Just as the manager had anticipated, the ball fell short, and the pitcher who had run down to cover second had to run out of the diamond to get it. It was an error in judgment, and helped Joe to make his sensational run.
He was well on his way home now, but the pitcher had the ball and was throwing it to the catcher.
“Slide, Joe! Slide!” yelled Darrell above the wild tumult of the other players and the spectators.
Joe kept on until he knew a slide would be effective and then, dropping like a shot, he fairly tore through the dust, feet first, toward home plate. His shoes covered it as the ball came with a thud into the outstretched hands of the catcher.
“Safe!” yelled the umpire, and there was no questioning his decision.
“Good play!” yelled the crowd.
“That’s the stuff, old man!” exclaimed Darrell, rushing up and clapping Joe on the back.
“A few more like that and the game will either go ten innings or we’ll have it in the ice-box for ourselves,” commented Captain Rankin gleefully.
But the hopes of the Silver Stars were doomed to disappointment. Try as the succeeding men did to connect with the ball, the best that could be knocked out was a single, and that was not effective, for the man who did it was caught attempting to steal second and two others were struck out.
That ended the game, Joe’s solitary run being the only one tallied up, and the final score was three to six in favor of the Red Stockings.