June 25, 1947
Mallards Lose Tough One in Ninth to Bay City
Story by Billy Brockman
Down 6-4 after five innings, the Mallards fought their way back to take the lead in the eighth inning, only to see league-leading Bay City come back with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat our boys 8-7 last night at Shively Stadium.
Manningham scored the first run of the night as Yadier Hernandez crossed the plate courtesy of a Zenas Stewart single in the top of the third. Jim Jaye led off the inning with a single, but was thrown out attempting to steal second. Hernandez, Al Lone, and Stewart then all singled in succession, culminating with Stewart's run-scoring one baser.
Manningham added three more in the fourth inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Shortstop Jimmy Lincoln led off with a single, stole second, and then Vic Martz hit another home run to score Lincoln and himself. Martz has now homered in three straight games. After pitcher Willis Raymon struck out, Jaye singled, and then scored on a double by Hernandez.
The Seals came back with six in the bottom of the fourth though to take the lead. Jim Mouton singled, and then Wes Vaughn hit a two-run homer for the first two runs of the inning. Ed Giovannucci then reached on an error by Mallards third baseman Dave Golden. After Raymon struck out Pony Kunshige, Josh Brown deposited a 3-2 fastball into the seats for another two-run bomb for the Seals. Wild Bill Scarborough and Jim Howard then both singled, and a walk to Lon Thompson loaded the bases for Mouton. His singled scored both Scarborough and Howard.
The Mallards chipped away at the lead with runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. In the sixth, Manuel Rivera singled, stole second, and scored on a single from Jaye.
The run in the seventh came as a result of a walk to Lone, an error by Seals' third baseman Mouton allowing him to move to third, and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Golden.
The final run from the Mallards in the 8th inning was by way of a solo home run by Cy Kemp, his 8th of the season.
Up by a lead in the bottom of the ninth, and Ed Niswonger pitching, things appeared to be wrapped up after two outs were recorded. But the Seals had other thoughts. With two outs, pinch hitter Dad Ward singled. Josh Brown then singled, moving Ward to third. Niswonger then walked Scarborough to load the bases for Howard. Howard did not disappoint the local fans, hitting a walk-off single scoring both Ward and Brown to win the game.
Jaye went 4 for 4 on the night, with a run scored and an RBI. Hernandez and Lincoln also picked up two hits each, while Martz contributed two RBI on his 5th home run of the season.
Seals pitcher Sil Maldonado picked up the win, running his record to 2-0 this season, while Niswonger came away with the loss, and now has a 1-4 record for 1947.
Game Two of the series goes tonight, with Tom Field(8-8, 3.06) taking the mound for the Mallards, while Jimmy Milham (9-4, 3.22) throws for Bay City.
Mallard Notes
- Mallards 3rd Round draft choice in this year's draft, Buttercup Weinzierl, has rejected the initial offer from Manningham. Mallards GM Dean Erickson is expected to counter in the next day or two as hopes of a deal are still high on both sides.
Other ML Scores
Riverdale 1, Morley City 0
Tinseltown 1, Metro City Metros 0
Gateway City 6, Capital City 5
Coconut Bay 4, Metro City Mutuals 3
Magnolia City 12, St. Charles 4
Sun Valley 8, Tremont 1
Cascadia City 9, Tottington 2
ML Notes
- Magnolia City right fielder Al Jeffries contributed 6 RBI on a 3 for 5 night in their win over St. Charles.
- Gateway City's Dave Haynal hit two home runs, scoring four Keystones in their 6-5 win over Capital City.
- Packy Babcock pitched nine innings of shutout ball for Morley City, along with 8 strikeouts, but came away with a no decision in the Morley City-Riverdale game. Riverdale scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the 10th inning to win it.