The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-14
BASEBALL.
DOWN The SAINT J;
Millers Defeat St. Paul in First
Game by Score Of
2 to /.
The Contest Was Pitchers Battle,
With the .Honors to Lefty
Sporer.

Lefty ESporer IS gong TO nave his #Detu
inning right away and get It over, said
q fan in the grand stand yesterday. when
the miller southpaw opened yesterday s
game at Niccllct park by passing the hrst.
Two ST. Paul batsmen. The remark was
prophetic. for the one run scored by the
saints in the first inning had not IN
creased any when Minneapolis scored the
winning tally in the ninth.
The locals won yesterday by playing; the
better ball Fielding honors were nearly
even the millers making one error, and
ST. Paul two, but the second one for the
saints was costly, for 1t let Oyler IN with
the run necessary to cinch victory Tor the
nliilers Minneapolis had a slight adj
vantage in batting, but the saints were a
trifie faster on bases.
With Ferguson, the crack twirler OF the
saints on the slab. and Sporer throwing
for Manager Yeager's men. the small
crowd Of sanity city fans present con-
sidered the game as good as won, es :,
pecially when Sporer proved unable to
locate the plate during the first half Of
his initial round Altho the young south
paw continued erratic at times, however,
he was wonderfully steady and effective
at critical moments, and pitched himself
out Of some bad holes. In the fourth
with only one gone and runners on sec
cnd and third, the saints looked due to
score, but the necessary hit failed to ma
terialize In the seventh the bases were
full with but one out, and again the much
touted pinch hitters declined. " In the
ninth with two sacks occupied, Geier hit
a hard fly to right. but Elmer Smith man
aged to reach it and retired the side.
Saints Miss Golden Opportunity.
The seventh was the golden opportunity
for the saints. With Kelley down, Sulli-
van drew a pass, and Ferguson hit an
easy grounder to Sporer. Lefty threw
high to, Oyler at second, and both runners
landed safe Spike Shannon was next up.
and al this point Oy1er undoubtedly saved
the day for the millers.: Shannon sent a
sharp grounder between short and third
which looked good enough to bring in a
score, but Oyler managed to get in front
Of it, holding Sullivan at third. The lit
tie shortstop had Sullivan mile off the
sack. but failed to see the opportunity UNI
til too late. Things still looked danger
GUS, but Jackson hit to Martin, who got
the ball home in time to retire Sullivan.
Geier went out, Martin to Vasbinder;
and the day was saved again.
The old adage that a pass nearly al
ways means a score, was exen1plihed II
the first, when Sporer passed Shannon
and Jackson, the first two men up: Geiel
sacrificed, and Schaefer sent a fly to short
right. Martin gathered in the hit, but he
was running away from the plate, anc
could not turn in time to hold Shannon
at third. Spike scored but Wheeler
famed, retiring the side;
The millers got one in their half, Lall!
doubling after Smith was retired. Fer
guson helped along by a balk, which aid
vanced Dan to third, and the left tielde
did not have to hurry when McCreer,
singled to center. In the sixth Yeage
doubled but was thrown out at the plat
when he attempted to score on Mcintyre
single to Shannon. Had he stopped a
third. Yaeger could easily have got in OF
Oylers. infield hit which followed, but |
is better to take chances and get GU
than never TO take a, chance at all.
Wheeler Falls Down.
Wheeler after making several sensa
tional catches Of hard fouls. spoiled
brilliant record and handed the game t
the millers in the ninth. Mcintyre opene
the round by a fly to Shannon Oyle
singled, and stole second. Martin sent
sharp grounder to Wheeler,' who juggle
it and then threw wild to Kelley Oyle
easily ron1ped home and the game wa
over. ftt-H-
A resume shows that Sporer was wilde
but much more effective than Ferguson
The n,illers landed for seven clean hit!
three Of them doubles while the best tn
saints could do vas six singles, about ha
of them scratches. Vasbinder was re
sponsible for one hit: leaving first un
guarded to. go after a grounder wlaie
Martin could easily have reached
This afternoon the saints and the mil
ers opened a series of four games at Lei
ington park, All the games in this serie
will be called at $3.50 Monday is an o
day all around the circuit and Tuesda
Columbus comes to Nfcollet park for TO,
games, Toledo, Indiana polls and Loul.
Vile following in order. Yesterday