Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-24
SAN FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND SCORE
THE FIRST VICTORIES.
Opening Games of the State Raseha,,
Aeasue-Although Defeated, the
sacramentos Show Up Well.


mad TO remain ON their feet. The receipts
must have been encouraging to the new
managers.
The grounds were not in the best condi-
ton, the outfield particularly being wet
and sloppy in places and consequently in.
tertering with the players in the center
LETT and right gardens. The diamond was
IN passably good trim, but a trihe too
camp and heavy, so that sawdust had TO
be spread about in places.
BOTH clubs, accompanied by band of
music, arrived at the park shortly before
O'Clock and marched to the southeast
corner OF the field, where large flagstaff
had been put up. Managers Robinson and
Enr1ght OF the respective teams, walked
out to where the band and clubs had
matted, and the Manager of the Oaklands
raised the pennant his club had won last
season, the band at the same time PLAYING
an appropriate air. As the pennant, m
posed OF red, white and blue stripes. was
unioloed 10 the breeze, the words, Oak
nd-1S9O-Champions F." were plainly Wis.
1ble from the grand stand, and q deafenipg
shout went up. The two Managers then
TOOK positions in front of the band, the
procession moved back to the diamond,
and the players took their seats on the
benches
The Oakiands were on the field shortly
afterwards for practice, and their prelimi-
narles did not show any brilliant work.
Inc Sacramentos consumed in practice the
last quarter OF an hour prior TO the
opening OF the game and their fielding
was no Improvement on that of the visit
ors. In fact, it was worse, but in the game
that followed they gave fine exhibition
OF pall-playlng, and the audience was de-
lighted.
Harper lost the game for the home nine
by his very unsteady work in the box. He
seemed to lose control of the ball at times.
and repeatedly gave men bases on balls
until he practically gave them the game
Had he pitched with his customary con-
troll OF the ball Sacramento would have
won the contest. In the eighth inning he
gave three men in succession bases on
balls, and then allowed couple of short
hits 10 be made. The result of this was to
add five runs to the Oaklands' score.
The visitors started in to score in the
first inning. Dungsn reached second base
on hit and steal, and Tip O'NeiIl, doff-
ing his cap TO the audience, who were guv-
ing him for his loud remarks, hit the
ball for three bases, and DUNCAN crossed
the plate. scoring the first run.
Two more runs were added to the visit
ors' score IN the second inning. Meegan
made a hit and c. O'Neill got first on balls
a wild pitch by Harper, and his error in
mutfing ball thrown to him to catch
O'Neill at the plate let two men score
-Four of the Oaklanders scored in the
fifth inning. G.. O'Neilrs hit Stickney's
two-bagger, singles by DUNCAN, Mcdonald
and lsaacson, and a base on balls for Hill
did the business.
The Coionels again swelled their score in
the eighth inning, owing to the wretched
wtfk of Harper. After tanning Lehman
he gave Meegan, Stickney and G. O'Neill
their bases on oalls. DUNCAN followed this
up with hit which scored two runs n.
ONeill drove out clean single, and Stick
ney and DUNCAN came trotting across the
home plate. Hill thought he ould make
the number of runs in that inning odd,
and gently knocked hit which gave
O'Neill ample opportunity to come home.
1saacson ended the inning by being thrown
out at first base, after missing the third
strike.
The nine runs made by the home team
were scored in the fifth, sixth and seventh
innings. In the fifth, Zeigler made the
first base-hit for his side, C. O'Niell
'mufed" Harper's fly, Stapleton hit out
two-bagger, and Daily made single The
effect OF this squirt in batting was TO add
two runs. There was yet only one man
out, with Daily and Stapleton on the bases
The former allowed himself to be caught
mapping between first and second base, and
while he was playing to avoid being
touched, Stapleton made dash for home,
but seeing that the ball was liable to be
there before he arrived, he turned back,
and in their endeavors to catch him the
0aklands became ratified. O'Neill dropped
the ball and both Daily and Stapleton
scored amid deafening cheers from the half
80 nd Poi 10 cd
the inning by failing to reach the initial on
their hits.
In the sixth inning three runs were
scored by the Sacramentos, which tied the
score. Roberts reached first on Stickneys
error, and Zeigler made hit. Short and
timely singles by Goodenough and Staple
ton allowed three runs.
In the seventh inning DAILY and Reitz,
having reached the bases, were brought
home by a terrific drive to left field by Rob-
erts. The ball would no doubt have rolled
TO the back fence had it not struck in the
middle OF mud puddle.
The home nine tried hard to tie the score
in the ninth inning, but the visitors had
too much OF lead, and the victory was for
Oakland.
The contest, as whole, was very excit-
ing, and everybody appeared pleased with
tie excellent work done by the Sacra-
mentos. Their fielding was far superior to
that of the visitors, as the error column
will show. Oakland sums up eleven errors
and Sacramento two.
While Harper pitched very uncertain
game, Meegan was stead and never lost
control of the ball at any time. There was
nothing remarkable about his pitching, for
his club won tie game by their batting.
Harper should not be harshly Judged for
his work yesterday. Anyone who is IA
miliar with his work knows that he de-
ponds more on his curve balls than any
thing else. He can control curve great
deal better than he can a straight ball, and
when il is taken into consideration the fact
that the ball was wet and damp during the
game, il can readily be understood why
Harper did not do well. Meegan, on the
contrary, relies for effectiveness on the
straight bali, to throw which requires no
certain hold upon the sphere, as in throw
ing a curve. 1t is safe to say that when
Harper next makes his appearance in the
box, if conditions are favorable he will
quickly show that ne is one of the best
pitchers on the coast.
The home nine worked admirably to-
gether, ana such expressions as Were
winners this season." and We've got the
boss club in the League now" could be
heard on all sides, even after the game was
over. The infield is formidable one; the
outfield is fully up to the standard, and the
club viii surely worry the leader 10 the
League race.
Bowman is an excellent catcher and an
exceptionally fine thrower to second base
Stapleton and zeigler both played a good
game, and between them five out of the
nine hits were made. Daily and Reitz
played their positions almost to perfection,
and the doubts in the minds of many, as
to the abilities of the former player, were
entirely removed by the time the game was
over Cedar bad little fielding work, but
a one handed stop of hot gronnder in the
middle stage Of the game was quite neat
display of his skill.
Umpire Donohue's decisions gave gen.
eral satisfaction. He appeared on the field
dressed in citizens suit of white flannel.
It looked very neat. Following is
THE tCoIE.
SACRAMENTO. TB r.. B.Hs.B. 20. A., Z.
Goodenough. c. f........
Stapleton, lst b.......-... 5