The Baseball Times
June 5th, 1897
Denny Lyons Shines in 5-Hit Performance, But Pittsburgh Falls Short
It was a day filled with offensive fireworks at Predators Grounds, but despite an extraordinary effort from Denny Lyons, the Pittsburgh Predators were unable to secure victory over the visiting Chicago Cardinals. Lyons put on a masterclass at the plate, going 5-for-6, yet the Predators fell in an 11-9 defeat.
“I don't want to sound ungrateful, but something is missing here,” Lyons expressed after the game. “When you have a great game you should win the game, too.”
Lyons’ impressive outing included singles in the 1st and 3rd innings, a three-run home run off John Clarkson in the 4th, a two-run single in the 6th, and a solo home run off Sam Leever in the 8th. His only blemish came in the 11th inning, where he flied out.
“Denny played a whale of a game, but sometimes individual brilliance is not enough,” Pittsburgh manager Norm Brooks commented to reporters.
Despite the loss, Lyons' season continues to be remarkable. He is currently batting .439, with 66 RBIs, 56 runs scored, and 10 home runs.
The Predators will look to regroup and build on Lyons’ stellar performance as they move forward in their campaign.