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UNLIKELY HERO GODDARD 5/5 WITH 5 RBI
LIGHT-HITTING CATCHER CAPS MEMORABLE DAY WITH GAME-WINNING HIT FOR K.C.

BROOKLYN (July 25, 1871) – American & Kings County were playing for pride in Washington Park on Tuesday, but that didn’t stop them from staging an exciting contest:

Kings Co. looked to have the game in hand after the end of the middle innings courtesy of their 9-3 lead, but a six-run American rally in the top of the 7th led by a two-run Howard LeBouf Triple evened the score.

In the bottom of the 8th, Kings Co. catcher Albert Goddard came to the plate with one out and drove in Maikel Strijbis with a Single, putting the hosts ahead 10-9 and ultimately giving them the victory.

The clutch hit marked the end of a fine day for Goddard:

• TOTAL: 5/5 (all 1B), 0 R, 5 RBI, GW HIT, 75 GMSC

It also marked an unlikely source of late-inning production for the winners. Over 67 games (61 starts) so far into the APBL’s inaugural season, Stoddard had been batting just .188 with OPS of .497 (41 OPS+), although he had drawn 26 Bases on Balls and the 5/5 performance brought his average above .200. Still, it was Goddard, much more known for his defense (Career ZR: +28.0 over 423 G), who carried Kings Co. to victory.