits a triple down the left field line off of Mathewson.  On the next pitch, Steve Yerkes hits a triple to deep center scoring Hooper.  On the next pitch, Speaker hits a grounder which goes through Larry Doyle's leg scoring Yerkes.  Mathewson settles down and retires the last 17 Sox batters in the game but the Giants now trail 2-0.

New York attempts a comeback in the 7th.  Fred Merkle hits a ground-rule double and then scores on an error in the outfield but Bedient shuts down any further Giants rally.

The game ends in a 2-1 Red Sox win.  Bedient gives up three hits and three walks.  Mathewson allows five hits and doesn't walk a batter.

It's all over in one hour and forty three minutes.  The Sox now lead three games to one and look on the verge of wrapping up the series.

After five consecutive days with games, tomorrow is a day off.  We'll resume on the 14th back at the Polo Grounds.

Saturday, October 12, 1912 at Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox)

                                 1  2  3    4  5  6    7  8  9     R  H  E
                                 -  -  -    -  -  -    -  -  -     -  -  -
    New York Giants              0  0  0    0  0  0    1  0  0     1  3  1
    Boston Red Sox               0  0  2    0  0  0    0  0  x     2  5  1

    PITCHERS: NYG - Mathewson
              BOS - Bedient

               WP - Hugh Bedient
        LP - Christy Mathewson
             SAVE - none

   HOME RUNS: NYG - none
              BOS - none

  ATTENDANCE: 34,683