The American League all-stars battled the National League all-stars at Ebbets Field in Game 2 of my 1934 series. Thwarted by defensive miscues in their first contest, the NL turned to Carl Hubbell to try to keep the powerful AL bats in check. The Junior Circuit gave the ball to Schoolboy Rowe.
The AL scored in the top of the first when Bob Johnson singled to drive in Billy Werber, who had led off the game with a double. Mel Ott put the NL on top in the bottom of the opening frame with a two-run homer that plated Arky Vaughn. Both Rowe and Hubbell then settled down to toss four straight scoreless innings. But in the sixth, Lou Gehrig tripled and came home on a Babe Ruth groundout.
With the AL leading 2-1, Wes Ferrell relieved Rowe for the seventh. The Boston hurler immediately ran into trouble. After Frankie Frisch singled, his Cardinal teammate Ripper Collins blasted a two-run shot to put the NL in front. Later in the inning, two singles, a walk, another single, and an RBI groundout added three more runs for the Senior Circuit. Lefty Stewart came on to pitch the eighth for the AL and fared no better. NL hitters put up five more runs on a three-run homer from Ott and a two-run blast from Gabby Hartnett. Hubbell went the distance for the National League, while his offense pounded out 20 hits.
The American League will try to shake off this drubbing and right the ship against the Negro National League in Game 3.
All-Star Series Game 2: NL 12, AL 2
What a game Mel Ott had.
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