Burkett came up amid frantic adjurations from his mates and the crowd to send his comrades in. He worked the count to two and three and then sent a sharp grasser to Gallagher at short. The latter made a superb stop and threw the ball to third, putting out Curry. Henderson returned the ball to Holstein at second, who muffed it, permitting Renton to get back to the bag.
The ball had rolled several feet away and Renton thought he saw a chance to make third. Holstein, however, retrieved the ball quickly and got it to third in plenty of time. Renton, seeing that he was lost if he went on, doubled on his tracks. But the ball shot back to second and he was trapped. He ran back and forth until the ball was put on him for an out. But in the mix-up, Burkett, by fast running, reached second.
With two out, Joe, who occupied the position of “clean-up” man in the batting order, came to the plate.
A cheer went up from the crowd and the air was vocal with urgent entreaties for Joe to win his own game.
Axander looked him over carefully.
“You seem to be rather popular with this crowd,” he said, with a grin.
“I’ll be more so when I straighten out that curve of yours,” laughed Joe, in response.
“Come out of your trance,” retorted Axander, as he whizzed the first one over.
There was a terrific crash as Joe caught the ball fair on the nose and sent it screaming between right and center.