It's Blue Legs against Haymakers with the Creighton Cup on the line! The best-of-five championship series kicked off tonight with the Haymakers hosting. Cy Young toed the rubber for the home team, and Pud Galvin started for the visitors.
Young survived a man-on-third-with-one-out scare in the top of the first, and then turned things over to his offense. Joe Kelley doubled to lead off the bottom of the first and later scored on a Cap Anson two-bagger to give the Haymakers an early 1-0 lead. Then, in the bottom of the second, Deacon White scored on a groundout by Bobby Wallace.
The tally remained 2-0 in the fourth when an injury threatened to change the complexion of the entire series. Wallace, the Haymakers' shortstop, was removed from the game and will miss Game 2, as well. Wallace is no Honus Wagner with the bat, but he's been the best defensive shortstop in the league over the past five seasons. Losing him deals a grievous blow to the Haymakers' defense, especially because the only other man on the roster who's rated for shortstop play is reserve outfielder (yes, outfielder) Ned Hanlon.
With a gaping hole at the most critical infield position, the Haymakers went back to work. Star catcher Roger Bresnahan extended their lead with a solo homer in the sixth, but Young gave that run right back in the top of the seventh when Sam Crawford tripled before scoring on a groundout by Hughie Jennings. Young, however, buckled down and stymied the Blue Legs for the rest of the game.
After a 3-1 victory in Game 1, the Haymakers will turn to co-ace Mickey Welch in Game 2. He'll be opposed by the Legs' Old Hoss Radbourn and his twenty consecutive scoreless innings.
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