[ayaghmour2]

Trying to do this a little differently. Instead of a game summary, I'm going to do my best to highlight the big events in the innings:

September 29th, 1933:
Chicago Cougars at Philadelphia Keystones
Tommy Wilcox (21-11, 2.58 ERA, 113 K) vs. Ed Baker (19-5, 3.78 ERA, 91 K)

Top of the Third
The 8-9-1 hitters started the first, and Cy Bryant worked a walk in front of the pitcher Wilcox. Wilcox tried to bunt him over, but with three failed attempts he ended up striking out. Russ Combs then lined a pitch to right, allowing the speedy Bryant to make it across to third. We then got a little luck, as after consecutive 2 strike foul balls, John Kincaid lined one to left. It looked like we'd score the series' first run with a sac-fly, but Keystone LF Lee Smith dropped a fly ball. He's not the greatest fielder by any means, but he's a well above average defender who didn't make a single error in left during 357 regular season innings (also spent time in center). This allowed Bryant to score without costing us an out, and we had speed on first and second. Mike Taylor looked at three balls before a called strike. He got a few foul balls before eventually grounding into a fielder's choice that moved both runners. With no error, it's 1-0, but instead the partially disabled Tom Taylor game in for another at bat. He lined one over second to score Combs. Star centerfielder Grover Lee let one loose to third to try to get Kincaid, but it skipped away and Kincaid was able to score. Finally, after an 11-pitch at bat, Phil Vaughan just missed one, flying out to the warning track in center to end the inning.

Bottom Fourth
After Lee flew out to start the inning, the Keystones were in business with Rankin Kellogg singling and Bobby Barrell doubling to put two runners in scoring position. Catcher Carl Ames sent one out to left, and Kellogg was able to beat Sprague's throw home. Cy Cox had a chance to do more damage, but grounded out to end the inning.

Top Fifth
Russ Combs started this inning with a single. John Kincaid laid down a bunt, and beat out the throw to first to give us two on and none out. Mike Taylor grounded one to Cox at second. He threw to short for the force, but Taylor beat out the return throw. With runners on the corner, Tom Taylor came threw with an RBI single. Mike was able to beat the throw to third, and runners were still on the corner with one out. Our lead extended to five after Phil Vaughan doubled home Mike. With one out, Tom was held at third. He managed to score on a Bill Ashbaugh sac-fly. We didn't stop there, as Bobby Sprague doubled home Vaughan and with a 7-1 deficit, the Keystones removed fill in ace Ed Baker for Stan Harrison. He got a groundout to end the inning, but this one looked out of reach.

There were other scoring opportunities, but we'll fast forward a bit:

Bottom of the 9th
Tommy Wilcox was just three outs away from a complete game win in his first postseason start. He got Bobby Barrell to fly out to start the inning, but Carl Ames and pinch hitter Phil Sandman singled to put runners on the corner. Lee Smith followed it with a double, scoring Ames and moving Sandman to third. Cliff Herman flew out, and while he scored Sandman, the Keystones needed 4 runs with just one out. Howie Shifflett, who entered in the double switch, was the last chance. He did an admirable job, fouling off five straight pitches before flying out to end the game

Final Score: Chicago 7, Philadelphia 3 (Chicago Leads 1-0)
Win: Tommy Wilcox (1-0)
Loss: Ed Baker (0-1)

Notable Performers:
Tommy Wilcox (CHC): 9 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 4 K
Ed Baker (PHI): 4.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Russ Combs (CHC): 3-4, 2 R, BB, SB
Tom Taylor (CHC): 3-5, R, 3 RBI
John Kincaid (CHC): 2-5, R, RBI, E
Phil Vaughan (CHC): 1-5, R, 2 RBI, 2B
Bobby Barrell (PHI): 2-4, 2B
Rankin Kellogg (PHI): 2-4, R
Carl Ames (PHI): 1-3, R, RBI
Phil Sandman (PHI): 1-1, R