Two words: Pitchers' dual.
Darrell Duncan of the Marlins and Scotty Card of the Giants.
But it was Duncan who prevailed. Duncan was masterful; Card gutty.
No team in any MSBL would have had any success Friday night against Duncan at New Scotland in the Marlins 3-2 victory that created a logjam at the top of the 38 division.
As Jimmy Ansel said after the game: "That was baseball the way it should be played.''
But Duncan perhaps played it best. He tossed a three-hitter and struck out 8, including the last batter to end the game. He walked just one. And that was incredible in itself because he throws that dang knuckle ball. And that baby danced all night long - and in the zone. Six fly outs/pop ups and seven ground outs. When we didn't strike out, we topped the ball or got under it.

The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the third when Mike Aiello singled, stole second and scored on a rare error by Randy Craft, who went into shallow left-center and dropped a pop-up while battling the sun and high sky.
But, the Marlins proved why they are the defending champs. They picked up their all-league SS with two runs in the bottom of the third. And it was Craft in the middle of it.
With one out, Paulie blooped a ball just beyond the infield grass in right. He stole second and scored on Craft's single. One out later, Ron (sorry, forgot the last name), and Tom Maney each singled and the Marlins took a 2-1 lead.
The next two innings produced just two runners, both by the Giants in the top of the fifth as Card and Duncan battled it out. But Duncan again escaped danger when a Giants baserunner was thrown out trying to steal third.

But Card would not fold either. Using his own knuckler with a nasty curve and spot fastball, Scotty escaped jams with two on and one out and two on with two outs when the Marlins threatened to open the lead. Both times, runners were on third. But Jimmy Keegan, with the infield in, saved one run and Wayne Phillips at third saved another, throwing out speedy Tom Maney at the plate.

But the Giants kept cool and Jimmy Keegan remained one of the hottest hitters in the league. He roped a Duncan fastball over the fence in right-center to tie it at 2, the only hard-hit ball of the evening for the Giants. And there was no doubt about it.

Then in the bottom of the sixth, Ron led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on Maney's single and, with the infield in, scored on Ansel's single between short and third. Card then induced three straight grounders to end the inning, but with the Giants trailing 3-2.

Duncan then got the Giants out in order in the 7th to end it and create a logjam in the pennant race with the O's, Marlins, H'birds, Pirates and Giants. The Giants now face the Orioles and Marlins in successive nights next week beginning Tuesday.

Aiello and Craft both looked like all-league shorstops, both making plays all night that kept runners off base, saving runs. Despite Craft's error, he was flawless otherwise, gracefully going into shallow left near the line to make catches and circling grounders with his patented scoop and throw to keep potential runners off base.

It was a game that reminded me why I got back into baseball. And to see Craft, Ansel and Card embrace after the game told a story in itself. Yup, "ya' just gotta love this game.''

I think both teams are looking forward to round two Wednesday night at Voorheesville High School. But before that, the Giants face those hard-hitting, hard-throwing first-place Orioles who ripped off 10 straight wins before finally losing to Kingston. Anyone have some Excedrin?
JimK

On a side note, umpires TJ Lamb and Matt Galpin were just the guys to work this game. We never knew they were there. Nice job guys.