At least for the moment, that's not the case. The Sox survived the Doubleday series as they went the full seven games against the tough Washington Bobwhites. Washington won 99 games in the regular season, 15 more than Chicago. So coupled with the lost of Kepplinger, it surprises even Black Sox management that the team has advanced to the league championship.
In fact, most assumed the worst because of a disastrous Game Six. They entered the bottom of the ninth up four runs and gave the game away. Here is one observer's account:
This is one for the ages. With Chicago beating Washington 9-5 going into the Bobwhites bottom of the 9th, they had Larry Dunn in the game to finish it. After giving up singles to the first two hitters, the Black Sox decided not to goof around and brought in their closer, Daniel Marquette. After a sac fly ad and a two run double, the Black Sox still led 9-8 and Marquette got Rocky Framaggio to ground out for the second out of the inning. But then, Larry "BITCH" Jenkins came up and with 2 strikes, hit a 433 foot homer to right field that wins the game for the Bobwhites, and they play for another day with Christen heading to the hill for the deciding Game 7. WOW!!! (Series tied, 3-3).
That's right, the Black Sox were ONE STRIKE away from winning Game Six, and the playoff, and blew it. To have come back convincingly in Game 7, which they took 11-3, was simply not expected.
Word is the reliever Larry Dunn, who is a nephew of General Manager Mike Dunn, will be demoted for the next round of the playoffs. "I don't care if he is my nephew," said the GM. "He's a fuck up."
Leading the way for the Black Sox were starters Chet Steadman and Guy Corngood. The Sox won all four games they started. Corngood, who was a bit of a disappointment in the regular season after coming over from Hackensack in a trade, has really come through of late, with four wins in his last five starts dating back to Sept. 16th.
Next up: the Cartwright Cup, and the Louisville Sluggers.
