1905 Chicago Cubs replay update: Pfeffer blanks Phils for his first W

by Scott Fennesy

Chicago, IL 7/30/1905

The Cubs face the Phillies in the second game of this series. The Cubs continue to chase the Giants and are 6 games out coming into this series. The Phillies have played the Cubs tough all season it seems and todays game should favor the Phillies as Tully Sparks faces Jeff Pfeffer. Sparks is 12-13 with an ERA just over 2 coming in and Pfeffer has really disappointed so far this season, but with Herb Briggs looking like he is starting to tire from the strain of being in the rotation despite 3 of his last 4 games being very good manager Frank Chance, who bristled when questioned about his starter of choice before the game wants to give him another try.

Both pitchers look good in the first inning and if this turns out to be a game decided by the starters I don’t like the Cubs chances. Still nothing going on although Jim Casey continues his solid July with a one out double in the second only to be stranded there. Pfeffer is looking very strong too, and Chance is probably feeling pretty good about his choice right now, but it’s a long way to the 9th today. Then the Cubs get their first opportunity of the day when Joe Tinker gets a walk to start the bottom of the 3rd. moving to second on Pfeffer’s grounder and still there with two out the smoking hot Johnny Evers gets a single to center and Tinker comes around to score ahead of the throw. Evers steals second, but is still there when the inning ends and the Cubs now on top 1-0.

Pfeffer gets another perfect inning in the 4th and now has allowed just one hit and retired 9 straight hitters. Looks like this reporter owes the manager an apology today. Go Jeff. Pfeffer is rewarded with another run, courtesy of his pitching counterpart. Casey had reached third on a one out triple, which was his 5th of the season and with Johnny Kling at the plate and struggling a bit Sparks tries to blow him away, but puts too much mustard on it and this one short hops the plate. The ball is past Red Dooin at the plate and rolls all the way to the backstop and Casey scores. The lead is now 2-0 Cubs. Sparks shuts the inning down and the game pretty much belonged to both pitchers the rest of the way.

No further runs score as Sparks and Pfeffer look brilliant. Sparks allows just 2 runs on 3 hits and Pfeffer just two hits and gets his first win on a shutout victory. This is big as the Giants and Pirates are both off today. Chance was probably more happy for Jeff Pfeffer than anyone in the park and gave the media a good ration of crow afterwards. With just one more game this month here are the updated standings:

Giants 59 20 .747
Cubs 56 24 .700
Pirates 48 31 .608

[photo credit]