Heilmann Guns Down Blackwell, Saves Ryan’s Game

Nolan Ryan may have Harry Heilmann to thank, after he outdueled David Cone to win his 2nd game this season as the New York Swats beat the Detroit Rockets 3-2. The Swats scraped together 3 runs against Cone in the first 4 innings with some well-placed singles, and a Babe Ruth double. Ryan took a shutout into the 6th when Bobby Veach singled with two on and one out. Charlie Blackwell was waved home, but Harry Heilmann unleashed a perfect throw to Iván Rodríguez to gun him down at home. Adrián Beltré and Lou Whitaker followed with singles of their own before Bill Freehan grounded out to end the inning. The Rockets would only plate one run. Veach homered in the 8th to cut the New York lead to 3-2, but that’s all Detroit could muster, as Satchel Paige picked up just his 2nd save of the season. Paige’s saves have come on Ryan’s only wins this season. The win improved the Swats to 8-10, while Detroit fell to 10-8.

New York @ Detroit – 4/19/22