Pastime Baseball League
PBL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Game One Recap
Memphis Strummers (106-56) vs Wichita Brigade (108-54)
WICHITA -- After the season the Memphis Strummers had this year, it's hard to argue with any move manager Harry Wright makes. But his decision to hurl Sadie McMahon instead of ace Jesse Tannehill against Rube Waddell in Game One shocked many, including Tannehill.
"I'm ready to go, tonight or whenever skip needs me," he told reporters earlier in the week. "I'm certainly rested."
Memphis' four-game sweep of the Arizona Sandmen in the Southern League Championship Series gave Wright time to get his rotation set exactly as he wanted. Tannehill threw a complete game in Wichita's 2-1 win...but that also came in Game Two.
"Sadie can pitch with Waddell," Wright said in defense. "If we beat Waddell and send our ace out there in Game Two, all the pressure is on them."
The trick, of course, would be beating Waddell.
And with Waddell's 96 mph fastball to Ichiro to open things, the inaugural PBL Championship Series was under way.
Suzuki fouled out before Garrett Atkins walked. Oscar Charleston's two-out single would move Atkins to third, but Deacon White would strike out to end the inning.
McMahon would then take the mound, promptly giving up a leadoff single to Sammy Strang. McMahon would fall behind Robinson Cano 3-0 before coming back with two strikes. Cano would then foul off four pitches, the last of which catcher Deacon White would drop to keep the at bat alive. Cano would make him and Memphis pay, singling to advance Strang to third. Oyster Burns walked to load the bases with none out, and McMahon was on the ropes.
McMahon would strike out Jimmy Sheckard, but George Davis would ground out to Cupid Childs at second for a force, scoring Strang and putting Wichita up 1-0. with first and third and two out, Spotswood Poles would step in. But White would whip a snap throw to Cap Anson at first, tagging Davis for an inning-ending pickoff.
With one out in the top of the third, Waddell would try to slip a 2-2 fastball inside on Cap Anson. But the NLCS MVP blasted it out - off of the SLCS MVP - to left to tie it up at 1 apiece.
After an easy third, Wichita would get it going in the fourth. Davis would draw a one-out walk, and Spotswood Poles would follow with a single. Runners moved up on Doggie Miller's tapper in front of the plate before Ollie Beard doubled down the third-base line to drive in two. Waddell would help himself out, dunking one into left-center to make it 4-1.
Down one to Waddell is one thing - down three is quite another. McMahon would settle in...but so would Waddell.
Then came the top of the 8th. Garrett Atkins grounded out to lead off the inning. But Anson, Charleston and White followed with three straight singles - White's hit too hard to score the lumbering Anson. Josh Willingham would strike out, setting up Waddell to escape the inning. But Anson would walk Bobby Wallace on four pitches to bring home Anson and make it 4-2. Cupid Childs would come up with the tying run on second, the lead run on first, but strike out to end the inning, and the threat.
McMahon's day was done, and Mike MacDougal would need only six pitches to retire the side.
Wichita skipper Whitey Herzog considered leaving Waddell in, but after a tenuous 8th - and 160 pitches - he turned things over to closer Chad Cordero. Ty Wigginton would strike out and Ryan Braun would pop out to third. But Spotswood Poles would double, bringing Cap Anson - already with three postseason homers - to the plate as the tying run.
Cordero fired a fastball outside for ball one before getting Anson to chase a high fastball to even the count. Cordero would get a touch in front and under a slider, flying a routine ball to left into the glove of Jimmy Sheckard for the final out and the ballgame.
McMahon didn't pitch badly, allowing 3 earned runs over 7 innings. But that's not enough to beat Waddell at this point. Perhaps Tannehill could have.
Wright will likely ponder that in his bed this evening.
Wichita 4, Memphis 2 (Wichita leads series 1-0)