YANKEES STEAL ONE FROM A'S HIP POCKET
Ruth's Slam, Scott's Single Key Blows
NEW YORK, May 30 (AP) -- In one of the most remarkable comebacks in major league
history, the New York Yankees rallied for six runs in the bottom of the ninth,
overcoming an 8-3 deficit to stun the Philadelphia Athletics 9-8 in the first
game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. What made the rally even more
improbable was the fact that the bases were empty with one out when the uprising
began and there was still only one out when it ended.
The Yankees had already wasted a 3-0 lead early. Babe Ruth's home run in
the first, just inside the right field foul pole, scored Joe Dugan to put New
York on top 2-0 and Dugan scored again in the third on an error by Philadelphia
shortstop Chick Galloway.
But the A's pounded out six runs off Herb Pennock in the fourth. Al
Simmons, Galloway and Bing Miller rapped out consecutive RBI-singles and then
A's starter Slim Harriss helped himself with a line drive into the lower seats
in left field. The home run, the first of the year for Harriss, was a
three-run shot and put the Athletics on top 6-3.
What appeared to be A's insurance runs were scored in the sixth and ninth scored
on a run-scoring single off the bat of Harry Riconda and Frank Welch's inaugural
home run of the season respectively. Pennock remained on the hill for all
of it, something he presumably viewed with chagrin at the time.
And then came the bottom of the ninth. It started innocently enough when
Scott rolled out to Riconda at third. Wally Schang then walked and Earl
Combs, hitting for Pennock, singled to left-center, with Schang advancing to
third. Whitey Witt then walked to fill the bases and stirring began in the
A's bullpen. After a visit to the mound by catcher Cy Perkins, Dugan lined
a single to right, scoring Schang and refilling the bases. With the score
now 8-4 and Ruth due, the Athletics pulled Harriss and inserted left-hander Stan
Baumgartner to wrest control of the platoon advantage. The American
League's home run leader all but sneered. Ruth crushed a 1-1 offering well
into the upper deck in right field for a grand slam, tying the game.
Before the patrons could take their seats, Bob Meusel belted another Baumgartner
pitch over the head of Miller, short-hopping the center field fence for a
triple. Wally Pipp walked and Ernie Johnson reached on a 2-0 pitch when
Perkins interfered with his swing. With the bases full and the infield in
Scott hit his second ground ball of the inning. This one split Riconda and
Galloway, finding the left field grass. Meusel scored and the improbably
comeback was complete.
By gutting out the full nine innings, Pennock (4-3) was the surprise winner.
The nightcap wasn't completed in time for this edition, but Yankees starter Sad
Sam Jones took a shutout into the seventh inning with his team on top by three
runs.
5/30/1924, PhA24-NYA24, game 1, Yankee Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1924 Athletics 0 0 0 6 0 1 0 0 1 8 13 2 5 0 1924 Yankees 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 9 9 2 9 0 Athletics AB R H BI AVG Yankees AB R H BI AVG Bishop 2b 5 1 1 0 .207 Witt cf 4 1 0 0 .244 Riconda 3b 5 0 4 1 .298 Dugan 3b 5 3 4 1 .315 Welch rf 5 2 1 1 .242 Ruth rf 5 2 2 6 .373 Hauser 1b 5 1 1 0 .252 Meusel lf 3 1 1 0 .362 Simmons lf 4 1 2 1 .273 Pipp 1b 3 0 0 0 .206 Miller cf 4 1 2 1 .318 Johnson 2b 4 0 0 0 .217 Galloway ss 4 1 1 1 .274 Scott ss 5 0 1 1 .287 Perkins c 4 0 0 0 .240 Schang c 2 1 0 0 .275 Harriss p 4 1 1 3 .333 Pennock p 3 0 0 0 .280 Baumgartner p 0 0 0 0 1.000 Combs ph 1 1 1 0 1.000 40 8 13 8 35 9 9 8 Athletics INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Harriss 8.1 6 7 6 5 4 123 75 7.71 Baumgartner BS 1, L 1-1 0.0 3 2 2 1 0 23 13 1.80 8.1 9 9 8 6 4 146 88 Yankees INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Pennock W 4-3 9.0 13 8 7 0 4 145 92 4.40 9.0 13 8 7 0 4 145 92 NYA: Combs batted for Pennock in the 9th E-Galloway, Perkins, Meusel, Johnson. 2B-Bishop, Riconda 2, Hauser. 3B-Dugan, Meusel. HR-Welch(1), Harriss(1), Ruth 2(11). SB-Miller(4), Meusel(7). CS-Riconda. K-Bishop 2, Miller, Galloway, Witt, Ruth, Johnson, Pennock. BB-Witt, Meusel, Pipp 2, Schang 2. HBP-Meusel. CI-Johnson. HB-Harriss. BALK-Pennock. GWRBI: Scott Temperature: 71, Sky: clear, Wind: in from right at 2 MPH.