New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-09
BREAKS OF THE
GAME LEAN TO
THE PHILLIES
Still, Shore, Despite Good
Work, Must Bear the
Burden of Defeat.
By HERBERT.

wv ~
land Alexander ha. been dubbed THE
Great" and rightly, but the backbone
OF the Phillies was more lucky than
great this afternoon -lucky in the sense
that the breaks of the game leaned
slightly toward the National League
pennant winners, as they beat the Bos-
ton Red Sox by score of to in the
opening worlds series clash.
It would not be fair to say that Dame
Fortune was at the bottom Of the vic
tory. 1t would not be right to infer
that Alexander did not pitch strong,
crafty game, but the fact remains that
little things which had distinct bear
ing on the outcome broke in favor OF
the Phllies and against the Red SoX
Such usually is the case when two
teams are well matched, and truly there
was little TO choose between those
teams to-day in what amounted largely
to a duel Of pitchers. .,
Eight hits OF the clean, ringing kind
off Alexander, against five hits. three
Of the loose, scratchy order. created
feeling that the Boston man pitched a
better game, and yet close analysis
of the struggle leaves no doubt that
Shore must carry the chief RESPONSE,
bility of the defeat because OF wiz
streak in the eighth inning.
The Red Sox hit Alexander with iat
more freedom than the Phiills MT
Shore, but the eight safe drives OH
the former were distributed one TO an
inning No two came together ana
consequently only one OF the eight was
fruitful. "a it followed base on oai!S
20 Speaker. a.. 81,
nunv hits made by the Phillies of Shore
I led up to runs, and let it be said thai
one run carried high speculative value
az the fight progressed.
The measure OF difference lay in tn
! fact that Alexander was ever steady
I ever equal 10 the call put upon his skill
| and ever resourceful, whereas Shor'
| had one bad inning, which made all IN
/ difference in the world as the gam
was played. ~,
II might be said, in fact, that tn
Philies took quick advantage OF ever,
opportunity which came their way
while the Red Sox wasted one or wv
which might have changed the Who'll
complexion Of the game. Under IN
circumstances, then, the Philles de
served to win, although it must DE ad
mitted that the Red Sox gave the I'm
preston of more finish defensively an
more power Extensively.
Boston losta chance in the first inn
ing that might have proved CLOWN
when Hoblitzell was caught off first bas
with two down, two on Ind Lewis d
bat. One of the little breaks of tn
game went against Boston IN the tourt
inning when Paskert, who opened wit
the oriy hit outside the diamond 70
the PhillIes, scored for his team afte
/ the next two men had been retired
when Wntted bounced little grounde
over Shores head which Barry felde
in brilliant fashion, but failed to &c
/ first by hardly more than half stride
After Boston had tied the score in 1t
/ half in the eighth inning Shore momen
tarily fell into wild ways, and the Phil
lies took quick advantage OF two base
| on balls and two intield hits TO clinci
/ the game. Again there was just 1T
tie hard luck for Shore, however, a
/ Barry made an amazing one-hand stol
| of Bancroft's clean drive over SECOND
and had Stock easily forced at the bat
if Scott lad been n little quicker in an
ticipeting the play. The combination
of Collins and Barry or Evers an'
Maranville would have insured an cas-!
out. A moment later the importance o.
this play was emphasized when Stool
moved to third on base on balls an1
.cored the winning run on Cravatn'
out ut first.
The other run In this inning was just
a plain gift of fortune. The ball from
the bat Of Luderus broke off sharply e
he right of Shore rs he set himself for
an easy play and went for hit, where
as il seemed almost a crime to score II
such.
Altogether the feeling obtained that
Shore deserved better for the kind oil
ball he pitched and that the Pnlllies
will have TO improve nightly IN then
batting to hold their own in the games
TO come.
Il is cause for comment that there
WAS no disposition on the part OF the
Red Sox 20 wait out Alexander. They
.wun9 hard and vic.ously a. rule al
.he first ball he offered. whereas the
Phillies were more willing 20 wait loI
what suited them. The figures on this
were Is to & in favor Of Boston. II
loked like good tactics. even though II
did not turn out to the advantage OF
the Red Sox
The game was brilliant in spots, with
Parry. in my opinion, the particular
tar. but or the whole it fell below the
standard expected. In several cases
force plays at second were avoided fol
safer ones at first, but this no doubt
was due partly TO the soggy condition
Of tie diamond and the necessity for
setting ones self firmly before making
throw.