SoM NNL Replay: KC@HOM game 2 - the most entertaining way to split a doubleheader

Let's see whether game 2 of the day is as close, with the home team sending their number 1 starter Hilton Smith to the mound against the visitors' number five, Willie Powell.

As the box score shows it became an entertaining, hard fought game.

For the Monarchs, Oms went two for four with a solo homer to start the scoring in the first, but had to leave in the seventh after taking a pitch off the arm (he will be back in the lineup, though). Santop and Johnson both scored a single and a double, and Dick lundy reached base three times on two singles and an error. However, Powell gave up one more run than his Monarchs could score to take a colete game loss.

The home Grays did a lot of pitcher shuffling and pinch hitting after starter Smith allowed consecutive rallies in the sixth and seventh to leave the game with a no decision. Despite allowing two inherited runners score on a wild pitch, Cockrell took the win and Williams and Brewer brought home the win much to the delight of the home crowd.

Both the top and the bottom of the Grays lineup did some heavy lifting to split the double header - Papa Lloyd scored two runs on a single and a triple, Tank Carr scored twice on a single and a three run homer, and Chino Smith had two hits and two RBIs. Onthe other end of the lineup, replacement center fielder Robinson went 2 for 3 with two hits and a walk; Monroe scored one run with a bit of luck on two fielders choices, a stolen base and a throwing error by the catcher; and starting pitcher Hilton Smith did his best to help his own cause with two RBI singles and a run scored, but failed to get the win anyway.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City Monarchs	1	0	0	0	0	3	2	0	0	6	11	1
Homestead Grays	1	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	x	7	12	1

W:	P Cockrell
L:	W Powell
SV:	C Brewer

Kansas City Monarchs

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO
J Wilson	5	1	2	0	0	1
A Oms	3	2	2	1	0	0
R Cannady	4	1	0	1	1	2
L Santop	5	1	2	1	0	1
O Johnson	4	0	2	1	0	1
D Malarcher	4	0	0	0	0	1
F Redus	3	0	0	1	0	1
D Lundy	4	0	2	0	0	1
W Powell	3	0	1	0	0	1
D Moore	1	1	0	0	0	0
Totals	36	6	11	5	1	9

E- L Santop (1)
2B- A Oms (1), L Santop (1), O Johnson (1), W Powell (1)
3B- J Wilson (1)
HR- A Oms (1)
HBP- A Oms (1)
Sac- F Redus (1), W Powell (1)
SB- D Moore (1)

CS- J Wilson (1)

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
W Powell	8.0	12	7	7	1	2	1

Homestead Grays

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO
P Lloyd	4	2	2	0	0	0
T Carr	4	2	2	3	0	0
C Smith	4	0	2	2	0	0
J Gibson	4	0	0	0	0	0
F Warfield	4	0	1	0	0	0
V Harris	4	0	1	0	0	0
N Robinson	3	1	2	0	1	1
B Monroe	4	1	0	0	0	1
H Smith	2	1	2	2	0	0
B Baro	1	0	0	0	0	0
T Williams	0	0	0	0	0	0
T Young	1	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	35	7	12	7	1	2

E- T Williams (1)
2B- C Smith (1), F Warfield (1), N Robinson (1)
3B- P Lloyd (1)
HR- T Carr (1)
SB- P Lloyd (1), T Carr (1), B Monroe (1)

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
H Smith	6.0	10	6	6	1	7	1
P Cockrell	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0
T Williams	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0
C Brewer	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0

SoM NNL Replay: KC@HOM game 1 - a rainy nail biter

Both teams need to win this series to get back to .500. The Grays are finishing a nine game homestand (they are 3-3 so far), and are happy to have their starting infield back with Loyd and Warfield returning from injury. However, they will rest Loyd for game 1 of the Saturday doubleheader in favor of Alec Radcliff who did a great job (375/444/583) in the infield, and give their catcher Gibson the first break of the season, as well. 

In game 2 they plan to give center fielder Baro a game off in favor of Neil Robinson who was less convincing subbing for the two injured position players (125/250/312) but at least contributed a homer. They will also hope that their five man pitching corps will continue to eat innings although there is no dedicated bullpen at all...

The Monarchs could start their best nine every day so far but are still struggling at 3-5, not least because their ace Satchel Page lost his first two games. They have to replace an injured player for the first time this season as leasdoff Jerry Benjamin is out for the weekend. He will be replaced by Oms, with Johnson taking over in right field.

The Monarchs will start the back of their rotation, with Nip Winters (0-1) up in the first game against the Grays' Phil Cockrell (also 0-1). The weather is unfortunately cool and damp, so this supposed summer doubleheader will play out in front of smaller crowds and with difficult conditions for all players.

The Monarchs take first blood against Cockrell on theee hits and a sac fly, but can score only one run in the first, stranding two more base runners. After a quick 1-2-3 inning from Winters, the Monarchs continue to chip away, scoring Malarcher on a hit, a steal and a fielding error by shortstop Monroe.

In the bottom of the second, Santop lets a 3rd strike breaking ball get by him, and a double and a two singles later Winters is fortunate to end the inning with the game tied 2-2. However, Santop seems to be unfazed by that mistake and works another one run inning with a single, advancing on a wild pitch and acoring on a double from short stop Dobie Moore.

