[CHAPTER XXI]
EVENING UP THE SCORE
When the gong rang, the Giants started out as though they were going to sew up the game then and there.
Burkett set the ball rolling with a wicked drive through the box that got past Roth before he could gauge it. Larry followed suit with a smoking hit to left. A prettily placed sacrifice bunt by Denton advanced both men a base. Roth struck out Willis on three pitched balls, but Becker came to the rescue with a line drive over second that scored Burkett easily, though Larry was put out as he made a great slide for the rubber.
The net result was only one run, but the most encouraging feature of the inning was the exhibition of free hitting.
“Three clean hits in one time at bat is going some,” Robson exulted.
“The boys seem to have their batting clothes on for fair,” responded McRae, vastly pleased.
“I doubt if that bird will come again for more,” judged “Robbie.” “They’ll probably take him out and put Fraser in.”
Joe was in fine fettle, and he showed his appreciation of the lead his mates had given him by retiring the Red Sox without a man seeing first base.
Contrary to Robson’s prediction, the Boston manager elected still to pin his faith to Roth, who tightened up after his bad start and for the next three innings held the Giants scoreless.
He was helped in this by the superb support given him. Both the outfield and infield were on their toes all the time, and drives that ordinarily would have gone for hits were turned into outs in dazzling fashion.