Day Two Matchup Results
Eastern League
Atlanta Flames (Larry Dierker) vs.
Nashville Sound (Bill Stoneman)
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The Atlanta Flames and Nashville Sound took the field again with hopes of seizing the upper hand in this second game. Bill Stoneman took the mound for Nashville, and Atlanta’s Dave May quickly tested the defense with a grounder misplayed at first. Cookie Rojas laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Nashville managed a crucial force out at second. Despite a walk to Ron Santo, Stoneman was nearly out of trouble until Mike Epstein’s single and a daring dash by Rojas put Atlanta on the board. Stoneman escaped with minimal damage, keeping it 1-0.
Nashville didn’t take long to strike back. Carlos May led off with a sharp single, and after a groundout moved him to third, he scored on a passed ball. Both teams were on the board, and the game was tied after one.
The Flames continued to apply pressure in the third. Dave May’s single and an aggressive advance set the stage for another run as Ron Santo’s groundout pushed him home. Cleon Jones added to the lead with a fielder’s choice, and suddenly Atlanta was up 3-1. Stoneman managed to limit the damage, but the Flames had seized momentum.
Nashville wouldn’t let that stand for long. In the third, they strung together hits, with Ted Simmons’ timely single sparking a rally that saw two runs cross the plate, knotting the game at 3-3.
Both teams’ pitching tightened as the innings wore on. Larry Dierker worked efficiently for Atlanta, inducing groundouts and popups. Stoneman settled in for Nashville, with strong defense behind him, despite a few Atlanta threats. By the sixth, a tense rhythm had taken hold.
The seventh proved pivotal for Atlanta. Cookie Rojas doubled, and Ron Santo followed with a clutch single to plate him, pushing the Flames ahead 4-3. But Nashville’s hopes rested on their bullpen and Rollie Fingers, who kept it a one-run game with efficient work.
As the game headed to its final frames, Nashville’s hitters faced an uphill battle against Fingers. The ninth provided one last chance. With two outs, Bobby Tolan singled to keep hope alive, but pinch-hitter Ron Theobald’s flyout ended it. The Flames edged the Sound 4-3, securing a hard-fought victory in a tense battle where every run and defensive play mattered.
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Indianapolis Racers (Rick Wise) vs.
Chicago Blue Sox (Dave Roberts)
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The stage was set in Chicago as the Blue Sox hosted the Indianapolis Racers in what promised to be a battle of wills, wits, and clutch moments. The Racers wasted no time in making their mark. In the top of the first, after Tito Fuentes flied out, Billy Williams ripped a double to left. Dusty Baker followed with a single, moving Williams to third, and a Tony Perez groundout brought him home for an early 1-0 lead. It wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient—an omen of the grind that was to come.
Chicago looked to strike back quickly, with Bob Watson leading off their half of the first with a sharp single. Pete Rose added another hit, creating a tense two-on situation. But Rick Wise, Indianapolis’s stalwart, knuckled down and got out of the jam unscathed, leaving Chicago with runners stranded and frustration mounting.
As the innings rolled by, Dave Roberts, the Blue Sox lefty, settled into a groove. Indianapolis managed a couple of baserunners but couldn’t capitalize, while Chicago kept testing Wise without breaking through. In the fourth inning, Johnny Grubb finally broke the ice for the Blue Sox, launching a solo homer over the left-field wall to tie the game at one apiece, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Indianapolis, however, didn’t stay quiet for long. In the fifth, Tito Fuentes reached with a single and promptly swiped second. A Perez double brought Fuentes home, giving the Racers a 2-1 edge. The seesaw battle continued, with each team digging deep and pushing their aces to the limit.
The game’s key moment came in the seventh. With a slim lead, Indianapolis watched Fuentes hit a double and later come around on Dusty Baker’s clutch single, stretching their advantage to 3-1. Chicago wasn’t ready to fold. In their half of the inning, Gene Alley led off with a double and came home on a Bob Watson single, tightening the game to 3-2.
As tension peaked in the final innings, Wise turned the ball over to the bullpen. Clay Carroll came in for Indianapolis, tasked with preserving the lead. Chicago's ninth-inning push was a rollercoaster, highlighted by pinch-hitter Mike Hegan’s single and Bob Watson’s two-out hit to put runners at the corners. But Carroll induced a groundout from George Scott, sealing a gritty 3-2 victory for the Racers.
The game was a masterclass in clutch pitching and timely hitting. Both teams battled fiercely, trading blows and bending but never quite breaking until the very end. The Racers left Chicago with a hard-earned victory, and both clubs reminded everyone why Opening Day is always electric—because every pitch, every swing, and every play has the power to set the tone for a season.
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Charlotte Monarchs (Jon Matlack) vs.
