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Writer's pictureKirk Jenkins

It’s Chet Brewer vs. Schoolboy Griffith in Game 2 of the (Simulated) 1936 Cubans-Elite Giants Series


Today, we’re back at Griffith Stadium for Game 2 of our computer simulation of a 1936 playoff series between the Washington Elite Giants and the New York Cubans. The Elite Giants, decisive winners of Game 1, are sending Schoolboy Griffith to the mound in hopes of wrapping up the best-of-three series. Cubans’ manager (and losing pitcher in Game 1) Martin Dihigo is countering with Chet Brewer.


The Elite Giants opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Zollie Wright led off the inning by drawing a walk. After Wild Bill Wright fouled out, Biz Mackey singled him to second and Jim West scored Zollie with a double. Brewer bore down with only one out and got Hoss Walker and Schoolboy Griffith on back-to-back popups.


The Cubans tied things up in the top of the fourth. Clyde Spearman led things off with a base hit. Martin Dihigo, playing third base today to keep his bat in the lineup, forced Spearman at second. After a ground ball, Griffith then gave up back-to-back base hits to Francisco Correa and Anastastio Santaella.


The Cubans briefly took the lead in the top of the sixth. Clyde Spearman and Martin Dihigo led things off by walking. Jabbo Andrews forced Dihigo at second, with Spearman moving over to third. Francisco Correa then scored the Cubans’ second run with a sacrifice fly to straightaway center.


But the Elite Giants came storming back in the bottom of the sixth by taking advantage of some sloppy fielding by the Cubans. Zollie Wright hit a one-out single to right. Zollie scored when Cubans’ left fielder Jim Andrews misplayed a routine fly ball into a two-base error. Biz Mackey gave the Elite Giants the lead by singling to right.


Entering the Cubans’ half of the eighth, Schoolboy Griffith seemed to be sailing along, but then things went south on some poor fielding by the Elite Giants. Jim Andrews led off with a single up the middle. With Francisco Correa at the plate, Andrews stole second. After Correa line out to first baseman Jim West, Anastasio Santaella tied the game with a sharp single to right. After Frank Duncan walked, Candy Jim Taylor had seen enough, bringing in Andy Porter to relieve Schoolboy Griffith. Dihigo responded by sending Chaney White to the plate to hit for pitcher Chet Brewer and Sonny Arnold in to run for Santaella. Chaney White then reached when Elite Giants’ first baseman Jim West muffed a moderately sharp ground ball to first, loading the bases. With only one out, Lazaro Salazar gave the Cubans the lead with a sacrifice fly to center.


Dihigo brought back Luis Tiant Sr. in hopes of preserving the vital win. Lefty was great in the eighth, striking out Sammy Hughes and Zolly Wright before getting Wild Bill Wright on a line drive. But in the bottom of the ninth, trying to complete the save, he started things off by giving up singles to Biz Mackey and Jim West. Dihigo responded by bringing in Powerhouse Blake in hopes of wrapping up the win. Blake walked Hoss Walker to load the bases. At that point, Candy Jim Taylor sent game 1 winner Bill Byrd up to pinch hit for pitcher Andy Porter. But Blake set down the side on a pop up, a force play and an easy ground ball.


So the Cubans eek out a 4-3 win in Game 2, and we’re off to a decisive Game 3 next time!


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