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CWS-WSH 4/10/61

From Error to Era 
Senators hang on to nip White Sox in National opener, 5-4

WASHINGTON, Apr 10(AP)-It started out as an "error," then it ended up as the start of a new era as the Washington Senators hung on to beat the Chicago White Sox in the National opener in front of 25,000 fans at Griffith Stadium, 5-4.

It started rather ominously as the new-look Senators reverted to their old tricks as starting pitcher Dick Donovan muffed a Luis Aparicio grounder, then the speedy shortstop stole 2nd, then 3rd before scoring on Minnie Minoso's sac fly to left. The Sox then scored 2 more in the 3rd on Aparicio's lead-off triple, followed by walks to Sammy Esposito and Roy Sievers, loading the bases with 1 out. JC Martin singled home Aparicio and Esposito, making the score 3-0 for veteran starter Early Wynn, who retired the first 9 Senators. 

The Senators went to work in the 4th, getting a lead-off walk from Coot Veal, who promptly scored on a triple by Billy Klaus, who then scored on a single to left by Marty Keough. After walks by Dale Long and Jim King loaded the bases and a pop fly to short by Willie Tasby, Danny O'Connell tied the score on a sac fly to left. The Sox regained the lead in the 5th on one-out singles by Minoso and Sievers, putting runners on 1st and 3rd, Minoso scoring on a fielder's choice to 3rd by Martin. Then the Sens struck for 2 in their half of the 5th on a lead-off single by Donovan, followed one out later by a single by Klaus, putting runners on 1st and 3rd. Keough plated both runs with a triple, giving the Sens a lead they would not relinquish. 

Donovan then shut down the Sox from the 5th inning on, retiring 12 in a row before Sherm Lollar singled with one out in the 9th, pinch-hitter Floyd Robinson then hit into a fielder's choice to 2nd, forcing out pinch-runner Cam Carreon. Luis Aparicio singled to short to keep the game alive, forcing the Sens to send Dick Sisler to pitch to Esposito, who forced to 1st to end the game, setting off a on-field celebration worthy of the start of a new "era." 

WSH 5-6-1 CWS 4-7-0 WP-Donovan(1-0) LP-Wynn(0-1) SV-Sisler(1) 
INJ-Fox(CWS) out 5 games. Woodling(WSH) out 1 game. 

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