Thursday April 10, 1913
With President Wilson on hand for the season opener, Walter Johnson won a pitcher’s duel against George McConnell and the New York Yankees.
The only run the Yankees managed was of the unearned variety and came in the top of the first. Johnson hit the first batter he faced, Bert Daniels, in the back with a pitch. Daniels stole second, then scored when Chick Gandil couldn’t handle Harry Wolter’s ground ball.
Johnson did not allow another run after that, and finished the game with just the one run on eight hits allowed. He struck out three, walked one, and had the one HBP in the first inning.
The Nats didn’t score until the bottom of the seventh, another scoring opportunity that started with a hit batsman. This time it was Washington’s Eddie Ainsmith who “led off the inning by stopping one of the pitcher’s shoots with his back” according to the New York Times. Howie Shanks reached with a bunt down the first base line that turned into a single. George McBride pushed them both over with a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for a two out, two run single by Danny Moeller two batters later that turned out to be the difference in a 2-1 Nat victory.
1 G 1 GS 1-0 9 IP 1 R 0 ER 0.00 ERA 1.00 WHIP
If you want to cheat and see how the season ends, check out my write up of the 1913 Washington Nationals.
