With the Cubans leading 2-1 in this first 1936 Simulated Semifinal playoff, we’re back in New York’s Dyckman Oval for Game 4. The Monarchs’ Andy Cooper has nominated Hall of Famer Bullet Rogan as his starting pitcher, while New York manager Martin Dihigo is countering with . . . New York manager Martin Dihigo.
The Cubans wasted no time jumping out to a one-run lead in the bottom of the first when Lazaro Salazar led things off with a long home run to right. The Monarchs threatened in the top of the fourth. Newt Allen singled to right. After first baseman Dave Thomas misplayed the throw back from the outfield on Allen’s base hit, Allen advanced to second. After Willard Brown fouled out, LeRoy Taylor walked and Pat Patterson hit an infield single, loading the bases. But Dihigo then nailed Harry Else on a fly ball to right.
In the bottom of the sixth, Luis Salazar sent the Cubans out to a two-run lead with a home run which barely dropped over the left-center field fence. Clyde Spearman added a third run in the bottom of the eighth with a long home run to right.
With the Cubans leading 3-0, the game headed to the top of the ninth. Curtis Harris led off with a sharp single to left. After pinch hitter Newt Joseph grounded out 4-3, Eddie Dwight slammed a single up the middle, bringing Harris around to third. Martin Dihigo sent Quincy Trouppe up to pinch hit for Barney Morris and Kansas City manager Andy Cooper responded by bringing in Luis Tiant Sr. to pitch. After Trouppe line out to left, leaving the runners at first and second, Dihigo brought Hall of Famer Judy Johnson up as a pinch hitter. Johnson worked Tiant through a ten pitch at-bat, but when Tiant threw him a mediocre breaking pitch just outside the zone, Johnson sliced it down the right field line. Harris scored easily on Johnson’s triple. With the tying run on third base, Newt Allen came to the plate, but Tiant coaxed him into a fly ball to right, ending the game.
Image courtesy of Pixabay by Ronile (no changes).
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