PAWTUCKET (AP) - Rogers Hornsby, Pawtucket's All-Star second baseman rocked a three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning to give the Dutchmen a lead that they would not relinquish, winning Game Five of the DBS World Championship defeating the Montgomery Burns 6 to 2. Pawtucket, who was facing elimination with a loss in Game Five, capitalized on a pair of Burns errors and the strong pitching of rookie Ed Wells to force Game Six Monday in Montgomery.
The largest crowd of the Series thus far, a near-capacity 48, 110, were nervously apprehensive during the pre-game ceremonies, despite the introduction of a new toy as a ballpark giveaway. Named a yo-yo, the new invention, created by Donald F. Duncan was a mild success. Most minds on this day were occupied with the hometown Dutchmen and the realization that if they lost, their successful season would be over.
The National Anthem was performed by the Mills Brothers. The youngsters from Piqua, Ohio, Herbert, 18, Harry, 16, Donald, 15, and John, Jr., who are considered musical prodigies, received a warm welcome from the Pawtucket faithful. The first-ball toss, however, was not as informal.
Making the ceremonial first pitch was the President of the United States, Mr. Herbert Hoover. Mr. Hoover, who is rumored to be a big fan of the DBS, made a surprise visit to Pawtucket earlier in the day, and was asked to throw out the pitch when it was learned he would be attending Game Five. The President agreed, and the crowd gave him a healthy standing ovation. President Hoover, as Candidate Hoover, threw out the first pitch in last year's World Series clincher, Game Six.
With the pomp and circumstance concluded, rookie Ed Wells, who dropped Game Two, took the mound for the Dutchmen, determined to reverse the outcomes of recent Pawtucket efforts. Although he was touched for a hit in the opening frame, he managed to quickly dispose the Burns in the first and second innings.
Firpo Marberry, Wells' opponent and winner of Game 2 in Montgomery, initially was just as successful, but benefited from a touch of luck. After a quick first, Marberry gave up a triple to Pawtucket first baseman Del Bissonette with one out. The next hitter, Bill Cissell hit a chopper to third baseman Pie Traynor, as Bissonette broke for home. Traynor threw him out at the dish easily, saving the run. Cissell was caught stealing two pitches later, and it appeared as if Marberry escaped serious damage.
Marberry was not as fortunate in the bottom of the third. Fresco Thompson misplayed Bennie Tate's hot smash, allowing the Dutchmen catcher to reach base. After a line out and fielder's choice, Ethan Allen singled, putting two runners on when the Burns should have been out of the inning. Hornsby punished the first offering from Marberry deep into the right field stands for an early 3 to 0 lead. Hornsby was 2 for 3 in the game with a double and the aforementioned home run.
Errors continued to plague Marberry and the Burns an inning later. Leading off the fourth, Woody English threw an easy ground ball away to allow Pinky Whitney to reach first. A walk to Del Bissonette and a single by Bill Cissell brought home Whitney with the fourth run of the game. After two quick outs, singles by Johnny Frederick and Ethan Allen brought home two more runs, making the score 6 to 0, and putting the game out to reach for the Dutchmen. The base hit by Allen knocked the frustrated Marberry out of the ballgame, allowing only one earned run of the six that scored.
Wells took full advantage of the lead that was given to him. Pitching like a seasoned veteran, he retired 12 of 13 batters during the middle stages of the game as his teammates were staking him to a big lead. His assortment of offspeed pitches frustrated the Burns hitters, who were admittedly anxious to close out the Series.
Wells grew a little tired in the seventh when he allowed a solo shot homer to fellow first-year player Dale Alexander, but quickly rebounded to get the next to hitters to end the inning. A pair of doubles an inning later by Paul Waner and pinch-hitter Taylor Douthit scored Montgomery's second and final run, but Wells reached back for that "something extra" to leave the runner stranded. Although he allowed a walk in the ninth, he had little trouble in dispatching two Dutchmen killers, Pie Traynor and Mickey Cochrane to end the game and bring the Series to 3 games to 2.
The crowd in Pawtucket gave the team a standing ovation, in this their last home game of 1929. The Series now moves back to Montgomery on Monday for Game Six, as Montgomery tries again to clinch the Series, and Pawtucket tries to force a Game Seven.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
Burns 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 6 2 4 2
Flying Dutchmen 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 x 6 11 0 6 2
Burns AB R H BI Flying Dutchmen AB R H BI
LWaner cf 4 0 0 0 Frederick cf 4 1 1 1
Thompson 2b 4 0 0 0 Allen lf 4 1 2 1
Manush lf 4 0 1 0 Hornsby 2b 3 1 2 3
Alexander 1b 3 1 1 1 Heilmann rf 4 0 1 0
Traynor 3b 3 0 0 0 Whitney 3b 4 1 0 0
Cochrane c 4 0 0 0 Bissonette 1b 3 1 2 0
PWaner rf 3 1 2 0 Cissell ss 4 1 2 1
English ss 3 0 1 0 Tate 4 2 0 0 0
Marberry p 1 0 0 0 Wells p 4 0 1 0
Hudlin p 0 0 0 0
Fonseca ph 1 0 0 0
Petty p 0 0 0 0
Douthit ph 1 0 1 1
Morris p 0 0 0 0
31 2 6 2 34 6 11 6
Montgomery INN H R ER BB K
Marberry L 1-1 3.2 6 6 1 2 1
Hudlin 1.1 1 0 0 0 1
Petty 2.0 2 0 0 0 0
Morris 1.0 2 0 0 0 0
9.0 11 6 1 2 2
Pawtucket INN H R ER BB K
Wells W 1-1 9.0 6 2 2 2 1
E- Thompson. 2B- Hornsby, PWaner, Douthit. 3B-Bissonette. HR-Hornsby (1). Alexander (1).
SB-Whitney, Bissonette. CS-Cissell.
K-Cochrane, Frederick, Whitney.
BB-Bissonette, Hornsby, Alexander, Traynor.
GWRBI: Hornsby.
Umpires: Home, Owens; 1b, McCormick; 2b, Klem; 3b, Wilson; lf, Nallin; rf, McGowan