In Game 2, the Blue Legs put the ball into the hands of veteran Al Spalding, whose breakout season moved him past longtime ace Old Hoss Radbourn on the team's depth chart. The Resolutes countered with curveball specialist (and power hitter!) John Clarkson.
Both pitchers were sharp, generating groundball outs and preventing hard contact. The game was scoreless until the top of the third, when John McGraw singled, narrowly stole second, and scored on Pete Hill's single. Once again, the Resolutes struck first, but once again the Blue Legs would respond quickly.
In the bottom of the frame, Spalding smacked a single to help his own cause. With one on and two out, Nap Lajoie drove in the home team's first run -- for the second straight game -- with a booming triple. Dan Brouthers then plated Lajoie with a single, giving the Legs a 2-1 lead.
The Blue Legs would add to their advantage in the fifth. Following a leadoff triple from Willie Keeler, Nap Lajoie lofted a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. Spalding was cruising, and the home fans were getting louder with every harmless grounder he induced.
One of those grounders, however, almost came back to haunt them. With one out in the sixth, sure-handed third baseman Jimmy Collins somehow muffed a Pete Hill chopper, giving the Resolutes a rare baserunner. The speedy Hill attempted to swipe second, but Mike "King" Kelly made a perfect throw to eliminate the threat.
It was still 3-1 in the top of the eighth. After Connie Mack singled with two outs, the desperate Resolutes lifted Clarkson for pinch hitter Jim O'Rourke, who popped out to end the inning. Now hard-throwing southpaw Rube Waddell would be tasked with shutting down the Legs in the bottom of the eighth.
Waddell didn't miss many bats, so the Legs soon had opportunities to score. With men on first and second but two outs, the Legs opted to pinch hit for Spalding. The veteran had done his duty, tossing eight innings of one-run ball. Pinch hitter Frank Chance dug in and looked to extend his team's lead. He scorched Waddell's offering right up the middle to bring home another run.
With a 4-1 edge in the ninth, the Legs had a decision to make. Now that Spalding was out, would they bring in regular closer Vic Willis, or that proud warrior, Old Hoss Radbourn? Radbourn had lost his last three starts against the Resolutes, including a 19-4 drubbing that has gone down in infamy as the most lopsided game in league history. Well, I do have a bit of a flair for drama, so of course I brought in Radbourn! This guy had a chip on his shoulder and wanted revenge. But...would he get it?
Facing the top of the order, Radbourn needed just three outs to secure the win. Hill grounded out, but the next batter, Hughie Jennings, hit a rocket to center field. Sam Crawford got a late jump and could only curse under his breath as the ball sailed over his head. Jennings had a standup double, and the Resolutes had at least a modicum of hope. Radbourn struck out Elmer Flick with ruthless efficiency, bringing up the visitors' best power hitter, first baseman Jake Beckley. The defending Position Player MVP, Beckley was looking to drive one over the right-field fence. Instead, he hit a lazy popup into the glove of Lajoie. For one night, at least, Radbourn had exorcised his demons.
Game 2 thus ended a 4-1 triumph for the Blue Legs. They now travel to the Resolutes' park needing just one win to claim the championship.
No comments:
Post a Comment