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Film Access | ⚾Baseball Guide





TPL - Saturday, April 20, 1946

AL Round-up


DETROIT TIGERS @ CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
On April 20, 1946, in a game that showcased the grit and timely hitting of the Detroit Tigers against the Cleveland Guardians, the action unfolded inning by inning in a true baseball duel. In the top of the first, the Tigers jumped on the board when Luke Appling’s single and Tommy Henrich’s double allowed a run to score—an early spark that set the tone. The Guardians answered back in the bottom of the third as Joe Gordon’s double and Clyde Kluttz’s subsequent single brought a run home, tying the contest early. The scoring continued in the fourth when Stan Spence’s well-hit double and Connie Ryan’s timely two-base hit pushed the Tigers ahead, but the Guardians battled back with steady contact to keep the game close.

As the game progressed into the middle frames, both teams exchanged blows with pitchers holding their ground. The bottom of the fifth saw the Guardians add a run to tie things up, but it was in the top of the sixth that the Tigers’ bats truly roared: Eddie Robinson blasted a solo home run and Luke Appling’s key single pushed the Tigers into a lead, only for the Guardians to claw one back with a well-timed single from Rip Russell. The decisive moment came in the top of the eighth when Connie Ryan’s single and a series of crisp hits extended Detroit’s advantage. Ultimately, after nine hard-fought innings, the Tigers prevailed by a final score of 6–3—a game that perfectly encapsulated the drama and unpredictability of America’s pastime in this newly realigned era.


WASHINGTON SENATORS @ NEW YORK YANKEES
In a classic interleague clash on April 20, 1946, the Washington Senators stunned the New York Yankees 8–6 in a game full of gritty baserunning and timely hits. The Yankees struck first in the bottom of the first when Ralph Kiner’s at-bat culminated in a two‐run home run, giving New York an early lead. The Senators responded in the second inning with Jim Tabor launching a solo home run to put Washington on the board. The contest ebbed and flowed, with the Senators’ offense lighting up in the top of the eighth—Pinky Higgins’ sizzling triple sending Ray Mueller and Carden Gillenwater home—to push the score to 8–6, a lead the Yankees couldn’t overcome despite late efforts.

The game was a back-and-forth affair that showcased the competitive spirit of these storied franchises now reimagined in a redrafted league. The Yankees, long synonymous with New York pride, battled fiercely at home, yet the Senators—ever resilient—capitalized on every opportunity, mixing well-placed bunts with aggressive baserunning. With decisive contributions from key hitters like Marty Marion and a timely sacrifice bunt from George Case in the later innings, the Senators secured the victory, underscoring that in this revamped league, every run tells a story.



NL Round-up


NEW YORK GIANTS @ BROOKLYN DODGERS
On April 20, 1946, the New York Giants edged out the Brooklyn Dodgers 2–0 behind a sharp performance from starter Ted Lyons and timely hits from Billy Herman and Taffy Wright. After two scoreless innings, the Giants broke through in the third when Herman doubled and came around to score on a single by Lou Boudreau. They added another run in the fifth—Herman once again led off with a single, moved station to station, and crossed the plate on Wright’s RBI single to right. Despite a pair of Brooklyn errors, the Giants couldn’t pad the lead further, leaving runners on base in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings.

Lyons kept the Dodgers off the scoreboard with masterful command, scattering baserunners and staying composed through several full counts. Brooklyn’s only serious threat came in the second, when Sam Chapman reached on an error and advanced to third, but was stranded after a popout and a flyout. The Dodgers went quietly the rest of the way, managing no hits over the final six innings and grounding out frequently against the veteran right-hander. A ninth-inning pinch-hit appearance by Jimmy Wasdell ended with a routine grounder to first, sealing a tidy shutout win for New York.

In doing so, Lyons etched his name in the record books, throwing the first no-hitter in Players League history—an achievement made even more remarkable by its timing. It came on just the fifth day of the inaugural season, setting a high bar for pitching excellence right from the start. With pinpoint accuracy and a calm presence on the mound, Lyons delivered a flawless performance that will be remembered as a milestone moment in the young league’s unfolding story.


BOSTON BRAVES @ PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
On April 20, 1946, in a game full of subtle drama and timely heroics, the Boston Braves faced off against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shibe Park. The Braves broke their scoreless spell in the top of the fourth when Joe DiMaggio came to life with a clutch double that extended into a drive, briefly giving Boston a 1–0 lead. But the Phillies answered in the bottom of that same inning, as a string of hits—sparked by the steady work of Pee Wee Reese, Wally Judnich, and Billy Johnson—allowed runners to circle the bases and tie the game at 1–1.

The Phillies’ offense truly ignited in the sixth inning. After a quiet start by the Braves’ pitching, Del Ennis and Aaron Robinson (whose baserunning kept the pressure mounting) helped propel the Phillies ahead. Their efforts, combined with smart defensive plays and timely bunts, pushed Philadelphia’s advantage to 3–1. Although the Braves made a late attempt to rally in the top of the ninth, the Phillies’ pitching and defensive cohesion held firm, and the contest concluded in a hard-fought 3–1 victory for the Phillies.

In this new era of realigned franchises, the Phillies showcased their youthful punch and resilience, overcoming a brief Braves surge with poise and precision. It was a game where every at‐bat mattered, and the unfolding drama reminded fans why baseball continues to captivate—even when every pitch counts.


CINCINNATI REDS @ PITTSBURGH PIRATES
On April 20, 1946, the atmosphere was electric at Forbes Field as the Cincinnati Reds traveled to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in a game that unfolded inning by inning. The Pirates ignited the contest in the bottom of the first, where after a methodical sequence featuring a single by Johnny Mize followed by a double from Vern Stephens—with a baserunning play that allowed a run to score—the home team established an early 2–0 advantage. In the following innings, the Reds looked to claw back; in the top of the fourth, Whitey Kurowski’s sizzling triple and a timely single by Babe Young cut the deficit to 1–3. Yet the Pirates’ bats remained cold until the bottom of the third, when a combination of contact from Johnny Wyrostek, Bob Elliott’s productive play, and a double from Buster Adams pushed Pittsburgh’s lead to 3–0.

The contest’s tempo was maintained throughout, with both teams trading defensive gems and gritty at‐bats. Although the Reds’ offense sputtered in the top of the fifth and sixth innings, the Pirates answered in the bottom of the eighth when a couple of well-placed hits—highlighted by a double from Buster Adams that brought a run home—expanded the gap to 4–1. The final frame saw the Reds make a brief push in the top of the ninth, but the Pirates’ pitching and timely defensive plays sealed the victory. In this new era of realigned franchises, the Pirates demonstrated why they remain a perennial threat, outpacing a resilient Reds squad in a hard-fought 4–1 win.





Home openers from Fenway Park, Sportsmans Park and Wrigley Field. Will be filmed and can be accessed at Sim Baseball Vision soon.

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