BRIDGES FANS 10 AS BENGALS SECURE DH SPLIT
Walker Scores Game-Winner on Greenberg's Fly in 9th
DETROIT, Sept. 8 (AP) - Tommy Bridges became just the second American League
hurler to reach double digits in strikeouts in a single game, leading the
Detroit Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics in the second
game of a doubleheader at Navin Field. The A's won the offense-heavy
opener 11-9, led by Bing Miller's four hits and home runs off the bats of Bob
Johnson and Jimmie Foxx.
After a run-filled opening game, the nightcap appeared headed down the same
path. Doc Cramer--who finished the day with six hits--led off the top of
the first with a single and advanced to second on Rabbit Warstler's ground
out. Bob Johnson then hit his second home run of the day, a mammoth blast
over the center field fence, giving the A's a 2-0 lead.
The Tigers got a run back in the bottom of the inning. Jo-Jo White led off
with a single, stole second base and moved on to third when Frankie Hayes' throw
ended up in center field. Gee Walker flied to left and White tagged and
scored to cut the Philadelphia lead to 2-1.
The A's wasted lead-off doubles in the second and third innings and Philadelphia
starter Sugar Cain held the Tigers at bay after the sole tally in the bottom of
the first.
When Johnson led off the top of the third inning with a two-bagger it was the
sixth hit surrendered by Bridges in the game, but at that point he found his
footing. He retired the next nine Athletics batters he faced, with the
string breaking when Foxx reached on second baseman Charlie Gehringer's error to
open the sixth. Bridges retired Eric McNair on a foul ball and then got
Miller on a soft grounder to third, with Johnson taking second. Lou Finney
was walked intentionally and Hayes struck out to end the threat.
In the bottom half of the sixth the Tigers finally broke through with the tying
run. Marv Owen led off with a seeing-eye single to right. Ray
Hayworth flied to left and Bridges hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Owen at
second. But White roped a double into the right field corner and Bridges,
off with the crack of the bat, came all the way around to score to even things
up at 2-2.
The strikeout of Hayes to end the sixth inning was the first of a string of five
consecutive hitters that Bridges fanned. That represents the longest such
streak by an American League pitcher this year. The only other major
league hurler to strike out five batters in a row is Bob Lee of the Chicago Cubs
in a victory over Cincinnati on July 29 at Crosley Field.
With the game still tied at two, Bing Miller led off the ninth inning with a
base hit to center field. It was the first hit for the A's since that
lead-off double by Johnson back in the third. Bridges retired Finney on a
grounder to short, with Miller taking second. Bridges then struck out both
Hayes and Cain to end the inning, with Cain being his tenth punch out of the
game.
Due to the effects of the first game slugfest, Philadelphia was very thin in the
bullpen so Cain--who pitched a fine ballgame himself--soldiered on into the
bottom of the ninth. He was immediately let down by his defense. He
induced a foul pop off the bat of White, but second baseman Warstler dropped it
for an error--the third A's error of the contest. Given new life, White
worked the count full and ultimately drew a free pass. Walker's sacrifice
attempt failed, as White was erased on a force at second for the first
out. But Gehringer rolled a single into center field, with Walker racing
around to third. With the infield in, Hank Greenberg lifted a fly ball to
right. Miller made the catch but his throw to the plate was too late and
Walker scored the winning run.
With the doubleheader split, the Tigers remain a game ahead of the New York
Yankees at the top of the AL standings, pending the outcome of the Yankees' game
with the White Sox at Comiskey Park.
9/8/1934, PhA34-Det34, game 2, Navin Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1934 Athletics 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 3 7 0 1934 Tigers 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 9 1 11 0 Athletics AB R H BI AVG Tigers AB R H BI AVG Cramer cf 4 1 2 0 .290 White cf 4 1 3 1 .320 Warstler 2b 4 0 0 0 .235 Walker,G rf 5 1 0 1 .297 Johnson,B lf 4 1 2 2 .294 Gehringer 2b 4 0 1 0 .387 Foxx 3b 4 0 0 0 .331 Greenberg 1b 4 0 0 1 .296 McNair ss 4 0 1 0 .275 Rogell ss 2 0 0 0 .278 Miller rf 4 0 1 0 .239 Doljack lf 4 0 0 0 .219 Finney,L 1b 3 0 1 0 .264 Owen 3b 4 0 2 0 .347 Hayes,F c 4 0 0 0 .159 Hayworth c 4 0 1 0 .320 Cain p 4 0 0 0 .162 Bridges p 4 1 2 0 .178 35 2 7 2 35 3 9 3 Athletics INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Cain L 9-16 8.2 9 3 1 4 3 166 94 4.29 8.2 9 3 1 4 3 166 94 Tigers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Bridges W 17-10 9.0 7 2 2 1 10 122 82 3.43 9.0 7 2 2 1 10 122 82 E-Warstler 2, Hayes,F, Gehringer. 2B-Johnson,B(23), Finney,L(11), White(21). HR-Johnson,B(24). RBI-Johnson,B 2(98), White(46), Walker,G(51), Greenberg(111). SB-White(25). K-Cramer, Warstler, Johnson,B, Foxx, McNair 2, Hayes,F 2, Cain 2, Walker,G, Doljack, Hayworth. BB-Finney,L, White, Gehringer, Rogell 2. HBP-Greenberg. HB-Cain. GWRBI: Greenberg Temperature: 58, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: in from right at 11 MPH. Attendance: 20,848 Game Time: 2:11