The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-11
.BARONS SHUT OUT
IN OPENING GAME
Unable to Score Against New
York Americans
BILLIARD PLAYS STAR GAME
Lack of Practice Operates Against the
Local Club In Contest With Big
Leasuers-Score
IL to 0.
BILLIARD PLAYS STAR GAME


to the ball grounds yesterday to see the
New York American swamp the Coal
Barons under a ton or two of hits and
runs. The same fans journeyed home
wards afterwards, all of the opinion that
II the Barons had been practicing as long
as the Highlanders there might have
been a different story to tell.
There appeared to be little difficulty on
the part of the big leaguers in making
the twelve runs that were scored during
the contest The Barons fumbled, jagged
and played with the ball at critical stages
In such way as to show conclusively
that they were not in form yet Little
old Montgomery on third made three err
rors in such rapid succession that it was
funny to watch him.
The fact that the Barons were shut out
while their opponents made a dozen tall
lies argues nothing for or against either
team. save that one was in pretty good
shape and the other was not. Somehow,
the real critics of the game last night
would not say outright that any one Of
the twenty-five men who took part in
the contest would make good.
son to Judge" was the universal state7
ment. Nobody but rank fan would
make any effort to tell a players ability
| by game played so early in the year."
The effect Of the strenuous work that
1 is being done by the Highlanders. and
+ which has been in operation daily for
| some time, in a majority of cases, was
| noted in the very beginning of the game.
/ That they kept the Barons from scoring
in hp n nj W. Z a
of good luck as 1t was good playing.
Both figured extensively.
J Billiard tht Feature.
Billiard was the feature of the game.
He pitched for the Barons the first three
innings, and only one blngle was scored
a yanst him in that time, although every
! one of the hard hitting big leaguers had
a chance against him. The little fellow
created a most favorable impression on
the fans, and while 1t would be prema-
| ture to hazard any guess at this time. 1t
looks like he has just the sort of goods
| that Birmingham fans want.
Bruce Hayes. at second. played a nice
| game In every way. although he had but
| few chances. He made the first safe hit
! for the Barons, driving a stinger at
! Pitcher Leroy which the Indian was ut
| terly unable to handle. The very next
| inning AfcoclS drove a line hit over sec
ond and Pyiant followed with a grass
cutter through Griffith, who was on
third. Yeager covered short in the alb
| sence Of Elberhed.
The Barons made errors, some of which
were excusable and some of which would
not be at a later date. Stiffness and
| soreness was the principal cause of the
| miscues, however. Alcock was not alto
| gether to blame for two of his, as Mont
| gomery was so anxious to cover every
/ ird hat he int x.,itl
| the shortstop.
Matthews arm is not nearly In shape
| yet. Yesterday three stolen bases, some
! thing not often charged against the catch
er, were credited to the Highlanders.
The squeeze play" of which so much
has been heard was tried several times
| by the Highlanders during the game, and
was successful in the fourth inning only
With one man out, man on third and
| one on first Chase dropped the ball to-
ward third base. and although he was
thrown out at first. Daugherty, who had
taken a big lead off third. succeeded in
| scoring.
Carlos Smith played right field for the
Barons having reached the city yester-
day morning. He Melted two high flies
but allowed ball to roll past him and
out to the fence In the fourth inning
two runs scoring as a result.
The Deadly Fourth.
The Highlanders started In as soon as
Utter went into the box in the fourth
| inning. Hits were somewhat plentiful,
| errors were as numerous and when the
! smoke had blown away, seven big taflies
! stood forth in painfully prominent man
| ner among pretty collection of goose
| eggs. Every one of the Highlanders was
at bat during the ming, and Yeager and
Griffith had two chances. Utter appeared
not to mind the errors, however, but sent
the ball over with speed right along. The
fifth and sixth inngs showed up well,
nothing resulting but single hit for the
| New Workers.
Pylant obtained his bumps In the seventh
| inning, principally because of hits. which
came like shot from a Calling gun in a
Philippines sortie. Six clean singles. with
an error by Montgomery. brought in four
| runs, and ii took a neat double plav all