[chucksabr]

Rude Welcome to Top Flight for Fulham.

Fulham had spent a mere nine games in their first foray back into the First Division since the 1920 season, and had been doing quite well, winning six of those matches and being “in the mix” towards the top of the table in the early going. Manchester United, having resided in the top flight going on thirty one years, had scuffled along and won only four of their own first nine.

But none of that mattered as Red Devils administered what could only be referred to as a good old-fashioned caning to Fulham, even after the Cottagers had taken quick advantage of a threebee and a single for a run after their first two batsmen of the game. For United went on to score four in their first innings, then six in their second, one in their third, five in their fourth, and two more in their fifth, and once Fulham’s heads had stopped spinning, they looked up towards the board to see a deficit of eighteen runs to one had accrued against them. And as though that were not enough, United socked the Cottagers with another six runs in the eighth innings, which completed a 24 runs to one victory before nearly nine thousand delighted supporters at Old Trafford.

Five Fulham pitchers, including last season’s Second Division Pitcher of the Year, Willie Wrenn, could do nothing to contain an attack that was relentless, and which included an astounding 27 base hits and an additional nine base runners courtesy of balls. Among the hits were seven two basers, including three by first base man MacIntyre, and a home run by Sturgess. On the other side of the ledger, United pitcher Bentley threw eight solid innings and although allowing twelve base runners himself, conceded only the single tally by the Cottagers.

This episode should serve to remind Fulham of the far increased difficulty of the game of baseball at its highest level, and it is doubtful they will allow themselves to be caught so unawares as they were on Thursday.