This Date In Red Sox History: August 6 - Ellis Kinder's Big Game, Stretch-Run Pitchers

Games of Note: The Red Sox win against the White Sox 9-2 on this day in 1950, almost entirely due to pitcher Ellis Kinder's efforts. Birdie Tebbetts, is intentionally walked before Kinder comes to bat, by White Sox hurler Billy Pierce. With the bases loaded, Kinder hits a grand slam, the first and only homer he would hit in his career. Kinder would drive in two other runs, giving him six of Boston's nine on the day.

It wasn't just at the plate that Kinder succeeded, as he limited the White Sox to two runs in a complete game, and also ended the 24-game hit streak of rookie Chico Carrasquel. Boston would also take the second game of the doubleheader, 4-3.

Also on this day, in 1953, Ted Williams returned from his military service in Korea. The 34-year-old Williams played in just 37 games that year, in 110 plate appearances, but hit .407/.509/.901 with 13 homers. Going out on a limb here, but I don't think Williams was rusty.

If you combine Williams shortened '52-'54 seasons together, you get 160 games and a .357/.512/.690 line with 43 homers. Imagine what his all-time great career numbers would have looked like if he could have done that more than once in that stretch.

Transactions: In 1998, the Red Sox purchased pitcher Pete Schourek off of the Houston Astros. He was a rental, as he was a free agent at year's end, but he was productive for Boston in the short time he was in town. Schourek started eight games, threw 44 innings, and posted a 110 ERA+. In spite of some awful playoff peripherals -- four walks and a strikeout in 5-1/3 frames -- Schourek didn't give up a run in his postseason time.

Six years later, leading into the 2004 postseason run, the Red Sox acquired LOOGY Mike Myers from the Mariners off of waivers. Myers would appear in 25 games but throw just 15 innings, as he was mostly limited to facing lefties. Myers got some big outs, but as with most LOOGYs, just didn't do enough overall to always justify his roster spot.

Birthday: It's the birthday of Stan Belinda, who was with the Red Sox in 1995 and 1996 as a closer and setup man. He was very good in 1995, when Boston made the playoffs as division winners in the AL East, but 1996 didn't go nearly as well for Belinda thanks to arm troubles that limited him to 28 innings.