This series we have a few more well-pitched games than usual, a contest between 2 imploding bullpens, and a few walk-offs.
Indianapolis ABCs @ New York Gothams, Game 2
The ABC's were held scoreless by the Gothams for 14 innings, with
Christy Mathewson combining with 3 relievers on a 10-hit shutout in Game 1 and
Gaylord Perry holding Indianapolis scoreless through 5 innings in Game 2.
The ABC's starter,
Willie Mitchell, gave up 4 runs in the 1st, including a 2 run homerun by
Willie Mays, but he settled down well from there. Indianapolis finally scored in the top of the 6th on a 3 run shot from
Jake Stenzel. Another New York run made it 5-3 heading into the 9th when
Dave Henderson and
Edd Roush delivered RBI hits to tie the game.
But Indianapolis'
Francisco Cordero couldn't hold on, surrendering a double to the red hot
Pete Runnels and a walk-off single to
Buster Posey.
IND 5 (Cordero 0-2) @ NYG 6 (Nen 3-4, 2 B Sv; Gregg 1 H)
HRs: IND - Stenzel (10); NYG - Mays (21).
Box Score
Detroit Wolverines @ New York Black Yankees, Game 2
This is a key series, as the Black Yankees try to make a late season pennant charge.
New York's bullpen collapsing is old news; Detroit's imploding is not.
Both starters--New York's
Waite Hoyt and Detroit's
Hal Newhouser--did well enough. But the Black Yankees'
Dick Tidrow gave up RBI knocks to
Hank Greenberg and
Chili Davis in the 7th, putting the Wolverines up, 4-2. But
Chad Bradford gave it right back as
Tom Herr drove in 2 to tie the game.
The 8th inning was more of the same:
Goose Gossage gave up an RBI to
Ty Cobb to send Detroit in front, but
Mickey Lolich and
Matt Anderson gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the frame, the first on a solo shot from
Mike Schmidt, the second on an RBI double from
Manny Sanguillén.
And then we hit the one, and perhaps the most important, bright spot in the Black Yankees' bullpen: recent acquisition
Aroldis Chapman has been essentially lights out, and here, despite putting the tying run on base, he closed out the game for a victory for the Black Yankees.
Detroit lost
Tony Phillips for a few days, and were forced to put him on the DL to keep some infield flexibility with
Jimmy Collins being recalled from AAA.
DET 5 (Anderson 1-3; Bradford 1 B Sv) @ NYY 6 (Citarella 4-6; Chapman 6 Sv)
HRs: DET - none; NYY - Schmidt (19).
Box Score
Brooklyn Royal Giants @ Homestead Grays, Game 2 & 3
These two games followed similar arcs. Both featured a great 7 innings by Homestead's starter (
Francisco Liriano in the first game,
Bob Friend in the second). In the first game, powered by a
Josh Gibson homerun, the Grays took a 5-1 lead into the 9th inning; in the second, backed by a grand slam from
Chief Wilson, the Grays led 6-1 heading into the 9th.
But, oh those 9th innings.
In game 1, Brooklyn torched
Josh Lindblom for a 2-run double from
Beals Becker and a 3-run homer from
Matt Holliday (the first of his WBL career) to take a 6-5 lead. Homestead responded in this one, with
Rick Reichardt sending a walkoff shot into the stands with
Andy Van Slyke on base for the Grays to pull out a victory.
The second game was far weirder.
Carlos Zambrano got 2 quick outs to start the 9th and then ... Holliday reached on an error by Homestead's SS,
Frank Taveras.
Frank Isbell walked and Zambrano plunked
Ray Dandridge to load the bases, bringing in
Cliff Lee. Lee walked Becker to force in a run, then hit
Duke Snider to force in another. Lee was replaced by
Michael Jackson, who threw grease on the fire the old fashioned way, by giving up a bases-clearing double to
Ron Cey. All told, and all with 2 outs, the Royal Giants scored 5 times on 1 hit, 3 walks, 2 HBPs, and an error.
Becker would single in the winning run in the top of the 10th.
Willie Stargell had 5 hits across the 2 games.
BRK 6 (Clark 3-4, 7 B Sv) @ HOM 7 (Jackson 3-2; Lindblom 5 B Sv)
HRs: BRK - Holliday (1); HOM - Gibson (7), Reichardt (24).
Box Score
BRK 7 (Gagne 5-5; Hildenberger 2 Sv) @ HOM 6 (Jackson 3-3, 3 B Sv) [10 Innings]
HRs: BRK - none; HOM - Wilson (9), Reichardt (25).
Box Score
Houston Colt 45's @ Memphis Red Sox, Game 4
Memphis'
Dean Chance had a great start, allowing 1 run in just under 7 innings. But it was nothing like
Toad Ramsey's effort for Houston. Ramsey had his knuckleball dancing, carrying a 2-hit shutout into the 9th inning, but Memphis managed to touch him for a game-tying run when
Ted Williams doubled home
Reggie Smith with 2 outs.
Ramsey allowed the 1 run on 3 hits through 9 innings, but wasn't part of the decision. Four hits in the 11th gave Houston a 4-1 lead, and
Tug McGraw--who is still sporting an ERA of 0.00 in his WBL career--closed it out.
Craig Biggio had 3 hits and
Jeff Bagwell and
Tony Gwynn 2 each for Houston.
HOU 4 (Qualls 1-1) @ MEM 1 (Farrell 2-4) [11 Innings]
HRs: none.
Box Score