He went down to first, apparently badly hurt. But Chip caught a quick grin from him, and realized angrily that the umpire had been “worked” very neatly. He fanned Merrell, then Runge, but Craven romped down to second without hindrance, exchanging compliments with the enraged Villum, as he did so.
Ironton again was at bat. Chip sent the ball sizzling over for two strikes, but Ironton had solved the double shoot. He connected with the next ball and dropped it over second for a neat single—the first hit of the game. Craven went to third, with the crowd frantic, and Murray was up.
Chip switched hands in desperation, and Murray fanned twice. Then Ironton tried for second, and Billy Mac made a wretched throw that Villum barely hung on to, a yard from the sack. When Frank put the ball down again, Murray cracked a liner at Lowe—and Lowe fumbled it, booting it across the infield to Harker.
The crowd came to its feet, as Craven raced over the rubber. Harker lost his head and made a throw ten feet wide of the plate. Billy went after it, but Ironton came in like a whirlwind. Frank ran in and put the ball on him as he slid, but the umpire called him safe, and the Clippers had secured two runs, with Murray on third and Green up.
“For Heaven’s sake use the jump!” implored Billy desperately, conferring with Chip. But Merry, grim-lipped, refused.
“I’ve got to hold it, Billy. This game is only three innings old.”
He walked back, determined to retrieve the errors that had overwhelmed his team. Green faced him with a wide grin, the Clipper fans howling for a hit to bring in Murray. And Green was confident of getting it. Murray’s lone hit had started things.
Frank did the very last thing Green expected. With a lengthy preliminary, he sent in a fast straight ball over the heart of the plate. Green had watched his fingers, and expected a drop, striking a foot beneath the ball.
“That got him!” yelled Clancy.
“Another of the same,” cried Billy.