Baltimore Admirals (Pat Dobson)
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The Charlotte Monarchs and Baltimore Admirals met for the second game of their series, with both teams eager to establish early dominance. Charlotte's Richie Scheinblum stepped up first, but Pat Dobson, Baltimore’s right-hander, set the tone with a quick groundout. After Dobson fanned Bill Melton, Bobby Grich sparked some life with a single, but a routine groundout by Ed Goodson ended Charlotte's first chance quietly.
Jon Matlack, Charlotte's southpaw, took the mound for the Monarchs, dispatching Baltimore’s Lou Piniella with ease. The Admirals threatened when Chris Speier and Sal Bando worked Matlack deep into counts, but Matlack’s poise kept them scoreless.
The second inning brought a spark for Charlotte when Del Unser drilled a triple down the line, putting immediate pressure on Baltimore. Carmen Fanzone battled but struck out looking, leaving it to Duke Sims. A passed ball let Unser break the ice, giving Charlotte a 1-0 lead.
But Baltimore pounced on defensive miscues in their half. Reggie Smith reached on an error and swiftly stole second, setting the table. Mickey Stanley’s double cashed in two, flipping the lead to 2-1 for the Admirals as Charlotte’s defense stumbled.
Charlotte fought back in the third, sparked by Richie Scheinblum’s single. Dobson issued a walk to Melton, putting two on for Bobby Grich, who narrowly missed extra bases on a deep flyout. Ed Goodson capitalized with a single, tying the game at two before Baltimore’s defense and Dobson closed the door.
Baltimore struck again in the third. A Lou Piniella double and a Chris Speier hit regained the lead. When Speier daringly raced home, the Admirals pulled ahead 4-2, testing Matlack’s resolve. The Monarchs scratched one back in the fourth, driven by Del Unser’s bat and aggressive baserunning, but they still trailed 4-3.
The fifth was pivotal. Norm Cash’s double extended Baltimore’s lead after a crafty Reggie Smith single and heads-up baserunning. When Dick Green connected for a two-run homer, Baltimore had created separation, leading 7-3.
Charlotte’s lineup had no quit, but Dobson and the Admirals' bullpen kept their bats at bay. A late homer by Earl Williams in the seventh stretched Baltimore's lead to 8-3. Despite Charlotte's last-ditch efforts in the ninth, their offense couldn’t overcome the deficit. Walks loaded the bases with hope hanging by a thread, but Baltimore’s arms and defense sealed the victory.
Final score: Baltimore 8, Charlotte 3. It was a game of missed chances, big swings, and defensive plays that dictated the result—a battle befitting these divisional foes.
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Boston Corsairs (Bill Singer) vs.
Philadelphia Freedom (Tommy John)
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The Boston Corsairs and the Philadelphia Freedom clashed for the second game of their two-game series, and it was a contest defined by key moments, power at the plate, and determined pitching. Taking the mound for the Freedom was the steady left-hander Tommy John, while Boston countered with righty Bill Singer. Both pitchers came out firing, and the early going was marked by strong mound work.
Boston's first inning saw Tommy John find his rhythm quickly. Sandy Alomar went down swinging, followed by Merv Rettenmund, who battled but ultimately met the same fate. Dick Allen stepped in and made solid contact, but his sharp grounder was corralled for a smooth out at first. A clean first frame for John set the tone.
The Freedom tried to answer in their half, with Carlton Fisk stroking a two-out single, but Singer was unfazed, retiring Richie Hebner to close the inning. As the game moved into the second and third, it became clear that this might be a tight battle. Boston chipped away in the third when Luis Melendez smacked a double to the opposite field. A well-executed bunt moved him to third, and a groundout from Alomar brought him home, giving Boston a 1-0 edge.
The fourth inning was the turning point. Dick Allen, who had been quiet in his first at-bat, wasted no time in his second trip to the plate. He launched a Tommy John offering over the left-field fence, a solo shot that extended the Corsairs’ lead. Before Philadelphia could regroup, Jim Hickman followed suit, crushing a deep homer of his own to make it 3-0 Boston. The Freedom faithful were hushed, their team now staring down a steeper climb.
A rain delay in the fourth paused play momentarily, but it did little to cool off Boston's momentum. When play resumed, John battled to keep things close, but the damage was done.
Philadelphia couldn’t crack Singer through six innings, but they threatened in the seventh. Carlton Fisk reached base and Richie Hebner moved him over, and then a clutch double from Danny Thompson finally got the Freedom on the board. At 4-1, the game still hung in the balance, but Boston's pitching held firm. In the ninth, Ed Brinkman delivered the final blow, a solo homer that pushed the lead to 5-1.
Singer handed the ball over to Diego Segui, who locked down the win with a clean ninth. Boston's mix of timely power, sharp defense, and strong pitching proved too much for Philadelphia to overcome. Final score: Boston 5, Philadelphia 1.
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