Welcome back to New York’s Polo Grounds on a lovely October afternoon for Game 2 of the (Simulated) 1904 World Series. Boston Americans’ manager Jimmy Collins is sending Bill Dinneen to the mound in hopes of evening the Series, and Giants’ manager John McGraw is countering with Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson.
The pitchers dominated through the first three innings, scattering a hit here, a hit there, but no real threats anywhere. It wasn’t until the New York fourth that anyone broke through. Dan McGann led off for the Giants by reaching on a two-base error by Americans’ shortstop Freddy Parent. Roger Bresnahan singled McGann across and promptly stole second. After George Browne’s ground ball out, Sam Mertes lifted a home run to right field, just inches to the left of the foul pole. Billy Gilbert walked and stole second. After Jack Warner (no, not that one – the other one) lined out, pitcher Christy Mathewson worked Dinneen for a walk. Art Devlin then scored the fourth run of the inning with a solid base hit to left.
In the top of the sixth, Americans’ left fielder Kip Selbach opened things up with a line drive base hit up the middle. Candy LaChance singled and both men advanced on a one-base error by Giants’ shortstop Bill Dahlen. Freddy Parent then singled in two runs with a third straight base hit. Mathewson escaped the jam, getting Buck Freeman on a double play ball to short and striking out Boston manager Jimmy Collins.
The Americans then tied the game in the top of the eighth. After pitcher Bill Dinneen led off by striking out, Kip Selbach singled to right. Mathewson’s control then temporarily abandoned him as he loaded the bases with walks to Candy LaChance and Freddy Parent. Manager Jimmy Collins then tied the game with a two-run double to left-center.
The Giants threatened in the bottom of the eighth on a one-out walk to Sam Mertes and Billy Gilbert reaching on an error by Boston shortstop Freddy Parent, but Dinneen shut them down on consecutive fly balls by Jack Warner and Christy Mathewson. After a quiet top of the ninth, that took us to the bottom of the ninth.
Art Devlin led off the Giants’ ninth with a double to left center. Dinneen got Bill Dahlen on an infield popup, but he then got a 3-0 fastball up in the zone to Dan McGann, and McGann ended the game with a walk-off double to right center. So in Game 2, it’s Giants 5, Americans 4, and the Giants are off to a 2 games to none lead.
Image courtesy of Pixabay by 12019 (no changes).