Sox Century: June 22, 1917

First, he missed a month and a half due to a strained back muscle. Then the defense turned a likely save into a ninth-inning loss.

Today, Red Faber returned to the win column for the first time since late April. He gave up a quick run in the first inning, then shut out the Indians over the final eight innings while Cleveland’s defense helped the Sox get over the hump. Three of the four White Sox runs were unearned, but only one was needed for Faber to secure the victory.

The Chicago Examiner blamed Faber for the run on his account, saying he missed the bag on what should’ve been a 3-1 putout. Instead, Jack Graney moved to second on a bunt, took third on a single and scored on a double-steal for a 1-0 lead.

Faber only allowed two hits the rest of the way, and while it took until the sixth inning, the White Sox eventually found the board against Indians starter Otis Lambert (Happy Felsch almost scored on a suicide squeeze in the second, but was called out and then ejected for arguing). Eddie Collins tripled with one out, then scored on a Joe Jackson grounder that shortstop Ray Chapman juggled long enough to make him throw to first instead.

That was the earned run, and even then it required imperfect Cleveland play. The unearned runs started coming an inning later, when Ray Schalk baited a rundown between first and third after his single moved Chick Gandil to third. Schalk started a rundown, and Gandil scored when catcher Steve O’Neil dropped the throw home.

The Sox then forced Ed Klepfer to confront his weakness after a leadoff walk. Sure enough, Klepfer fielded a Collins bunt and threw it into right field, allowing a run to score and Collins to take third. Collins then scored on a sac fly to make it a 4-0 game.

Faber didn’t need the insurance. After giving up two hits in the first, he only gave up two more the rest of the game.

Record: 35-19 | Box score