- Doak, One of Huggins’ Youngsters, Hands West Siders Surprise, Allowing But Three Hits.
- Five Errors For Chicago
- Leach, Good and Johnston Only Ones to Solve Recruit’s Spitter and Cards Take Lead in Series
ST. LOUIS. Mo. April 20. A deceptive “spitter” applied against the Cubs, usually when a runner was on third and waiting to score, brought a 2 to 0 defeat to the O’Day entry today, with the Cards on the winning end. .
The one who used the wet ball and shot holes and strikes through the Cub batters was Bill Doak.
,A year ago Bill was unknown, hurling occasionally for the Akron (Ohio) club, and no doubt the Cubs wish he would never have graduated. But in the middle of the season Bill became famous in the Central League circuit, and when all the big league scouts rushed to take a look at him the Cardinals won out in the bidding. That’s how Doak entered the National League.
This spring Bill didn’t show anything unusual. In fact, his stuff was not good enough to cause Boss Huggins to see another Ed Walsh in his youngster. Sitting on the bench practically all spring, Doak was called out of harness this afternoon. Now he’s ready for all of ’em.
DOAK COOL IN PINCHES
Doak was at his best when the Cubs were dangerous, which wasn’t very often, because he allowed but three hits and topped this performance with fanning ten. But when the enemy did threaten to score “Spitter Bill” used more saliva and caused a Cub to whiff the air.
The biggest feat arrived In the first inning. It showed the uncertainties of baseball. Tommy Leach opened with a single to left and Good followed with a one-base drive to right, Tommy stopping at second. The. two blows came on two pitched balls, and It looked as if the Cubs were going to stage another seven hits, seven runs inning. Sweeney did as directed, sacrificed, and the sluggers were to follow. But Doak got his spitter to breaking and on three terrific shoots Zimmerman hit nothing but the chilly atmosphere. Schulte followed Heinie and the same prescription was handed to Frank – three pitches and three strikes, side out.
The next opportunity for a run for the Cubs was the fourth. After Schulte fanned, Saier walked and stole second. He advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Doak brought out the spitter on Johnston, and coast leaguer breezed, as did his mates before him.
After the first inning the Cubs could not hit Doak’s delivery, and in the remaining eight rounds they marked but one blow, a single by Jimmy Johnston In the seventh inning. Incidentally this was Johnston’s first hit as a National Leaguer.
In the ninth inning the Cubs tried to start a rally, but they fell victims to the strike-out fever. Saier started with a whiff and Johnston was safe on Dolan’s fumble.. Bresnahan smashed a wallop along the third base line that would have been good for three sacks, but unfortunately the ball just missed fair territory by an Inch. Roger tried again, but the result was the tenth strike-out for Dr. Doak. Williams, batting for Humphries, went out on a roller to Miller.
Humphries wasn’t quite as successful as his hurling opponent; still the mates to the rear and front of Bert caused the two runs off him. For four innings Humphries ran to a 0 to 0 score. In the fifth Dolan was chucked out by Bert when Cruise singled to right. On the hit and run Snyder singled to center. Johnston allowed the hall to filter through his hoofs.
RODGER MISSES THROW.
When he finally recovered he tossed home, but Bresnahan missed the relay and the ball rolled to the Cubs’ bench. That double-barrel miscue put Cruise across the plate and Snyder on third. The squeeze play missed, Doak falling to touch the ball and Snyder was easy at the plate.
Another run was presented to the Cards in the sixth inning. Huggins singled and was out stealing second, but Zimmerman muffed Rog’s perfect throw. Magee singled to right, scoring Huggins.
The Cubs bad another fierce day in the field, registering five errors. Leach muffed a grounder, Johnston booted a single, Bresnahan missed a throw at the plate, Zimmerman missed a stealer at second when he had an easy out and Heine drew an error from the official scorer for falling to cover second when Miller stole second in the fourth and advanced to third. The final game is docketed tomorrow. Jim Vaughn probably will tie up with Harry Sallee.