The Baseball Times
July 16th, 1876
Stearns Commands the Mound in Boston's Shutout Victory
Bill Stearns showcased his pitching prowess once again, leading the Boston Bears to a decisive 5-0 shutout victory over the Philadelphia Stallions. Stearns allowed eight hits, struck out one, and walked one, demonstrating his control and skill on the mound.
"A complete-game shutout is fun territory for me," Stearns remarked in the postgame interview. "I had good balance and mechanics and was able to keep the ball down. When I do that, good things happen."
With this victory, Stearns improves his season record to 9-3 in 13 starts, posting an impressive 1.89 ERA and striking out 12 batters in 114 innings. His consistency and dominance continue to be a driving force for the Bears.
Zettlein's Mastery Leads Brooklyn to Dominant Win Over St. Louis
George Zettlein of the Brooklyn Hitmen delivered a masterful performance, shutting out the St. Louis Sox with a commanding 9-0 victory. Zettlein allowed nine hits but issued no walks and struck out no batters, relying on his ability to keep the ball down and induce weak contact.
"The bottom line was I just kept the ball down," Zettlein said. "My breaking stuff was down. Everything was down."
Brooklyn skipper Travis Kensinger praised the team's overall performance, stating, "George pitched really well, but this was a solid performance by everyone. We got solid pitching, good defense, and took great team at-bats in a lot of different situations."
Zettlein's season record now stands at 7-6, with a 2.15 ERA over 13 starts, highlighting his reliability and effectiveness on the mound.
Hastings' Bat Ignites Brooklyn's Offense in Rout of St. Louis
Brooklyn second baseman Scott Hastings had a career day at Sox Park, going 5-for-6 and leading the Hitmen to a resounding 9-0 triumph over the St. Louis Sox. Known more for his defensive skills, Hastings surprised everyone with his offensive outburst.
"Hey, I'm as surprised as you guys are," Hastings said with a smile. "Maybe I'm not so bad at the plate after all."
Hastings' impressive performance included a single in the 1st, a double in the 3rd, a groundout in the 4th, another double in the 6th, and RBI singles in the 7th and 9th innings. His timely hitting was instrumental in Brooklyn's victory.
For the season, Hastings is batting .333 with no home runs and 14 RBIs. He has played in 37 games and scored 28 runs, proving to be a valuable asset for the Hitmen both defensively and offensively.