Game 4 - "Roe, Roe, Roe your boat"

GAME 4

Grove vs Roe

Dodgers 4, A’s 0

The little ballpark on Bedford and McKeever had another 35,000 SRO crowd for a 59 degree windy night in the Borough of Churches.  Hilda Chester and Happy Felton both arrived early to see the battle of lefties.  In one corner stood the future HOF’er Lefty Grove representing the City of Brotherly Love.  In the other corner was the crafty lefty from Ash Craft Arkansas, Preacher Roe.  Now on paper Ole’ Preach was not match for the fireballer from Lonaconing, MD, but these games of ball are played on grass covered diamonds with dirt that resembles red clay and not on 8 ½ “ x 11” paper.  Grove, who was working on 3 days rest pitched in 39 games in 1928, with 8 of them in relief.  Getting the ball whenever Mr. Mack needed him to go was a badge of honor for him not a curse.  Both starters settled in fine with no score until the bottom of the 3^rd when Brooklyn scratched out 2 small ball runs.  The following inning Furillo led off with a double off of Grove, which was followed by a sandwich of 2 hits (Gilliam and Shuba) surrounded by 2 walks (Camp and Jackie).  At the end of the frame the Dodgers were up 4-0.  Manager Clouser didn’t think Grove had it and immediately went to the pen and brought in George Earnshaw to start the 5^th.  Earnshaw threw 3 no-hit innings, before handing the ball off to Howard Ehmke, who pitched a perfect 9^th.  None of that mattered because Mr. Roe was having himself a fine day in the office completing the circuit and posting himself a 3 hit complete game shutout.  There were at least 3 times during the game that Brooklyn had activity in the pen, but Ole’ Preach had some magic up his sleeves and some shine on the ball.  The only Athletic not fooled was catcher Mickey Cochrane, who was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles.  Al Simmons had Philly’s other hit.

Dodgers lead series 3-1