1919 World Series Replay: Game 5

CHICAGO- Yesterday's rainstorm allowed the White Sox to reflect on what had gone wrong in the first four games, but apparently did not dampen the players' confidence, despite the fact that they found themselves down three games to one in this best-of-nine classic. The team gathered in its locker room at Comiskey Park and bantered while they awaited word regarding the status of Game 5, which was in danger of being washed out. They were critical of each other's misplays, but were neither discouraged nor depressed. In fact, most of them acted as though they were still going to win.

Despite the players' confidence, Chisox skipper Kid Gleason appeared to be nervous and restless, before finally answering the prodding questions of one local scribe. "I don't know what's the matter.It's the best team that ever went into a World Series, but it ain't playing baseball. We'll take 'em tomorrow. You'll see, we'll take 'em!"

Well, tomorrow came and went and now the local nine finds itself in a seemingly inescapable hole, down four games to one, after succumbing to the visitors from Cincinnati by a 2-1 mark. Reds hurler Hod Eller followed Jimmy Ring's Game 4 masterpiece with a gem of his own, scattering a mere five hits and allowing only one run in eight and one third innings, before making way for reliever Dolph Luque. Luque, who was making his fourth series appearance, recorded his second save, pitching two thirds of an inning, the only blemish on his record being an intentional walk.

Hard luck Chicago southpaw Lefty Williams pitched brilliantly once again, allowing only two runs in eight innings, but was left with nothing to show for his efforts for the second time in the series. Williams, who has allowed a scant three runs in 16 World Series innings-a 1.69 ERA-earned a no-decision in Game 2 before being saddled with the loss in this day's contest.

After the opening frame found each team with a baserunner, but no runs, the Reds broke the ice in the second, the fifth time in five games they were the first team to score. Left fielder Pat Duncan continued his hot hitting by lacing a two-bagger to the gap in left-center field to open the top of the second stanza. Shortstop Larry Kopf followed with a blooper that dropped in front of Nemo Leibold in right field. The trajectory of the ball left enough doubt in Duncan's mind that he had to hold his position before moving to third on his teammate's safety. Right fielder Greasy Neale then slapped a grounder that was heading for the outfield before second baseman Eddie Collins snared it. But Duncan scored and Neale was safe with an infield hit. Williams and the White Sox escaped without further damage, but the National League champs had sent an early message that they would not let up.

The Chicagoans answered with a message of their own in the bottom of the inning. Left fielder Joe Jackson stroked a leadoff double to right center, then came around to score when shortstop Swede Risberg followed a ground out and a base on balls to first baseman Chick Gandil with a single to left, knotting the contest at one. Gandil and Risberg were stranded, though, when catcher Ray Schalk grounded out and Williams fanned to end the inning.

Perhaps sensing a comeback, the Reds' batters went to work in the third. First baseman Jake Daubert singled to leadoff the inning, but was erased at second by Schalk on a steal attempt. Third baseman Heinie Groh picked Daubert up with a basehit of his own, though, before center fielder Edd Roush earned a free pass, putting runners at first and second. Williams coaxed Duncan to pound one on the ground to Collins for what should have been an inning-ending double play, but the second sacker booted the ball and the bases were loaded for Kopf with only one out. The Cincinnati shortstop delivered a fly ball that landed in Jackson's glove, but was deep enough to score Groh from third and the Reds held a lead they would never relinquish.

Then Eller went to work on the White Sox hitters. He faced 22 batters over the next 6 1/3 innings and retired 18 of them, allowing only singles to Jackson, Collins and Schalk in the fourth, sixth and eighth innings, respectively. The fourth baserunner, third baseman Buck Weaver, reached on a ninth-inning error. But Eller calmly dispatched Chicago's best, inning after spectacular inning.

Williams was even more dominant, allowing only walks to two of the next 14 batters, before Roush touched him for an eighth inning single to lead off the frame. After a groundout, Gandil stabbed Kopf's screaming liner and stepped on the first base bag for a magnificent double play and Williams was out of trouble.

The White Sox gave the home crowd one final glimmer of hope in the bottom of the ninth, when Weaver reached base on Kopf's miscue. Jackson followed by bouncing a two-hopper to the Cincinnati shortstop, who could only erase Weaver at second on the force play. Then Fred McMullin, pinch running for Jackson, pilfered second base, putting the tying run in scoring position. Luque came in to spell Eller, who had thrown only 110 pitches and still seemed fresh, but Cincinnati manager Pat Moran wasn't letting his starter continue. Moran had Luque walk Felsch intentionally in a questionable move that put the potential winning run on base with only one out. But the manager's move paid off in spades when Gandil scorched a grounder to Kopf, who threw to second for the force and second baseman Morrie Rath relayed the throw to first for a game-ending double play.

The combatants will head back to Cincinnati for Game 6, which will be played tomorrow and feature Cincinnati's Game 1 starter, Dutch Reuther, against Chicago's Game 3 starter, Dickie Kerr. Kerr will have to improve on a performance that saw him allow six walks and five runs in 7 2/3 innings if the White Sox hope to extend this series to a seventh game.

Game 5

10/6/1919:
Cincinnati at Chicago (A)

BATTING:
Doubles: P. Duncan (1, 2nd inning off Williams, 0 on, 0 out.)
Runs Batted In: L. Kopf (1), G. Neale (1)
Caught Stealing: J. Daubert (1)
Sacrifice Hits: B. Rariden (1)
Sacrifice Flies: L. Kopf (1)

FIELDING:
Errors: L. Kopf (1)

BATTING:
Doubles: J. Jackson (1, 2nd inning off Eller, 0 on, 0 out.)
Runs Batted In : S. Risberg (1)
Stolen Bases: E. Collins (2), F. McMullin (1)

FIELDING:
Errors: E. Collins (1)
PITCHING:

Attendance: 34,379

Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune