[GAME 1 - Fenway Park - BOS 11, CLE 5]
Boston fired the opening salvo in this best of 4 game set to move into a tie for first with the Indians. Cleveland jumped out to an early lead by tagging Boston starter Ellis Kinder (4-4, 4.84) for 3 runs in the first. Larry Doby hit a 2 run shot and Dale Mitchell followe it up 2 batters later with a solo blast of his own. Cleveland starter Early Wynn (5-2, 3.24) was uncharacteristically wild and the Red Sox chipped away to tie it at 3 after 2. In the top of the 5th the Tribe took a 2 run lead off a Luke Easter 2 run homer. Boston brought it back to within 1 when Vern Stephens doubled home Ted Williams. The bottom of the 6th saw Wynn's exit as the floodgates opened and the Bosox posted 6 runs to take a 5 run lead. Boston added another insurance run in the 8th as Kinder shutout the Tribe for
the final 4 to notch the win.
[GAME 2 - Fenway Park - CLE 11, BOS 3]
Cleveland struck back by posting 11 runs of their own as Chuck Stobbs (3-1, 4.34) was chased
from the hill after 5 innings of poor work. Steve Gromek was masterful until he yielded 2 harmless runs in the 8th. Luke Easter went 4 for 4 and scored 4 runs. Al Rosen had 2 homers and 3 RBI's. Gromek went the distance, while Boston had to rely of 3 relievers to limp to the games conclusion. The Indians were now back in 1st by a
game.
[GAME 3 - Municipal Stadium - BOS 7, CLE 2]
Both starters in this game were in and out of trouble. The difference was Mel Parnell (6-2, 2.63) found ways to "weasel" out of it and Bob Lemon just couldn't escape. The Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second, when Jim Hegan hit a two run shot right after Kenney singled. Boston
followed it up by scoring 4 in the 4th and 3 in the 6th to put it out of reach. The big hit in the 4th was a bases clearing double by Bobby Doerr. In the 6th Al Zarilla hit a monster 3 run shot just inside of the Pesky poll to make it 7 to 2. The Bosox never looked back and both teams were now tied for 1st.
[GAME 4 - Municipal Stadium - BOS 7, CLE 2]
Indians manager Rousel Glaciano commented before game 3, "Its a good thing these teams hit a lot of homers...it sure makes the games go fast". Rousel sure got that right. These teams live and die by the long ball. The series finale would be no exception as the long ball bats of Ted Williams (12 HR) and Al Zarilla (7) carried the day once again. Boston struck first with 2 in the first. Johnny Pesky led off with a triple and scored when Ray Boone booted Billy Goodman's grounder to short. Dom DiMaggio and Ted Williams both reach base to load them up for Vern Stephens who hit into a run scoring double play. Cleveland starter Mike Garcia looked to dodge a huge bullet by only giving up 2 runs in this situation. The Tribe halved Boston's lead to 2-1 when Bobby Avila singled home Ray Boone. The run was not charged to Boston starter Joe Dobson, because 2 batters earlier Johnny Pesky booted a routine grounder. Boston score in the 4th and the 5th via solo homers. Dobson was
cruising until the 8th when Cleveland caught fire. Catcher Birdie Tebbetts led off with a single. Two batters later Ray Boone had a single of his own to put runners on first and second. Minnie Minoso came up to pinch hit and slugged a 2 run double. With the tying run on second and only 1 out Dobson received a visit from his manager who informed him that this would be his last inning of work either way, so he might as well let it all hang out there. Dobson intentionally walked Avila
to create a force play at any base. With a slow runner at the plate, in the body of one Al Rosen, the Red Sox were looking for the double play. Instead the got a nice 6-4 force play, which put runners on the corners with 2 outs. Knowing that this was it Dobson reared back and fanned Larry Doby to end the Indian rally and his day. In the top of the 9th Boston added a much needed insurance run when DiMaggio singled home Dobson, who for some strange reason was actually allowed to hit for himself. Dom DiMaggio again came through with a 2 out clutch hit. True to his word, the Red Sox manager pulled Dobson in favor of Ellis Kinder, who was charged with closing the game out. Kinder fanned Easter, got Mitchell to pop to Doerr at second and fanned Tebbetts for the final out of the game. By taking 3 of 4 Boston took a 1 game lead over Cleveland in this hotly contested AL East Pennant chase.
