Lazzeri knocks in three, Coveleski masterful as Seaview beats Fremont 7-4

Rockets miss good chances; key win gives Artisans 3-2 lead in the Century League World Series

Fremont, Wash. — Stan Coveleski pitched seven strong innings and Tony Lazzeri had three RBI in a key seventh-inning rally as Seaview moved to within a game of the title with a 7-4 win in game five of the Century League World Series.

Seaview manager Miller Huggins nearly thought himself out of the game, pulling his starter with a 7-1 lead in the eighth.

"I figgered we would hold that lead," Huggins said, "and I wanted Coveleski available later if we needed him."

They did hold the lead, but Fremont missed out on a number of chances to score on this day.

Seaview set the pace with two in the top of the first against Kevin Brown on RBI doubles by Babe Ruth and Harry Heilmann. It could have been more, but Lazzeri grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. Seaview tacked on runs in the fourth and fifth to lead 4-0.

Coveleski was nearly untouchable his first couple of times through the lineup. He gave up a leadoff single to Barry Larkin in the first, but immediately got Larry Walker to hit into a double play, and faced the minimum batters through four. In the fifth Fremont got its first chance, putting runners on second and third with one out thanks to a double by Matt Williams. But Sammy Sosa grounded back to Coveleski on the mound, and Craig Biggio struck out to snuff the threat. The Rockets finally touched the dish in the sixth. Larkin walked with one out and came around on singles by Walker and Jeff Bagwell.

Seaview answered. Brown had given way to a pinch hitter in the sixth, and Randy Myers opened the seventh on the hill for Fremont. He fanned Ruth to open the frame, but then walked Lou Gehrig. Heilmann doubled to left center, sending Gehrig to third, and Mickey Cochrane walked to load the bases. That was it for Myers, as manager Bobby Cox called on Rod Beck to face the righty swinging Lazzeri. But Lazzeri cracked one over Sosa's head in center for a double, and all three runners scored to make it 7-1.

Coveleski got into immediate trouble in the seventh, but then wiggled out of it. Matt Williams opened with a double, and went to third on a single by Sosa. But Biggio struck out looking, Fred McGriff, batting for Beck, flied out to left, and Larkin hit into a force to end the threat.

In the eighth, Huggins went to Waite Hoyt, who didn't have to wait long to get shelled. Walker led off with a single. Bonds struck out, but Bagwell singled and Mike Piazza cracked a three-run homer, and suddenly it was 7-4 and a ball game again. Williams grounded out, but then Sosa worked Hoyt for a walk, and Biggio was hit by a pitch, and that was it for Hoyt. Ed Rommel came in to face pinch hitter Bobby Bonilla, representing the tying run, and got him to pop out to second.

Rommell continued to the ninth. Walker and Bonds singled with one out to bring the tying run to the plate again, but Bagwell bounced into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

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