October 12th, 1905 World Series Game 2: Chicago Cubs (0-1) @ New York Highlanders (1-0)
NYY: Mike McCormick (14-6; 2.95) v CHC: Bob Ewing (14-18; 3.63)
McCormick up against Bob Ewing in this one, with the Cubs’ hurler pitching the same game as he did in last year’s Series, in which he pitched well with a 1-1 record and 2.25 ERA. That experience again gives Chicago the slight edge, but if McCormick is on then the Cubs may well find themselves heading back home two in the hole. That said, his last start saw him give up 8 runs against Detroit in 3+ innings. The Baby Bears will no doubt take heart from that.
A messy start for the visitors sees New York go ahead with an early run when Robertson ‘s good form from Game 1 carries over as he singles and ends up at third with two outs after Chicago backstop Joel Skinner’s errant throw on a steal attempt. Skinner then compounds his error with a passed ball, allowing the runner to come home.
The Cubs hit back in the 3rd when McCormick commits the doubly cardinal sin of walking the pitcher to lead off the inning, and a Johnstone single puts men at the corners. They are forced to do a two-for-one trade when Tresh GIDPs, but all the same the game is tied. They then take advantage of an error by Highlanders 1B Charlie Householder in the next, with Woody Woodward doubling the runner all the way in from first to make it 2-1 Chicago.
NY left-fielder Frank Schulte leads off the bottom half with a double but is then injured running it out and forced from the game. Ewing gives up a couple of long flyouts but manages to keep the runner right where he is. He, however, isn’t as fortunate in the next, when the Highlanders tie the game on a Doug Glanville two-out single after Danny O’Connell had doubled.
With the game still knotted up at 2 into the bottom 7th, New York mounts a rally. Pinch hitter Johnny Ray leads off with a double and, after Frank House is walked intentionally to set up the twin-kill, Hod Ford successfully bunts them both around into scoring position. Ewing gets a huge out when Ernie Courtney hits one too hard to the 1B for the runner to score and then he escapes the jam by fanning McCormick.
As is so often the case, New York pays for its profligacy, as Art Howe walks and then scores the go-ahead run on a clutch two-out double by Norm Larker. But the hosts shake off that disappointment immediately, as Lou Chiozza comes off the bench to deliver a leadoff triple and then ties it back up again on a Bump Wills sac fly in a huge home plate collision with Skinner that jars the ball loose.
Now it is the Cubs who must dust themselves off and try again.
Their endeavours toward doing so begin promisingly when Gelbert reaches on a leadoff walk and is sacrificed around to second by Woodward, but McMormick strikes out Pepe Mangual and then Ewing to douse the threat.
For the second game in two, this contest will be decided in extra frames.
It remains tied thru 11, but then the Cubs get their chance as Woodward leads off with a hit and then Mangual gets aboard while trying to sacrifice him around, getting a bunt hit instead. Ewing himself fails to lay down a sac bunt that would have put the go-ahead man at third and the opportunity seems lost, especially when McCormick fans the next hitter to break the FL playoff record with his 12th strikeout. But then Highlanders skipper Jim Miller – in a decision I’m sure will be speculated upon for time immemorial – decides to summon Ron Herbal from the bullpen, and he proceeds to give up a 2-run triple to Art Howe, the first man he faces. He might find himself managing down in Tampa Bay or somewhere like that next year...
Surely the home side can’t get off the canvas, can they?
Never say die, these ’05 Highlanders, as House and Ford both single to put the tying run aboard, none out. Now it’s the Cubs who are forced to go to their relief corps, as Manager Tom Loftus summons Gary Kroll to lock down the win. He gets Courtney to fly out to left for the first out of the inning and strikes out Herbal for the second (in one of those little nuance plays that often go unnoticed, the Highlanders had by this time emptied their bench, meaning the pitcher had to hit for himself). And when Chiozza grounds out to first, they have that precious road win.
Wow, what an absolute classic game and this series looks headed the same way. Both pitchers were utterly magnificent and, as the old chestnut goes, it’s a shame there had to be a loser. That loser was New York, and this series is now tied at a game apiece.
Travel day tomorrow and then Game 3 in Chicago the following one.
FINAL SCORE: Chicago 5, New York 3 (12 innings)
BOX SCORE