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NIAGARA TOPS MASS. BAY IN 30-RUN CONTEST
5X ALL-STAR NIAGARA 2B LEWIS PUNCHES OUT FIVE HITS & DRIVES IN FIVE RUNS

BOSTON (May 10, 1873) – The APBL is still in Week One of play, but already the league has seen its second frenetic, high-scoring tilt of the early season:

With the score level 2-2 after two innings, Niagara scored ten times in the top of the 3rd on nine hits and a trio of Mass. Bay fielding mistakes. There were a number of run-scoring hits during inning, but the key knock was a two-run Single by star 2B Ernest Lewis.

Mass. Bay responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd to make the score 10-5, but as a result of Niagara’s double-digit rally the hosts were forced to play catch-up for the rest of the game. The closest Mass. Bay came to Niagara was the two-run final margin, thanks to a four-run rally in the bottom of the 9th that finally stopped when Niagara relief man Martin Hales man got Mass. Bay C Harry Thompson to hit a meek ground ball to Lewis for an easy out to end the game.

Two Niagara batsmen had four Hits: CF Henry Card & 1B Paul LaGuerre. However, 2B Ernest Lewis did both men one better with a five-hit afternoon:

• T1: 1-run Triple to LCF off T. Hauser
• T3: 1-run Triple to LCF off J. Desautels (R)
• T3: 2-run Single past 2B off J. Desautels (R)
• T4: 1-run Single to LF off F. Nicholas
• T7: Reached via Error by SS W. Trowbridge (R)
• T8: Single to LF off F. Nicholas (11-pitch AB)
• TOTAL: 5/6, 2 3B, 3 R, 5 RBI, 9 TB, 92 GMSC

Lewis is looking to rebound from a career-worst season in 1872 – .255 AVG, .578 OPS, 36 RBI, -0.1 WAR. Through five games the 5x NBBO/APBL All-Star is 14/26 with a pair of Triples and eight Runs Batted In, clearly a small sample size but an indication that that Lewis may have righted the proverbial ship.

The series between Niagara & Mass. Bay ends tomorrow, with Niagara #2 William Johannessen going against Andrew Martz.