by Scott Fennessy
Chicago, IL
10/3/1905
The Cubs face the Phillies for the last time this season. The Phillies are struggling badly, but Sherwood Magee and John Titus have played well of late, and former Cub Mike Kahoe has played his way into the lineup. Today’s starter Frank Corridon has struggled lately, but is a decent pitcher. He faces Jake Weimer. Jake has been lights out of late and is following up his 2 hitter last time out.
The Phillies go down in order to start the game, but only after Frank Schulte makes a great running grab into the corner on Magee’s towering fly ball. Billy Maloney gets things started for Chicago in the bottom of the inning. Billy has really struggled of late, and it is nice to see their leadoff man onboard. Billy is on second with one out when Schulte rips a single to right to score the first run of the day. Frank Chance, who is already great at working the count is taking extra pitches as he wants Schulte to go on the hit and run, but “Wildfire” is being held by some pretty good tries by Corridon; who loses focus and grooves one for Chance. Chance promptly crushes this one deep into the right center seats for a two run homer and the Cubs are on their way. The rally stalls after this but the Cubs have a quick 3-0 lead after one inning.
After another quick inning by Philly in the second the Cubs bats continue to work. Johnny Kling singles to start the inning and is on second with two out when Jim Casey hits one into right center for an RBI single. Corridon gets the third out, but the Cubs now have a 4-0 lead and it looks like the bullpen is going to see some action at some point soon.
The score was still 4-0 when The Cubs go to work in the 4th inning. Art Hofman gets a leadoff single that just gets under Ernie Courtney’s glove and had moved to second with one out when Weimer gets a single to left. Hofman’s around third and the throw from Titus is close, but Hofman slides just under Charles Dooin’s tag. Corridon struggles but gets out of the inning with just the one run, but it is now 5-0 and the bullpen is starting to stir a bit.
The Phillies go down in order in the fifth and I realize for the first time Jake has a perfect game going. The Cubs finally finish off Corridon in the bottom of the inning after Schulte gets his second hit of the day with a single to left. With a successful hit and run runners are on the corners and Johnny Evers at the plate. Chance signals from first base to do it again, and Johnny slips one between first and second for a run scoring single and runners are still on the corners. The Phillies have a couple of arms going in the pen and the manager wants power pitcher Ralph Caldwell to try and stop the rally. Red hot Joe Tinker greets him with another single to center scoring another run and runners still on the corners. Hofman hits a grounder, and is thrown out at first, but another run scores and this one looks well in hand. Kling then hits one that Bill Gleason makes a nice stop on, but his throw goes wide and another run scores and Kling is awarded second after the error. Caldwell struggles to finish the inning, but that was the end of the scoring as the Cubs now have a commanding 9-0 lead after 5 innings.
Dooin ends Jake’s no hit bid with a solid single up the middle to start the sixth and for some reason this really unsettled him. He does get two quick outs, but struggled against both hitters and after Tinker misplays Gleason’s grounder it takes a visit from Chance to try and calm him down. Magee gets a fastball that he immediately sends into the right field seats for his 10th homer of the year. Titus then rips a triple to right and Kling visits the mound as Chance cannot get too close or he will have to pull his starter. Hugh Duffy pops up to Evers and the inning finally ends with the Cubs still leading 9-3.
Chicago gets the runs right back in the bottom of the sixth inning as Chance draws a one out walk and moves to second on a short single by Evers. Tinker then gets his second hit of the day with a two run double to center. With two out and Tinker moving to third on a ground out Kling gets a hanging curve ball and he drills this one deep to left field. It just misses clearing the fence and it is another double to score another run. Weimer grounds out to find the score 12-3.
And that is how the game ended. Weimer ran out of steam but gets the complete game. The bats have really been alive the last week or so, and with the Giants still right on their heels the final 3 games are all significant. The Cubs now hit the road to face Pittsburgh in 2 days for a quick 2 game set before coming home to finish against the hated Cardinals.
