Brownies and Nats split

Game 1 – St. Louis 3 Washington 2

Milo Candini and Nels Potter hooked up in a cracker of pitcher’s duel. Both starters went 8 innings allowing only 2 runs. The game went to the bottom of the 9th all tied at 2. Manager Chisholm brought in Mickey Haefner for a tiring Candini. It did not turn out well. He walked the lead-off hitter Milt Byrnes. Don Gutteridge drilled 2-0 offering to the wall and the Brownies had runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Hot hitting George McQuinn was intentionally walked to fill the bases. Vern Stephens stepped up and lifted a ‘Texas Leaguer’ to left center that no one could catch and the faithful went home happy. Potter earns MVP honors.

Game 2 – Washington 2 St. Louis 1

Another great pitching duel. The Browns scored a run in the first off of Johnny Niggeling. Little did they know that that was all they were going to get. Niggeling went the distance allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 5 walks. Washington’s defense which had been porous, committed zero errors. Manager Chisolm complimented the Brownies on their exceptional grounds crew. Niggeling was also the hitting star. After 1 out in the 7th he lined a double to left center. After a ground out moved him to 3rd, Jerry Priddy hit a sharp grounder to 3rd and it looked like the Brownies would escape the inning. Mark Christman’s throw was low and McQuinn could not scoop it. In came Niggeling with the winning run.

Game 3 (1st of 2) Washington 7 St. Louis 1

So ends the close games. Washington exploded for 3 in the 5th and 1 in the 6th off of Sig Jackucki and cruised to an easy win. Dutch Leonard, no not Hubert Benjamin “Dutch” Leonard – this was Emil John “Dutch” Leonard,  was exquisite. He went the distance allowing 1 run on 5 hits with 4 walks. Sound familiar? Sig took the loss, his first, after two fine starts.

Game 4 (2nd of 2) St. Louis 8 Washington 4

It was St. Louis’ turn to win big. Jack Kramer, who has not looked like the ace of the staff yet this season, got the win thanks to 3 homeruns, 2 by Vern Stephens. Vern also had 5 RBIs on the day. George McQuinn had the other homer and stretched his hitting streak to 14. Early Wynn went the distance for Washington and pitched fairly effectively except for the long balls.

Both teams are now 9-7 on the season.

--submitted by Ron Burnette--