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EIGHTH-INNING RALLY MOVES MERCANTILE TO 12-4
VETERAN SS PUPILLO DRIVES IN SEVEN AS VICTORS TAKE FOUR-GAME LEAD IN WEST PHILA.

PHILADELPHIA, PENN. (June 4, 1879) - West Philadelphia leaders Mercantile played the hosts to Independence at the start of P.C.B.L. Week Four, and although it took a late rally they came out on top to run their record to 12-4:

The key innings of the contest were the 7th & 8th. To begin the seventh, Independence stepped to the plate ahead 6-5 and scored twice on a two-run Error to increase their lead to three (8-5). Mercantile responded with four runs in B7, the main moment a two-run Single by SS William Pupillo, to take a 9-8 lead. Independence responded with another pair of scores in B8 via Error & Sacrifice Fly to take the lead back (10-9), but Mercantile responded again with another large rally, this time five runs, to take a 14-10 lead that would stand as the game’s final score. The key hit there was another two-run Single by Pupillo, which gave Mercantile the lead.

The two clutch base hits by Pupillo marked the end of an excellent afternoon:

• B2: Fly Out to CF (3 out)
• B4: 1-run Triple to RF off J. Landini (R)
• B5: 2-run Single past SS off J. Landini
• B7: 2-run Single past 2B off J. Landini (R)
• B8: 2-run Single past 2B off J. Ryder (R)
• TOTAL: 4/5 (3B), 3 R, 7 RBI, 6 TB, 98 GMSC

Pupillo’s seven Runs Batted In and 98 Game Score were P.C.B.L. season highs.

Pupillo, in his third season as Mercantile’s SS after eight seasons in the N.B.B.O., is batting .381 (.867) OPS with nineteen Runs, thirteen Runs Batted In, and 1.1 WAR through the team’s first sixteen games.

The victory improved Mercantile’s record to 12-4, and they already have a four-game lead atop the standings in West Philadelphia because Bartram Village & Penn are tied for 2nd at 8-8. Independence is 7-9.