“It’s a big risk before this crowd for his first time out,” said McRae, dubiously. “But we’ll have to chance it.”
He hurried over to Joe.
“Get out and warm up, Matson,” he said, briefly. “I may have to put you in for the ninth.”
Joe’s head whirled. To follow the great Hughson! And before this record-breaking crowd!
Then he took a grip on himself.
“All right,” he answered, and taking Weldon, one of the Giant reserve catchers, he went off toward the further end of the stand and began warming up.
But the inning was very short, as the Boston pitcher was on his mettle and retired the side in one-two-three order. Long before Joe had really warmed up, the New Yorks took the field.
Hughson went out gamely to the box, trying to hide his limp as much as possible. But the Boston players recognized that this was their chance. One run would tie and two would win. It was now or never, and their heavy batters were coming up.
Hughson, with all his pluck, could not perform miracles. He tried to put all his skill and cunning into his pitching, but his wounded knee refused to back him up. There were men on first and second, with none out, when he signaled to McRae.
“It’s no use, Mac,” he said, as the latter came over to him. “I can’t bear my weight on my foot so as to get any power behind the ball. We’ve still got a chance if you put in Matson.”