For 5 innings, the Houston Hoots battled the Boston Splinters in hopes of forcing a Game 7. In the end, Boston won Game 6 in the same way they’ve won throughout the series: with timely pitching and a relentless offense. For the 5th time in 6 games, Boston scored in the 1st inning, this time with a George Brett sacrifice fly that scored the speedy Ichiro Suzuki. Houston starter Phil Niekro allowed just one hit over the next 4 innings. Boston starter Roy Halladay saw some redemption. Halladay got knocked out in the 3rd inning of Game 3. This time, Halladay carried a shutout into the 5th before Ernie Lombardi’s solo home run tied the game 1-1. Niekro finally faltered in the 6th, allowing singles to Suzuki and Alan Trammell before George Brett took a 1-1 pitch deep to right field for a 3-run homer. Boston would add to their lead in the next inning too. Roberto Clemente’s pinch-hit single in the 8th made it a 7-2 game, but Rollie Fingers made sure that was as close as Houston would get, pitching a scoreless 9th to seal the World Series win. Brett was an offensive force in the World Series, batting .500, hitting 2 homers, and driving in 9 runs. Five of those runs came in Game 6 alone. With the Detroit Rockets’ World Series win last year, an American League team has now won both POPs League World Series.

Hoots @ Splinters – 6/10/23

After an evenly split first 4 games of the World Series, the Boston Splinters wasted little time in putting Houston away in Game 5. Despite not scoring in the 1st inning for the first time in the Series, Boston took a 4-1 lead in the 2nd thanks to Carlton Fisk’s 3-run home run. Boston starter Rube Waddell allowed just one run in the 1st, after a wild pitch gave Houston a brief 1-0 lead. The game was delayed for nearly an hour due to rain in the 3rd inning. Gaylord Perry picked up where Waddell left off, pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Meanwhile, Boston’s lead ballooned against Cy Young in the 4th. Houston manager Leo Durocher seemed to give up the game early, leaving Young in to allow 7 runs on 8 hits in one inning. The inning also saw 3 Houston errors. After another Boston run in the 7th, Houston got a few runs back against Walter Johnson, with Oscar Charleston driving in two with a triple and scoring on a base hit by Rogers Hornsby. A struggling Tim Raines grounded out with the bases loaded to end the threat. Fisk finished the game 3 for 5 with 4 RBI. Boston is now just one win away from World Series victory.

Splinters @ Hoots – 6/8/23

The Boston Splinters jumped out to a 4-0 lead early off Juan Marichal, but the Houston Hoots came back to tie the game late, only to fall in the 9th. Boston scored 3 runs in the 1st, taking advantage of a pair of triples off Juan Marichal, adding another run in the 3rd inning due to another triple. Houston got some back in the 5th off starter Bert Blyleven, scoring 3 runs to cut the lead to a run. Frank Thomas hit a solo home run to give some space, but Ernie Lombardi’s RBI single got the run back. Paul Waner and Rogers Hornsby led off the 8th with singles to end Blyleven’s day, and Lombardi’s groundout off reliever Dennis Eckersley tied the game. Mickey Mantle led off the 9th with a double off reliever Trevor Hoffman, and Wade Boggs followed with a pinch-hit double of his own to give Boston a 6-5 lead. Rollie Fingers pitched a scoreless 9th to pick up the save and tie the series 2-2. Carlton Fisk threw out two Houston baserunners in the game. With the win, Boston has guaranteed that they will finish the World Series at home.

Splinters @ Hoots – 6/7/23

The Houston Hoots got their revenge for a 7-2 Game 2 loss, chasing Boston Splinters starter Roy Halladay in the 3rd inning on their way to scoring 11 runs over two innings to sail to an 11-2 Game 3 win, taking a 2-1 World Series lead. Boston took an early lead when Ted Williams doubled in George Brett in the 1st. But Halladay allowed 8 straight baserunners to lead off the 3rd inning, leaving the game down 5-1 after Honus Wagner and Oscar Charleston drove in 2 runs each with back-to-back base hits. Jim Palmer came in in relief, retiring the next three batters, but allowing two more baserunners to score. Charleston drove in two more in the next inning, and Willie Stargell added a 2-run home run to give Houston an 11-1 lead. Alan Trammell gave Boston another run with a solo homer in the 7th, but Niekro finished the game. Niekro scattered 8 hits and walked 4 in the win. The win gives Houston a 2-1 series lead, with two more games left to play at home.

Splinters @ Hoots – 6/6/23