After this early scoring, both pitchers settle down a bit and exchange short innings until the seventh. Again, it is an error (this time by Grays first base man Carr) which starts a rally. RBI singles from Santop and Malarcher get the Monarchs back in the lead, and Cockrell has to thank Monroe and Warfield for turning a difficult doubleplay to limit the damage.

In the seventh, Loyd comes in as pinch hitter for Cockrell and draws a walk, but Winters can prevent the Grays from scoring. Wickware pitches two easy innings for the Grays to keep it close, and the home team mount a last inning rally against a visible tired Winters, starting the inning with a single and a walk. So in comes closer Salmon who promptly allows pinch hitter Gibson and leadoff Carr to drive home the two runners left on base by Winters, but then manages to induce a groundout from Smith to save the game in really close fashion.

7/9/16 Kansas City Monarchs at Homestead Grays

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City Monarchs	1	1	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	5	12	1
Homestead Grays	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	8	2

W:	N Winters
L:	P Cockrell
SV:	H Salmon

Kansas City Monarchs

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO
J Wilson	5	1	3	0	0	0
A Oms	4	0	2	0	1	0
R Cannady	4	1	1	1	0	0
O Johnson	5	1	0	0	0	0
L Santop	5	1	3	1	0	0
D Moore	5	0	1	1	0	0
D Malarcher	3	1	2	1	1	0
F Redus	3	0	0	0	1	0
N Winters	4	0	0	1	0	1
Totals	38	5	12	5	3	1

E- L Santop (1)
2B- R Cannady (1), D Moore (1)
Sac- R Cannady (1)
SB- J Wilson (2), A Oms (1), D Malarcher (1)

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
N Winters	8.1	7	4	3	3	3	0
H Salmon	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0

Homestead Grays

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO
T Carr	5	0	0	1	0	0
C Smith	5	0	1	0	0	0
A Radcliff	4	0	0	0	0	0
V Harris	4	0	0	0	0	0
T Young	4	1	1	0	0	1
F Warfield	4	2	2	0	0	0
B Baro	4	0	2	2	0	2
B Monroe	2	1	0	0	2	0
P Cockrell	2	0	1	0	0	0
J Gibson	1	0	1	1	0	0
P Lloyd	0	0	0	0	1	0
Totals	35	4	8	4	3	3

E- T Carr (1), B Monroe (1)
2B- F Warfield (1)
SB- F Warfield (1), B Baro (2), B Monroe (1)

CS- C Smith (1)

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
P Cockrell	7.0	12	5	4	2	1	0
F Wickware	2.0	0	0	0	1	0	0

SoM NNL Replay: STL@CHI game 3, pitchers struggle

Just when it looks like Smokey Joe Williams is cruising, after four scoreless innings and two strikeouts to start the fifth, the Stars get a two out rally going for 3 runs to tie the game. In the sixth, Williams continues to struggle, giving up two runs on four hits.

However, the Giants bullpen consists essentially of Mathis and Mendez, so they really need to get another couple of innings out of Williams. They are relieved to see him do better as the game goes on, but bring in Mathis for the ninth. Mathis makes it exciting by giving up a hit and allowing another batter to reach on a fielding error, but gets out of the inning unscathed and goes on to bunt Petway to second with two strikes. Turkey Stearnes obliges and drives Petway home on a game tying double to center.

McNair then advances Stearnes to third with a groundout to first, and Serrell hits the walk-off single to take the game - despite Williams struggles, it's Bullet Joe Rogan who ends up with the short straw after a solid eight innings...

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis Stars	0	0	0	0	3	2	0	0	0	5	9	0
Chicago American Giants	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	6	11	2

W:	V Mathis
L:	B Rogan

St. Louis Stars

Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO
C Bell	5	0	1	2	0	0
H Johnson	3	1	1	0	0	0
B Leonard	4	1	1	1	0	0
W Brown	4	0	0	1	0	0
Q Trouppe	4	0	0	0	0	3
B Rogan	4	0	1	0	0	1
D Creacy	4	1	3	0	0	0
N Allen	4	1	1	0	0	1
S Poles	4	1	1	1	0	1
Totals	36	5	9	5	0	6

2B- S Poles (1)
3B- B Leonard (1)
HBP- H Johnson (1)
SB- H Johnson (1)
CS- H Johnson (1), C Bell (1)

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
B Rogan (L)	8.2	11	6	6	2	4	1

Chicago American Giants Hitters AB R H RBI BB SO T Stearnes  5 2 4 1 0 0 H McNair  4 1 0 0 1 0 B Serrell  5 1 2 3 0 1 M Dihigo  4 0 0 0 0 0 R Dandridge  4 0 1 1 0 1 J Lyons  3 1 2 0 1 0 J Mendez  4 0 0 0 0 0 B Petway  4 1 2 1 0 0 S Williams  3 0 0 0 0 2 V Mathis  0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 36 6 11 6 2 4 E- J Mendez (1), V Mathis (1) 2B- T Stearnes (2), J Lyons (1), B Petway (1) HR- B Serrell (1) Sac- V Mathis (1) SB- H McNair (1), J Lyons (1) Pitchers IP H R ER BB SO HR S Williams  8.0 8 5 5 0 6 0 V Mathis (W) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0