Frank's Walking Dead take 2 from Hitmen

WASHINGTON, NJ - In a rare day series played in Washington, as the Hitmen tried to take advantage of the Zombies dislike for light, the Zombies managed to pull two games out, pretty much sending the Hitmen's hopes for post-season action to the "dead zone".

 

Game one saw the Hitmen get out to an early 2-0 lead on the Zombie starter Lew Burdette in the third.   They extended the lead to 3-0, before the Zombies rallied, knocking out Hitmen starter Tom Poholsky, tying the score 3-3 in the top of the eighth. But the Hitmen rallied in the bottom of the eight off of Chuck Stobbs to to pick up a 7-4 win.

 

The highlight of the day was in the fourth inning.  Minnie Minoso and Smokey Burgess walked with no one out.  Vic Power hit a rocket to third, which Ken Boyer snagged, threw to second to double up Minoso and Eddie Miksis relay to Norm Zauchin nailed the slow footed Burgess at first for a Triple Play!!!!

 

Game two saw Herb Score limit Frank Zombies to three-hits, but he walked six in five innings as the Zombie's won 5-1.  The Hitmen twice had rallies going including the bottom of the seventh, which had Roy Campanella striking out against a tiring Billy Pierce with one out in the bases loaded, followed by Ralph Kiner's pop out to second base, thwarthing the threat.

 

In the ninth, Miksis and Campanella reached with two out, but Kiner grounded out to end the game.

 

Game three was the encapsulation of the Hitmen season, as Robin Roberts and Whitey Ford battled. Campanella slugged two home runs off Ford, giving the Hitmen a 4-0 lead going into the eight.  The Zombies, short of bullpen arms, let Ford lead off the eighth, and he singled.  Billy Klaus tripled with one out, and Roberto Clemente singled cutting the lead in half.

 

Power led off the ninth with a line drive that was mishandled by Stan Palys, who had moved from right field to left field in a defensive switch an inning earlier.  Gene Baker doubled with one out.  Bob Hale pinch hit for Ford and was walked intentionally.  Bill Tuttle singled loading the bases. Mike Fornieles came in and gave up a two run double, putting the Zombies in front, 5-4

 

The bottom of the ninth saw Jim Rivera walk off reliever Marv Grissom, gather a good lead and try to steal second.  But Burgess, a weak-throwing catcher just into the game, fired a strike to second base (20) to nail Rivera for the first out in the inning.  Bill Bruton, pinch hitting, grounded out and Miksis whiffed to end the game.