The Bostons were promptly disposed of, and the Giants came to the bat. Renton went out on a long fly to center and Burkett sent up a fly that the catcher grabbed.
With two men out, it looked like a case of extra innings when Joe came to the bat.
Morton, with the memory of those two homers still rankling in his mind, promptly passed him to first amid the jeers of the fans who had been hoping for another circuit clout.
Joe took as long a lead as possible. Ralston lined out a single to left.
At the crack of the bat Joe was off for second. Most players would have been satisfied to make the bag, especially on a single to left, where the throw to third was short and easy.
But Joe rounded second and set out for third. Benton, the Boston third baseman, knowing Joe’s daring on the bases had half expected this. He crouched to take the throw from left, ready to jam the ball down on Joe as he slid in to the bag.
But Joe double-crossed him by failing to slide. He saw from Renton’s attitude what he expected to do. So, instead of sliding, he flew by, standing up, just touching the tip of the bag, and started for home.
Plunk! came the ball into Renton’s hands. As he had to face toward left, he could not see what Joe was doing and had no time to look. He had to depend on the sense of touch.
Down went the ball on where Joe’s body ought to have been. But it was not there. Joe was halfway down the stretch toward home, going like the wind.