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kenyan_cheena · 03-17-2008, 05:54 PM

THE OHIO EXPRESS

Monday, 12 April, 1959

MAYS AND COLAVITO RUN RIOT
IN SLAUGHTER OF ORIOLES

Story by Grady McCallum

Ever since that February day when the Cleveland Blues announced the signing of Willie Mays followers of the sport and supporters of the ballclub alike have been waiting to see what the former National League MVP would be able to produce in the same batting lineup as home run king Rocky Colavito. Mays' signing was understandably looked upon as a move that made the Blues a real contender for the American League pennant and was a clear sign to the defending champion New York Yankees that the Ohio organisation was serious about challenging their decade-long supremacy.

Yes, the anticipation has been high for these past couple of months and as it's turned out, it only took four games for Mays and Colavito to deliver. In yesterday's final game of Cleveland's season-opening series in Baltimore the two combined to bat 7-for-10, score six runs, knock in ten and hit three home runs in a 17-8 massacre. The Blues secured at least a series split when they won the opening two games, both by a 3-2 scoreline before the Orioles took game three 2-1 on Saturday. But yesterday afternoon the home team were unable to contain Cleveland's lineup, Colavito starting things off with a two-out two-run homer in the top of the 1st after Mays had singled to left. The Blues led 3-2 going into the 5th where the single-season home run record holder was at it again, clearing the fences for a second time and, as on the first occasion, scoring Mays.

Cleveland blew the game open in the 6th when Bobby Avila hit a two-RBI double to make it 7-2. Two batters later it was 9-2, Chico Carrasquel singling before Mays homered to deep centrefield. The Blues were up 10-3 at the end of the 8th inning and put the result beyond doubt when they piled on seven more runs, the highlight a three-run home run by pinchhitter Roger Maris. Baltimore brought a measure of respectability to the final result when they scored five in the bottom of the inning.

Mays and Colavito were backed up by Avila (3-for-5, 4 R, 2 RBI), Carrasquel (2-for-5, 2 R) and 3rd baseman Billy Harrell (4-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI) in a great all-round performance. The team finished just one hit shy of twenty, batting 19-for-47 (.404).

And so the Blues have started the season with a 3-1 series win, Mays batting a fantastic .588 (10-for-17), hitting a home run and six RBI. Colavito's numbers were also impressive: .308 with three homers and seven RBI. Blues manager Joe Gordon said it was a nice change to get a blowout victory but insisted he was happier with the team's opening two victories on Thursday and Friday.

"Any time you can get wins over O'Dell and Lehman on their own turf is a good one," he said, in reference to the top two men in Baltimore's rotation. "I was already satisfied after those two wins so today is just icing on the cake."

Orioles starter Jack Harshman picked up the loss, giving up nine hits and six earned runs in 5.2 innings of work while 22 year-old Blues righthander Gary Bell recorded the win for Cleveland. He pitched seven innings, also allowing nine hits but only conceeding three earned runs while striking out four batters on 106 pitches.

Cleveland will remain on the road for the next week, visiting Boston where they'll play a pair of games against the Red Sox before returning to the DC region for a quartet of outings against the Senators. Next Monday sees their first home game and first action against the New York Yankees for the season and Cleveland Stadium will no doubt be packed out for that...

03-17-2008, 05:54 PM	#73
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	*THE OHIO EXPRESS* Monday, 12 April, 1959 MAYS AND COLAVITO RUN RIOT IN SLAUGHTER OF ORIOLES Story by Grady McCallum Ever since that February day when the Cleveland Blues announced the signing of Willie Mays followers of the sport and supporters of the ballclub alike have been waiting to see what the former National League MVP would be able to produce in the same batting lineup as home run king Rocky Colavito. Mays' signing was understandably looked upon as a move that made the Blues a real contender for the American League pennant and was a clear sign to the defending champion New York Yankees that the Ohio organisation was serious about challenging their decade-long supremacy. Yes, the anticipation has been high for these past couple of months and as it's turned out, it only took four games for Mays and Colavito to deliver. In yesterday's final game of Cleveland's season-opening series in Baltimore the two combined to bat 7-for-10, score six runs, knock in ten and hit three home runs in a 17-8 massacre. The Blues secured at least a series split when they won the opening two games, both by a 3-2 scoreline before the Orioles took game three 2-1 on Saturday. But yesterday afternoon the home team were unable to contain Cleveland's lineup, Colavito starting things off with a two-out two-run homer in the top of the 1st after Mays had singled to left. The Blues led 3-2 going into the 5th where the single-season home run record holder was at it again, clearing the fences for a second time and, as on the first occasion, scoring Mays. Cleveland blew the game open in the 6th when Bobby Avila hit a two-RBI double to make it 7-2. Two batters later it was 9-2, Chico Carrasquel singling before Mays homered to deep centrefield. The Blues were up 10-3 at the end of the 8th inning and put the result beyond doubt when they piled on seven more runs, the highlight a three-run home run by pinchhitter Roger Maris. Baltimore brought a measure of respectability to the final result when they scored five in the bottom of the inning. Mays and Colavito were backed up by Avila (3-for-5, 4 R, 2 RBI), Carrasquel (2-for-5, 2 R) and 3rd baseman Billy Harrell (4-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI) in a great all-round performance. The team finished just one hit shy of twenty, batting 19-for-47 (.404). And so the Blues have started the season with a 3-1 series win, Mays batting a fantastic .588 (10-for-17), hitting a home run and six RBI. Colavito's numbers were also impressive: .308 with three homers and seven RBI. Blues manager Joe Gordon said it was a nice change to get a blowout victory but insisted he was happier with the team's opening two victories on Thursday and Friday. "Any time you can get wins over O'Dell and Lehman on their own turf is a good one," he said, in reference to the top two men in Baltimore's rotation. "I was already satisfied after those two wins so today is just icing on the cake." Orioles starter Jack Harshman picked up the loss, giving up nine hits and six earned runs in 5.2 innings of work while 22 year-old Blues righthander Gary Bell recorded the win for Cleveland. He pitched seven innings, also allowing nine hits but only conceeding three earned runs while striking out four batters on 106 pitches. Cleveland will remain on the road for the next week, visiting Boston where they'll play a pair of games against the Red Sox before returning to the DC region for a quartet of outings against the Senators. Next Monday sees their first home game and first action against the New York Yankees for the season and Cleveland Stadium will no doubt be packed out for that... Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 03-19-2008 at 06:43 PM.