Series 1: Big Train no-hits Crawfords; series split

Obamas 1-1, Crawfords 1-1

Pitchers rest: B. Foster, Mathis and Davis need one game, W. Johnson needs two games, Ryan and Day three games.

Game 1: Obamas 12, Crawfords 0

WP: W. Johnson (1-0)

LP: B. Foster (0-1)

HR: Lombardi (1)

Game 2: Crawfords 6 Obamas 3

WP: Day (1-0)

LP: Ryan (0-1)

HR: Beckwith (1), F. Robinson (1), Schmidt (1)

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In a midnight season-opening tilt at Greenlee Stadium, Walter Johnson fired a no-hitter at the Crawfords in a 12-0 Obamas victory.

The Crawfords, behind a complete game by Leon Day and three RBIs from John Beckwith, won the second game 5-3.

In the opener, Frank Robinson drove in five runs, Charlie Gehringer went four for five while scoring twice, and Ernie Lombardi homered. The visitors chased Big Bill Foster after the third inning, plating six runs off the star lefty. But the star for the Obamas was Johnson, who fanned five and walked three.

The Crawfords came close to hits twice in the five inning, first on a difficult catch in center by Mickey Mantle off the bat of Louis Santop, then by left fielder Sliding Billy Hamilton, who lived up to his nickname as he robbed Ray Dandridge of a double.

As good as the Obamas defense was in the opener, it hurt in the second game. Lou Bordreau's error on leadoff hitter Alejandro Oms opened the door to a three-run inning off Nolan Ryan in which the Express also wild-pitched a run home.

The Obamas got solo shots from Robinson and Mike Schmidt, but Beckwith widened the Crawfords lead to 5-3 with a two-run bomb off Ed Walsh in the seventh, and Dandridge started a nifty double play in the ninth to end it.

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My wife, who is far more patient with me and this nonsense than I deserve, found the charts and pitchers cards within minutes this evening. So I could, and did, get started.