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From the archives | Sept. 7

Lucky triple play stops the Red Sox

Cronin robbed of double, based loaded in ninth

The Indians won both ends of the double-header with the Red Sox at Fenway Park yesterday, taking the first game 5-3; the second, 5-4, and so won the series, three games to one.

They had some luck in the first game, in making what probably was the most unusual triple play ever executed, with the bases full, and none out in the ninth, which checked what looked like a devastating surge by the Red Sox.

Straight at Hale

The latter went into the ninth inning trailing, 1 to 5, and it looked altogether a forlorn hope. Then came the hurricane of hits – five in succession, all singles. Melillo led off with a Texas Leaguer to right; Bing Miller, batting in place of Walber, singled to left; Cooke came through with a safety to centre, scoring Melillo; Werber hit one to right, Miller holding up at third; Harder was relieved at this stage by Hildebrand. With the bases full, Almada singled to left scoring Miller.

The score was 3-5 with the bases full and none out and Joe Cronin coming to bat. Joseph hit a streaking liner straight at Hale’s head. The latter barely had time to put up his gloved hand, as a matter of self defense, with no hope doing anything more than to prevent it hitting him in the face. The ball caromed off his mitt, right into the hands of Knickerbocker, which of course retired Cronin. Knickerbocker whipped the ball to Hughes, and doubled up Werber off second, and Hughes relayed the ball to Trosky, and the triple play was completed.

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Good for a double

If the ball hit by Cronin had gone past Hale it would have been good for a double, two runs would have been over the plate, which would have tied the score, and the Red Sox would have runners on second and third with none out.

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Talk about horse shoes, rabbits’ feet and such things which are supposed to bring luck, the Indians must have had them all.

Harder had pitched a great game up to that final inning, but he sure was plastered in that session,

Walberg had also pitched well, but Hale got to him in the fourth for a home run and Wright also hit home for a homer with one on in the ninth inning.