[BaseballMan]

This the whole text as written by ai in the style of Henry Chadwick.


FORT WAYNE vs. CLEVELAND — OPENING MATCH OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON.
Played at the Grand Duchess Grounds, May 4th, 1871.

The first contest of the present championship season was brought to a conclusion on Thursday last at Fort Wayne, where the local nine, the Kekiongas, encountered the Forest City club of Cleveland, and after a contest marked at once by patient pitching and uneven fielding, achieved a decisive victory by the score of eleven runs to two.

For three innings the play was of an orderly and promising character, neither side gaining material advantage, and the pitching on both parts being of a quality which restrained free batting. Cleveland first succeeded in opening the scoring in the third inning, when Battin reached his base upon an error, was advanced by a sacrifice, and eventually brought home, together with Carleton, upon a well-directed two-base hit by Deacon White. This was the only occasion upon which the Forest Citys made effective use of their opportunities, for though chances thereafter presented themselves, they were uniformly thrown away by ill-timed batting or injudicious base running

The turning point of the match was reached in the fourth inning, when the Cleveland pitcher, Pratt, lost that control of the ball so essential to success, while his fielders rendered him uncertain support. A base on balls and a clean hit placed runners, and though a sacrifice momentarily promised relief, Goldsmith’s fly secured the first tally for Fort Wayne. Immediately following, Kohler struck the ball squarely and with great force, sending it beyond the limits of the field for a home run, amid much enthusiasm, and bringing in two additional runs. The inning continued with little interruption; hits followed errors, judgment deserted the visitors, and before the side was retired six runs had been recorded, giving the Kekiongas a lead from which there was thereafter no recovery

From this point the superiority of the Fort Wayne nine was manifest. Mathews, who had pitched throughout with steadiness and intelligence, now redoubled his effectiveness, allowing the opposing batsmen but scant liberty, and permitting no further scoring. His delivery was well varied, his command excellent, and the support accorded him by his fielders generally secure. Cleveland, on the other hand, continued to labor under misfortune of their own making, leaving men upon bases and failing to profit by the few errors committed against them

In the eighth inning the Kekiongas again pressed their advantage, and by a succession of safe hits, aided by a wild pitch and alert base running, added five runs to their already commanding total, thereby placing the contest entirely beyond doubt. Kohler once more distinguished himself at the bat, while Carey and Mathews rendered valuable service in completing the rout

The game thus closed with a well-earned triumph for Fort Wayne, whose victory was due less to any extraordinary exhibition than to superior combination, steadier pitching, and a more judicious use of opportunities. Cleveland displayed moments of promise, particularly in the early innings, but must greatly amend their fielding and cultivate greater coolness at critical junctures if they would hope to contend successfully in future engagements of the championship series