The next was a sharp drop that Joe swung at and missed. Two balls followed in succession.
Then Joe suddenly swung himself around so that he was in the position of a left-handed batter.
A shout of astonishment rose not only from the crowd but from the Giants’ bench, for Joe had never batted left-handed in his life.
Rance was so astonished that he stood with his mouth gaping wide open.
“What’s the matter?” grinned Joe. “Paralyzed? Oh, well, if you’re going to feel that way about it I’ll bat the other way,” and instantly he swung around again to his normal position.
The whole thing had taken place with kaleidoscopic suddenness and Rance was clearly rattled. He felt foolish, and his annoyance deprived him of his usual control.
So when the next ball came over it was minus the usual “stuff” and Joe timed it perfectly, “leaned” against it with his mighty shoulders, and the ball started out like a bullet between right and center, rising as it went.
Maley and Hines cast one startled look at it and then turned and ran in the direction of the ball.
[Joe had started at the crack of the bat and was down to first like a flash.] As he rounded the bag he saw that the ball would clear the heads of the fielders. But he also saw that in all probability it would strike the low fence that separated the field from the bleachers and bound back, thus lessening the distance the fielders would have to run for it.
Out of the corner of his eye, as he turned second, he saw Maley setting himself to get the ball as it rebounded. He knew the power of Maley’s arm, who was famous for his long throws to the plate. Could he beat the ball on the throw in?