Sox Century: Sept. 5, 1917

Considering Red Faber had started the last three games for the White Sox, it was time for somebody else to step up.

Lefty Williams answered the bell and then some. He outlasted Allan Sothoron in the longest outing of his career to date, going the distance in a 4-1 White Sox winner in 11 innings.

It could have gone 12, because Sothoron retired the first two White Sox hitters before Fred McMullin kept the inning alive with a single. Eddie Collins followed suit and pushed McMullin to third, and Joe Jackson drew an intentional walk after Sothoron’s attempt at nibbling put him behind 2-0.

Happy Felsch provided protection. He shot a single over second base to score two runs, and when he was caught rounding first too generously, he kept the rundown alive long enough to allow Jackson to score for the rare bases-clearing single.

Williams only needed one run, although the cushion allowed him to breathe easier when he allowed a leadoff double in the bottom of the 11th. He finished the job with two flyouts and a groundout.

The Sox nearly were able to end this one in regulation, because they strung together three straight singles in the seventh for the game’s first run. However, the Browns broke up Williams’ shutout bid in the bottom of the eighth eighth. Willams had stranded earlier leadoff doubles, but Ernie Johnson found a way to make it the other 180 feet. A sacrifice got him to third, and Sothoron hit a fly deep enough for a game-tying sacrifice.

Regardless of the extra innings, the White Sox won their 15th game out of their last 16. From here, they headed back to Chicago for two consecutive off days. With eight games in hand on the Red Sox, they didn’t need the September scheduling gaps.

Record: 89-47 | Box score