[tm1681]

SUSQUEHANNA HAS FIVE-HIT PAIR IN BIG WIN
LYONS & VALENTINE THE STARS IN DEMOLITION OF READING; SUSQUEHANNA NOW THREE GAMES CLEAR

WILKES-BARRE, PENN. (Aug. 11, 1880) - Susquehanna ended their July by winning five of six games, one makeup game included, in a series at N.E.L.-worst Lake Erie. They then went 3-2 at Pioneer in their most important series of the year to take the Inland Championship lead by two games. They entered their final series, a five-game home set vs Reading Athletic Club, knowing three wins would likely be good enough to take yet another pennant. With that in mind, Susquehanna got the job done and then some in the series opener:

This was no contest. Reading went down in order to start the game, and Susquehanna responded with five Runs during their first turn to bat, a rally that saw the team collect three Extra Base Hits (2B, 2 3B). The visitors got on the board in T2, but Susquehanna responded with their second five-run rally, this one featuring two-run Singles from 2B Jacob Falk & RF Karl Valentine. At the end of two innings, the score was already 10-1 in Susquehanna’s favor.

The hosts scored three runs over the next two innings, and then they hit Reading with the finisher: a third five-run rally in B5, with the key Hit being a two-run Double by C Scott Lyons. That outburst put Susquehanna ahead 18-1, and this game was effectively over. There was a smattering of runs over the final four innings, and the hosts exited with an eighteen-run win.

Susquehanna had 22 Hits over the course of the contest, and two of their Batsmen had five each.

C Scott Lyons:

• B1: Single to RF off C. Timmons (R)
• B2: Single to LCF off C. Timmons
• B3: 1-run Single past SS off L. Allen
• B4: Single past 2B off L. Allen
• B5: 2-run Double past 1B off L. Allen
• B7: Ground Out to SS (1 out)
• TOTAL: 5/6 (2B), 1 R, 3 RBI, 6 TB – 0/1 CS

RF Karl Valentine:

• B1: 1-run Single past 3B off C. Timmons
• B2: 1-run Single past 2B off C. Timmons
• B4: Leadoff Triple to RCF off L. Allen (R)
• B5: Single to RCF off L. Allen (R)
• B6: 1-run Single past 2B off L. Allen
• B8: Fly Out to CF (3 out)
• TOTAL: 5/6 (3B), 2 R, 3 RBI, 7 TB

Lyons’ banner day raised his Average to .363 (.876 OPS) with 29 Extra Base Hits (24 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR), 71 Runs Batted In, & 3.4 Batsman WAR with four games remaining, proving that his B.o.t.Y. campaign in his first season as a regular was no fluke. Valentine, more of a defensive specialist, is batting .276 (.699 OPS) with 39 RBI.

The win gave Susquehanna a 41-25 record, as well as a 16-4 record over their last twenty games. They are now three games ahead of Lancastra & Pioneer for the Inland Championship lead with four games remaining, and an eighth pennant in ten years looks just about guaranteed now.

Reading is 34-32 and is likely to finish 5th in the Inland Championship, down from 3rd last year.