The Cincinnati Reds offense continued to punish Pirates pitching en route to a 6-2 win, to take a 2-0 series lead and put Pittsburgh a loss away from a sweep and elimination. Frank McCormick picked up where he left off last game, doubling in Lonny Frey in the 1st inning and scoring on Ernie Lombardi’s single to give the Reds a 2-0 lead. The Pirates tied things up on a scary play in the 3rd. Johnny Rizzo hit one deep to center with 2 on and 2 out. Reds center fielder Harry Craft made a leaping attempt, but collided with the wall, leaving the game with an eye laceration. Rizzo ended up on 2nd with the bases-clearing double. Craft is expected to miss a few games. Unfortunately for the Pirates, their momentum was short-lived. Starter Jim Tobin gave up a lead-off triple to Lombardi en route to a 2-run inning to put the Reds back on top to stay. Tobin allowed 15 hits and 6 runs in 7 innings in the loss. Paul Derringer wasn’t sharp, but his 10 hits and 4 runs in 7 innings was good enough for the win. Gene Thompson allowed just a hit in 2 innings in relief for the save. The series heads to Pittsburgh where the Pirates hope to keep their hopes alive. The winner will face the 1935 Chicago Cubs in the opening round of the Tournament.

’38 Pirates @ ’39 Reds – 9/2/23

The Boston Red Sox couldn’t hold on to a lead, as the Washington Nationals had a 5-run 4th thanks to a broken-up double play to win 6-3 and take a 2-0 series lead. Lou Finney got the Sox on the board early with a 2-run single. A Bobby Doerr error led to an unearned run in the 3rd that cut the Red Sox lead in half before the big inning. Jack Wilson allowed three straight singles with one out to load the bases. Washington’s leadoff hitter, Buddy Myer, hit a sharp grounder to Doerr, who flipped to Joe Cronin for one out. But Luke Sewell’s slide prevented Cronin from turning two. Three more hits and a walk later, and the Nationals had a 6-2 lead, capped by Fred Schulte’s 2-run single. General Crowder allowed 12 hits, but Boston would only get one more run. The Nationals now have a chance for a sweep as the series heads to Fenway Park for Game 3. The winner will face the 1939 Yankees in the next round. Ted Williams was 2 for 4 in the loss. Schulte was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. He’s hitting .375 in the series.

’39 Red Sox @ ’33 Nationals – 9/2/23

The 1939 Cincinnati Reds destroyed the 1938 Pittsburgh Pirates 16-2 to make a statement in Game 1 of the 5-game Play-in Series in the Baseball Maelstrom Best of the 1930s Tournament. The Reds also turned a rare triple-play in the game. Pirates starter Russ Bauers lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing 8 runs on 8 hits, including 3 home runs. The Reds scored 4 runs each off relievers Joe Bowman and Ed Brandt. Five different Reds hitters hit homers, including back-to-back shots in the 8th by Billy Myers and Wally Berger. Frank McCormick led the offense, going 5 for 5 with a double, homer, and 3 RBI. Ival Goodman was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI, and Myers was 2 for 5 with 4 RBI. Bucky Walters went the distance, allowing 7 hits and walking 6, but holding the Pirates to 2 runs. Paul Waner hit a bases-loaded no-out single to drive in both runs. Brother Lloyd followed with a crazy play that ended the inning. Lloyd Waner hit a flyout to center, and Harry Craft gunned down Arky Vaughan at the plate for the 2nd out. Paul Waner tried to advance to 2nd after waiting to make sure the throw wasn’t cut-off, but was nailed by the throw from Ernie Lombardi to complete the 8-2-6 triple-play. The Pirates hope to shake off the embarrassing loss before tomorrow’s game.

’38 Pirates @ ’39 Reds – 9/1/23

The Washington Senators won a tight 2-1 game over the Boston Red Sox to take a 1-0 lead in the American League Play-in Series for the Baseball Maelstrom Best of the 30s Tournament. Earl Whitehill outdueled Lefty Grove, and Joe Kuhel provided the offense, going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Joe Cronin’s error in the 5th lead to an unearned run an inning before Kuhel drove in the 2nd run for Washington. Doc Cramer drove in Bobby Doerr in the 8th before Jack Russell came in in relief to shut the Red Sox down. Rookie Ted Williams was 0 for 4 in his debut. The winner of this 5-game series will advance to play the #1 seed 1939 New York Yankees.

’39 Red Sox @ ’33 Nationals – 9/1/23