The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-26

One of the most brilliant struggles ever presented at West End park was termi- mated yesterday afternoon when, in the fifteenth inning Dale Gear bingled lus- cousy to right center and Gladys" Molesworth scampered home with the winning run.
 Nashville went down. but sank into de- feat with all honor, and the thousand spectators seated about the battle ground cried in unison well done The final score of the initial contest of the Bir- mingham- Nashville series was to 3, with the Barons hanging to the right end of the score card.
 Wilhelm was pitted against Dugan, and the work of the former was un- uuestionably the feature of the hair-rais- ing engagement. Little Evap although appearing triie indifferent, had every thing from a school house out" to the most treacherous spit ball" Throughout the conflict he seemed to grow stronger and when in the thirteenth inning he struck out three of the Nashville htters in succession, the enthusiasm of the spec tators knew no bounds. He gave total of seven hits, and walked only single man. With the exception of his one bad inning. his delivery was found but three times throughout the long and bitter con- fiict. Dugan, too, did splendid work, and although his efforts could not be com pared to the more brilliant Wilhelm, to- ward the end of the engagement he made the fact uncomfortably plain that if the victory went to Birmingham, the Barons would have to win 1t.
 Some Poor Coaching. Although yesterdays game was one of the most brilliant ever served up to the Birmingham public, it is undoubtedly true that Wilhelm deserved a victory several innings before 1t came. The Barons from some cause. were woefully slow and care- less on the bases. In the second place.. the coaching at third was of rankest order and Matthews, Ragan and Gear were equally guilty. In the sixth in- ming Alcock should have scored before he did and would have scored but for bad coaching. In the seventh Meeks. after hitting for two bags, was prevented from scoring when Wilhelm singled to center.
 But in the tenth the Barons threw away the most superb chance to termi- nate a long drawn out fight. Wilhelm walked and was sacrificed by Alcock. Molesworth singled. and Wilhelm was stopped on third. Then occurred some thing uncommon in baseball. Smith, att tempting the squeeze" hit safe to the aIr ipH T score. Then again, was the squeeze" attempted But instead of hitting the ball. Gear swung wide and Wilhelm. having started for home, was run to death by Coogan. Gear finally retired the side, after the bases had been filled by flying out to Wiseman.
 The Runs Come.
 The game was started in fine drzzle, and on this account there was an ap- parent slowness and indifference. In the first inning, both sides went out in one, two, three order. In the second. the Ba- rons scored. Walters drew a pass, was showed to third by Oylers single, and walk was drawn by Matthews. Then Meeks did himself proud, his first eff
 
 to center, which opened home to Walters.
 Ip the fourth, Wilhelm had bad in- ming, and the spectators were furnished with a most unpalatable sight. Pearson, Wiseman and lansing drew short singles each, and the bases were filled. A drive for one bag by Bohannon, sent the first two runners home, and before the side was retired, lansing, too. had registered his tally. The audience then heaved sigh that spoke its disappointment.
 In the sixth, however, there came a glad change, and new life and enthusiasm were infused. Alcock led off with single Molesworth doubled and Alcock went to third He was held at third by Matt hews Smith was "there'' with the tim Der, however, and his Texas leaguer brought Alcock under the rope Gear followed with the "squeexe," and Moles- worth's run tied the score.
 The Game Won. With the score tied. the audience raised itself to it's feet and demanded victory. The Barons tried to win. but Dugan. set tied down to a steady stride was a diff ficult proposition. In the seventh Meeks did not score rom second on Wilhelm s single. and a golden opportunity was thrown to the wind. In the tenth, thers l were chances to win, but inferior coach | ing and the failure of the squeeze" due | to Wilhelm's carelessness when Smith | hit safe to the infeld. prevented. From that point until the coming of the f1f- | teenth there was not another chance to | tally. Dugan was delivering the goods | in healthy packages. In the fifteenth. | with one down. the winning run was | made. Molesworth. having drawn a pass. was sacrificed to second by Smith. Gear | responded nobly to the call of the fans. | and his screaming single to left-center | placed Molesworth home. The game was | won. A vast sigh of relief went up from | the few hundred fans gathered to wit |