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CINCINNATI WINS WITH A “SLICK” ONE-HITTER
ROYALS #3 TURNS SLUGGERS INTO SHRIMPS TO EARN FIRST WIN; MARKHAM HAS THREE HITS

CINCINNATI, OHIO (May 25, 1882) - The Cincinnati Royals & Louisville Sluggers played the deciding game of their series at Findlay & Western Park in Southern Ohio on Thursday, and thanks to some brilliant hurling the hosts took an easy win.

Cincinnati took the lead in the opening inning on a run-scoring Single by RF Walter Lloyd, and in the 5th they went ahead 3-0 on a two-run Single by 2B Joseph Markham. The hosts scored three more times after that, including a two-run Single by #3 Slick Ellis in the 8th. Those last three Runs were superfluous, because Ellis, the third man in Cincinnati’s Hurling Rotation, was simply outstanding.

• CIN P Slick Ellis: CG SHO (1-5, 4.66), 1 HA, 0 BB, 4 K – 89 GmSc – 1/3, 2 RBI

Through seven innings Louisville had yet to register a Hit, with the only visitors to reach base doing so due to a pair of Errors by Cincinnati SS David Flack early in the game. Then, to lead off T8 Louisville LF Harold Eaton hit a line-drive Single through the Infield, ending Ellis’ bid for the M.W.B.A.’s first No-Hitter. As it was, it was still a brilliant and much-needed performance by Ellis, who entered the contest 0-5 with a 5.72 ERA over 39.1 innings of work to start the M.W.B.A.’s inaugural season.

Cincinnati’s star Batsman on the afternoon was the league’s premier 2B, Joseph Markham.

• CIN 2B Joseph Markham: 3/4 (all 1B), 1 R, 1 RBI

The 3/4 outing raised his Average over .300 (.301, .731 OPS), and while he only has five RBI through eighteen games Markham is still on a pace for 5.5 Batsman WAR thanks to his excellent baserunning & fielding.

The win improved Cincinnati’s record to 7-11, while Louisville fell to 10-8. The leaders of the M.W.B.A. through eighteen games are the Detroit Robins, who remain 11-6 after this afternoon’s game in Indianapolis was rained out. There are three teams right behind them at 11-7: North Chicago and both St. Louis teams.