After building an early lead and watching the Boston Splinters come back to tie the game late, the Houston Hoots put together an 8th inning two-out rally to win Game 1 of the POPs League Season 2 World Series 7-6. George Brett hit a solo home run in the 1st off Juan Marichal to take an early lead, but Houston had 3 hits and a walk with two outs to score 3 runs in the 2nd off Bert Blyleven, and did the same to lead off the 3rd, building a 6-1 lead and end Blyleven’s day after just 3 innings. Boston got payback against Marichal with 4 straight hits with 2 outs in the 5th to score 4 runs, capped by Brett’s RBI single. Brett added another RBI single in the 7th off reliever Fergie Jenkins to tie the game. Facing Walter Johnson in the 8th, Rogers Hornsby doubled with 2 outs, and Ernie Lombardi singled him home to give the lead back to Houston. Trevor Hoffman retired Boston 1-2-3 in the 8th, and Bruce Sutter did the same in the 9th to pick up the save. Brett finished 4 for 4 with 3 RBI in the loss. Houston hopes to carry the momentum into Game 2 before the series heads home for them.
