“I said foul and that settles it,” he declared, at the same time waving to Willis to come back to the plate.
It was a very disgruntled Willis that complied, and he took up his bat mumbling something about “blind” and “robber.”
“What’s that?” asked the umpire sharply.
“Nothing,” growled Willis, as he squared himself to meet the next ball. It was a bad one, and he let it go by. The next suited him, and he sent a sizzling grounder between second and third, on which he might have made a double, had he been quicker on his feet. But he was of the “ice wagon” type and had to be content with a single.
Still it was a hit, and it put all the Giants on their toes in an instant. Their coachers at first and third began a chattering designed to rattle the pitcher. McRae hustled Denton out of the dugout with directions to sacrifice. The latter did his best, but Albaugh pounced on the ball and shot it to second, putting Willis out. Douglas whipped the ball to first in an endeavor to complete a double play, but Denton beat the ball by a step.
With one man out and the tail end of the Giant batting order coming up the outlook was decidedly gloomy. Hope revived, however, when Allen laced a single to left. It was a clean hit, but Mitchell ran in on it and fielded so smartly that Denton was held at second.
With two men on bases, Joe came to the bat, while the great throng gave him an ovation.
“Win your own game, Matson,” was shouted at him from thousands of throats.