After Newark took Game 1, we’re back at Municipal Stadium in Freeport, New York for Game 2 of our latest Simulated 1936 Negro League Playoff Series. For Newark, manager Abe Manley is sending Bob Evans to the hill. New York manager Bob Clarke is responding with right-hander Henry “Cream” McHenry.
Newark broke through with a three-spot in the top of the second. Hall of Famer Mule Suttles opened things up with a first-pitch booming home run over the right field wall. Thad Christopher walked and Willie Wells bunted Christopher to second. After Ray Dandridge flew out to deep left, Johnny Hayes hit another home run, dropping one just beyond the reach of the leaping New York center fielder Marvin Barker.
New York got one back in the bottom of the fourth. Catcher Bob Clarke led things off with a sharp single up the middle. Evans got pinch hitter Barney Brown on strikes and George Giles on an easy fly ball to right, but then Jake Stephens hit a gapper that went for two bases, scoring Clarke.
Barney Brown took over as New York’s pitcher in the top of the fifth. It didn’t go well.
Johnny Hayes got Newark’s big inning started with a one-out single up the middle. Pitcher Bob Evans then reached on an error by New York first baseman George Giles, sending Hayes to second. Paul Dixon drew a four-pitch walk, loading the bases. After Harry Williams struck out for the second out of the inning, Newark right fielder Ed Stone cleared the bases with a gapper to right-center, advancing to third when New York right fielder Jim Williams overthrew his cutoff man. After Bob Clarke brought in Willie Burns to replace Brown, Mule Suttles greeted him with another double, almost a carbon copy of Stone’s gapper, scoring Newark’s fourth run of the inning. Thad Christopher followed with a solid base hit up the middle, scoring Newark’s fifth run. Three pitches later, Hall of Famer Willie Wells hit a homer to left center, and suddenly Newark had a 10-1 lead. For a moment, it looked like Newark might add even more, as Ray Dandridge and Johnny Hayes followed with back to back singles but Burns finally managed to shut Newark down by getting opposing pitcher Bob Evans on a ground ball.
Newark piled on two more in the top of the seventh. Thad Christopher led off with a double to left. Willie Wells singled to left, and Christopher came in when New York left fielder Fats Jenkins joggled the ball. Newark added two more an inning later on Harry Williams’ one-out base hit and Ed Stone’s home run over the center field fence.
Meanwhile, Evans sailed along, secure in his huge lead. Evans gave up a harmless single in the bottom of the seventh. He sandwiched a walk to New York catcher Ed Clarke around three consecutive fly balls, and he finished off his ten-hit, one-run performance in the bottom of the ninth by getting New York in order.
So our final for today, Newark 14 and New York 1. With Newark racing out to a 2-0 lead in this best-of-five series, the Eagles will have a chance to wrap things up next time.
Image courtesy of Pixabay by wiggijo (no changes).