ALWS GAME 1 - "Bonham's Up"

The American League Wildcard matchup featured  two teams separated by 1 game in the standings.  The New York Yankees (21-19) started the season 1-7 including a 4 game loss to St. Louis where they were outscored 35-8 before they righted the ship.  In their last series with the Browns they managed a 2-2 spilt.  The St. Louis Browns (20-20) recovered from a late season 1-5 swoon to take 3 of 4 from Cleveland to capture a wildcard slot.

Game 1

Yankees Stadium

Tiny Bonham (3-4, 2.67)

vs

Nels Potter (3-4, 2.42)

Tiny Bonham held the Browns to 1 hit going into the bottom of the 3rd.  With one out Roy Weatherly blasted one off the RF wall for extrabases.  Unfortunately he was caught admiring his hit and tripped over 1st base and was lucky to scramble back to 1st where he got an earful from the 1st base coach.  Potter then K'd Yanks slugger Charlie Keller for out number 2.  Bill Dickey picked him up by slicing a single into RF with Weatherly racing to 3rd.  Nick Etten followed by driving a ball into the RF corner with both Weatherly and Dickey coming in to score the first runs of the game.  Joe Gordon fouled out to strand Etten.  The Browns put two on after 2 out in the 4th but Keller made a good play on a deep fly in foul territory to retire the side.  The Yankees threatened in the 5th putting two on with one out in the 5th but Potter retired Etten and Gordon to keep the score 2-0.  In the 7th, Potter walked Keller with one out.  After Dickey popped out, Etten came to the plate again and delivered again, this time lining a Triple into the RF alley to score Keller.  Potter stranded Etten at 3rd by retiring Gordon but the Yanks were able to add what would be a huge run.  Bonham was crusing going into the top of the 8th but started to tire as he walked Vern Stephens with one out.  George McQuinn followed by legging out a Double with Stephens stopping at 3rd.   During a mound visit, Bonham convinced his manager to stick with him.  The Browns Mark Christman made the Yanks pay by blasting a long drive to RF.  However, this day luck was with Bonham as RF Johnny Lindell was able to track it down with Stephens easily scoring.  Bonham was able to get out of the jam by retiring Milt Byrnes.  The Yankees went down 1-2-3 in the 8th.  They sent Bonham out to start the 9th but after he issued a leadoff walk to Chet Laabs, his night was over.  New York turned over the game to tough RH Johnny Murphy who saved 6 of the Yanks 21 wins.  Gene Moore grounded one deep into the hole at SS with Snuffy Stirnweiss making a gold glove play to retire Moore at 1st with Laabs moving to 2nd.  Red Hayworth popped out bringing up PH Mike Kreevich.  Murphy walked him on 4 pitches putting him the tieing runs on base.  Murphy though closed out the game with a flourish, striking out Don Gutteridge on 4 pitches.  Yankees 3 Browns 1

--submitted by Bob K--