Detroit edged Newark, 2-1. Hilton Smith only allowed 1 run in 7-1/3 innings to pick up his 5th win. George Brett drove in both runs for Detroit. Brett had a solo home run in the top of the first, and he singled in Vic Harris with the eventual game-winner in the 8th inning. William Bell was the hard luck loser, giving up 2 runs over 7-1/3 innings. Ty Cobb had 2 hits and drove in the only run for Newark, and Pop Lloyd added a hit.
Pittsburgh beat Birmingham 6-2, thanks to a 5-run second inning. Slim Jones was outstanding, striking out 13 Black Barons in his complete game effort. Earl Averill provided the big blow with a grand slam. Dobie Moore added 2 hits. Martin Dihigo had a good game for Birmingham, hitting his second home run of the season and driving in both of his team’s runs.
New York returned the favor, shutting out St. Louis 3-0. Bullet Joe Rogan threw 7-1/3 innings of shutout ball, and Rollie Fingers took it from there. Leon Day was the hard luck loser, giving up only 2 first-inning runs in his 8 innings of work. Eddie Matthews had a 2 run double in the first inning, scoring Jud Wilson and Willie Wells. Wells scored another run in the 9th inning. Oscar Johnson did his best for St. Louis, going 1-2 with 2 walks.
In the most exciting game of the day, Kansas City beat Washington 12-10 in 11 innings. Rap Dixon hit a 2-run home run in the top of the 9th to force extra innings. Dixon went 4-5 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored. Buck Leonard had another huge game, going 3-5 with 2 triples and 2 RBI. Dave Malarcher added 2 hits and 2 RBI. Washington had its offensive stars as well – Chino Smith (3-6, RBI), Roberto Alomar (3-6, 2 RBI), Home Run Johnson (2-6, 3 RBI). Buck O’Neil added a double.
Today’s Player Focus post is on Rap Dixon, a 5-tool outfielder who hit 3 home runs the first day the Negro Leagues played in Yankee Stadium.
negroleagueshistory.com
Results
DSG 2 at NWK 1
BIR 2 at PCG 6
NYC 3 at STL 0
KMG 12 at WHG 10 (11)
Summaries
DETROIT AT NEWARK
Stars........... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 2 7 1 Eagles.......... 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 5 0 Win:Smith(5-1) Loss:Bell(4-4) Save:Sutter(11th) Homeruns- G.Brett(3rd)
At the ballpark, the Newark faithful were treated to an intriguing pitcher’s duel. Hilton Smith(5-1) finally bested his Newark counterpart, William Bell(4-4), by the score of 2 to 1.
The game was won by Detroit with a run in the 8th inning. Vic Harris ripped a base-hit. Kirby Puckett got his turn next, but he was a strikeout victim. Sam Bankhead then drew a walk. George Brett followed and he stroked a one-base hit scoring the run. Smith was helped out by Bruce Sutter who pitched a perfect ninth and recorded his 11th save.
Bell ended up with the loss. He pitched 7 and 1/3 innings and surrendered 7 hits and 1 walk.
BIRMINGHAM AT PITTSBURGH
Black Barons.... 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 2 6 0 Crawfords....... 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 6 13 0 Win:Jones(3-4) Loss:Salmon(2-4) Homeruns- M.Dihigo(2nd), E.Averill(4th)
Slim Jones mowed down 13 Birmingham batters as the Pittsburgh Crawfords defeated the Birmingham Black Barons by a score of 6 to 2 at Greenlee Field.
Jones(3-4) looked very much in control throughout the day. He gave up just 6 hits and 2 walks in 9 innings. Pittsburgh had 13 hits for the afternoon.
Harry Salmon(2-4) suffered the loss. He pitched 1 and 2/3 innings allowing 6 hits and 1 walk. When asked about his strikeout total for the game, Jones offered, ‘The fan’s really got into it. It is fun to see them tally up the strikeout totals up there in the stands. Fortunately, I kept them busy this afternoon – of course, it would be all for naught without the ‘W’.’
NEW YORK AT ST. LOUIS
Black Yankees... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 3 4 0 Stars........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 7 1 Win:Rogan(4-3) Loss:Day(4-3) Save:Fingers(9th)
At the ballpark, the St. Louis fans witnessed a great pitcher’s duel. Bullet Joe Rogan(4-3) finally bested his St. Louis opposite, Leon Day(4-3), by the score of 3 to 0.
Rogan pitched a fine game. He went 7 and 1/3 innings surrendering 7 hits and 4 walks seeing his ERA drop from 5.43 to 4.79. St. Louis went down without a fight in the bottom of the 9th.
Rollie Fingers earned his 9th save. Day was tagged with the loss. He was the victim of a defensive lapse and did not allow an earned run in the game.
KANSAS CITY AT WASHINGTON
Monarchs........ 0 2 0 1 1 3 0 0 2 0 3 - 12 17 1 Homestead Grays. 0 0 2 0 0 5 0 2 0 0 1 - 10 15 1 Win:Nichols(3-2) Loss:Spalding(0-1) Save:Smith(9th) Homeruns- R.Dixon(1st)
Right fielder Rap Dixon had 4 hits and 3 RBI as the Kansas City Monarchs bested the Washington Homestead Grays in 11 innings 12 to 10 at Griffith Stadium.
The score was knotted at 9 after nine innings. Kansas City came out the victor in the 11th inning. Buck Leonard started the inning off right when he tripled. After an out was recorded, Mike Schmidt came to bat and laced a single knocking in a run. Dixon then drew a walk. Bill Dickey was up next and he singled plating one more runner. Dickey took second on the throw. George Davis stepped into the box and worked the squeeze play to perfection scoring the final run of the inning. Kansas City banged out 17 hits on the afternoon.
The victory was credited to Kid Nichols(3-2) who went 2 and 1/3 innings, allowing 1 run. Lee Smith recorded his 9th save. Al Spalding(0-1) was the losing pitcher in relief. Kansas City knocked him around a bit, as he gave up 3 runs in 2 innings.