The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-14
TACOMA IN THE LEAD.
Works Men Take the Opening
Game of the Season.
he SEATTLE TEAM oUTPLAYEp,
Lack Of Practice and Gflliland's Wild
ness ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mops
the Earth With Portland.

Abner Powell's men lowered their colors yes
krday in the opening game OF the season with
! Siy Works ''kittens' at Tacoma II was a
eonfest that brought ont many of the wonder
l I'll possibilities Of the national game and We'd
f1dtha Gutenberg horse race in its uncertainty
to the sixth inning, when Tacoma forged
5Sead and kept increasing her lead tothe finish
!, Ike defeat was due more than anything else to
L5he harum -scarum pitching of GillilanG. The
tu southpaw had speed that was "out of
l Gsbt" but it availed him little with his in
sbility to steer the ball over the plate. No less
Il nan ten of the men who faced him trotted down
Sk.fnt on called balls, and the number might
have been greater If some of them had not been
100 anxious to swell their batting averages
willie Lange's work behind the bat was rather
,sgsed and his throwing to- bases cratic. In
net the "gaspipe battery did not do itself
poud The only redeeming feature of its work
N the four basehits that its two members
| divided equally between them.
The play of the entire Seattle team, with the
exception of the outfield, which had almost
nothing to do, gave unmistakable evidence of
ifs lack of practice, and the score fails to ind-
cate much of its costly misplay. There was too
much hesitancy and uncertainty over what
action to take at critical moments when a mis-
l tke meant run. On two or three occasions
\ the ball was held while Tacoma players trotted
/ around the lines with impunity. At
The bat. too, most OF the men failed
bconnect with the ball when most needed
here was little or no sacrifice hitting aud their
use running amounted TO but little The only
seding out OF the ordinary was that of Gil Hat
fsd The ex-New Yorker made a neat capture
ola hy to short outfield while on the run, and
Knocked down base hit back of second base,
allowing 1t with quick throw to first that
nsmed 10 retire the runner, although the UNI
| sire decided differently. Abner Powelrs stick
work was timely, and he has two nice singles
nrEed to his credit Willie LANCE showed that
bhad not forgotten how to bat during the win
h, and secured q double and single, while his
hitery partner, Gilliland, got in two corking
singles.
The work of the Tacomas, in decided contrast
10 that of their opponents, was sharp and &C.
surate The only serious error-a muffed fly by
Patton-let In two runs, but there was lack of
I he poor Judgment that marred Scattle's play
Works men ran bases like colts and took advan-
tSe OF every opportunity to further their flights
mound the bases. They did some neat sacrifice
batting, too, aud pulled together nicely. This
Ykind of work, assisted by the deadly base on
balls and seattle's general weakness, resulted in
we runs from a single base hit in the first three
Innings. To Routcliffe is due large share OF
he honor OF the victory. He has the same dare
devil style OF facing swift pitching and dancing
about In style calculated to bewilder both box
man and umpire that characterized his play last
l season. He went to first on balls no less than
three times, and in addition hit the ball safely
twice. Cartwright and Goodenough did some
good work on the base lines, the former having
three stolen bases for his record.
Borchers pitching was somewhat wild at the
start, but as the game advanced he steadied
down and finished in excellent style. Sippi
carried of the fielding honors, some OF his
chances at second being very difficult ones.
cnaar md
vas so accurate to veto all efforts of purlon-
| ing on seattle's part In the eighth inning he
caught foul tip from Minnehan's bat on his
i thumb and was compelled to give way to Mike
Cody who did the little that remained accept
ably.
| The bright sunshine Of a perfect spring day
tdded to the drawing powers of the opening
ssFme and grand stand and bleachers were well
nled. Not a few OF the spectators were Seattle
Enthusiasts who made the trip to yell for their
Champions. They contributed their full share
Of the noisy applause until the closing innings,
when silence crept upon them aud stayed with
them until the Close Lon knight. the veteran
ball player, made his bow as an umpire in the
Pacific Northwest and was fairly successful
Although there seemed to be an occasional
slight mistake in judgment, his work as whole
vas good. He was on the alert for all the points
q play and gave his decisions in quick, dec,s-
I've manner
There was delay of several minutes in start
| Ing the game, owing to the absence of an UNI
pire, and the crowd began to show its impa-
tenee by bowling, "Play ball" Ten minutes
alter the time set TO begin play, Umpire knight
hurried into the park. Captain Owen Patton,
n Tacoma, and Captain Sam Laroque, of Seat
-, looking somewhat important in their newly
snumad honors, marched to the home plate be-
hind the umpire. The three held q short con-
ksaliation, explaining the ground rules, while
@tts beaehers grew more and more impetuous in
Their demands for ball playing. Then came tap
,fof the gong, the Seattle players trotted TO the
field amid the cheers of the crowd, and the sea-
son OF 1892 was on.
Routcliffe, the first man to toe the plate in the
nee for the championship, after getting two
Hrkes on him, was rewarded by base on balls
Tor his patience. Then Goodenough, bent on a
sacrifice, hunted q little one to Gilliland, and
Routelitfe forced out at second. on the
next ball pitched Goodenough was off down the
limo, and brought up safely at second after
desperate head -first slide that evaded Lange's
quick throw. After Cartwright reached first on
balls, the two runners stole second and third in
concert Then Patton flied out to Hernon. and
0oodenough scored after the catch sippi hit
tashing single down between second and third
that scored Cartwright, and himself went to sec
ond on Hernon's throw TO the plate. Works out
Rtired the side
ske the breath out of the Seattles, and the first
hree batsmen fell easy prey on pop dies.
IN the second, after Tacoma went out In enc
Two, three order, Seattle came in to catch up.
Dummy" Ryn waited for a base on balls Sam
Laroque dropped high hy over the right field
fence that Melted him two bsses and sent Ryn to
tnird. Powell kept up the good work with
onve between third and short scoring two runs.
Aoner attempted to steal second, but was retired
g speeis mat throw to SipPL Irwin struck
out LANCE dnJpped single in short right field
and stole second. Gilliand drove n hot
sroupder past third and scored LANCE He took
second on passed ball, and went 10 third on
fa,tons tumble of Hernon's grounder Tommy
sole second, but Hatfeld's grounder to sipPi
Brought the third out
Tacoma TOOK tie lead again in the third.
hou'elihe got to first again on balls and then
0y last running went ciesr TO third on Goode-
nough's grounder to Irwin aud out at first IN
attempting TO catch Routcliife mapping at third
Mage threw high over Twins head and the
SINNER scored. Cartwright and Patton were
10th sent TO first on balls. sippi went out on q
ieul ny 10 Ryn. Cartwright and Patton each
ksayaneed 4 base by stealing at the same time.
HorS hit a hot one TO Irwin, who threw low to
nrst and Cartwright scored. moment later
ration crossed the plate on Lange's tardy
1'ow to second to catch Work. Lauer ended
we Inning with grounder TO Ryn.
seattle pulled up alongside in her half. Min
nehan started with a base on balls. Ryn's
srounder 10 auer forced Danny at second.
Lafoque walked to first on balls and wild
pitch advanced him and the dummy" each a
ease Powell hit 10 Cartwright aud by bad
Goa hing Ryn was caught between third and
nome and run down Powell reached second
sni Laroque third during the play. Irwin hit
4 haaF do. lob