We’re back for Game 3 of our latest simulated playoff series, and it’s a must-win for the New York Black Yankees as the scene shifts to Ruppert Stadium in Newark – the home of the Newark Eagles. Bob Clarke is sending Roosevelt Davis to the mound for the Black Yankees for must-win Game 3, while Newark manager Abe Manley is countering with William Bell.
The Black Yankees got off to a fast start in the top of the first. With one out, Jake Stephens drew a walk. The next hitter, Fats Jenkins, slammed a double down the left field line, scoring Stephens.
The Eagles immediately answered in the bottom of the first, almost entirely as a result of Roosevelt Davis’ lousy fielding. Leadoff hitter Paul Dixon reached on Davis’ first error when Davis’ throw to first on Dixon’s ground ball drew George Giles off the bag. Not satisfied with that error, when Harry Williams followed with another ground ball up the middle, Davis threw the ball several feet over Giles’ head for a two-base error, sending Dixon around to third, with Davis on second. Ed Stone then tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Eagles took a one-run lead in the bottom of the third on a two-out rally. Harry Williams drew a walk and Ed Stone scored the run with a line drive into the right field corner that went for a run-scoring triple.
New York tied the game in the top of the fourth. Fats Jenkins led off the inning with a base hit, but Walter Cannady forced him at second with a ground ball. George Scales singled to right, advancing Jenkins around to third. Jim Williams then scored the run with a double to the left field corner.
One step forward for New York, one step back. In the bottom of the fourth, Thad Christopher led off with a double. Three pitches later, Hall of Famer Willie Wells stroked a single up the middle, scoring Christopher. Newark took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth when New York pitcher Davis hit Wells with the bases loaded to “drive” in a run.
The Black Yankees pulled to within one in the top of the sixth. With one out, Fats Jenkins slammed a double into the left field corner. Walter Cannady singled him in. They then tied the game in the top of the seventh. Marvin Barker led off with a sharp single up the middle. Barker then stole second and one out later, pinch hitter Pete Washington singled him in.
The Black Yankees then broke the game wide open in the top of the eighth. Fats Jenkins lined a one out ball that Willie Wells joggled. By the time the play was over, Jenkins was standing on second – base hit and a one-base error. Walter Cannady singled Jenkins in. George Scales doubled into the right-center gap, with Cannady coming around to third. Abe Manley yanked William Bell, bringing in Terrible Terry McDuffie to pitch. Jim Williams lofted a fly ball to center, with Cannady scoring on the sacrifice fly. Marvin Barker hit a line drive at Willie Wells, but Wells rushed his throw to first, with the ball getting past first baseman Mule Suttles. Pitcher Barney Brown, pinch hitting for catcher Bob Clarke, then launched a home run over the right field fence, and suddenly New York was in front 9-4.
New York added even more in the top of the ninth. George Giles led off by drawing a four-pitch walk. After Jake Stephens was out on a line drive, the hot-hitting Fats Jenkins send Giles around to third on a base hit to right. Walter Cannady then put New York up by eight with a home run over the right field fence. Newark brought in Will Jackman to pitch, but it didn’t help; George Scales drew a four-pitch walk from Jackman. Right fielder Jim Williams singled Scales to second. Marvin Barker grounded into a 6-4 force play at second for the first out, but pitcher Barney Brown then drew a walk to load the bases again. Catcher Spoony Palm doubled down the left field line, clearing the bases and giving Newark a 15-4 lead. Abe Manley brought in Game 1 starter Leon Day in hopes of stemming the avalanche, and Day shut down the Black Yankees on a ground ball.
In the bottom of the ninth, with an eleven run deficit to close, the Eagles managed two-out base hits by Mule Suttles and Thad Christopher, but they couldn’t convert, as Hubert Crawford grounded out to second, ending the game.
So our final for today: New York 15, Newark 4. And for the series – Newark 2, New York 1.
Image courtesy of Pixabay by MzMatuszewski0 (no changes).