"Thank fortune, they can't get any more runs!" he said to his brother.
The batting order was the same as when they had played the Excelsiors and Fred was the first player up in the ninth inning.
"Now, Fred, do something!" pleaded Joe. "Don't let them down us too easily."
The first ball pitched was a good one and Fred drove it down to center. He flew rather than ran to first.
"Good!" cried Joe, and ran down to coach him. "Now, make second if you can!"
Matt next came to the bat, and knocked a safe hit to rightfield. Up came the ball to second, but it was too high and passed over the base player's head. The pitcher of the Brooksides caught it, but by that time Fred was safe on second and Matt safe on first.
"That's the way to do it!" sang out Joe. "Keep the ball rolling, boys! We've got 'em on the run!"
Frank was next to the bat, and with two strikes on him knocked a short ball into centerfield. The second baseman went after it and likewise the fielder and as a consequence both bumped together and neither got the ball. Seeing this, Fred, who had already reached third, tore up to home, while Matt leaped and slid down to second. Frank, of course, got to first with ease.
"Hurrah! one run in and two men on base!"
"And nobody out!"