Dud turned desperately to his task again. He tried to remember what the fellow facing him now had done before. Struck out, hadn’t he? Or was he the chap who had smashed out that double? Well, it was up to Brooks, and Brooks wanted a drop. Dud tried to catch the runner at first and failed twice and then pitched to the plate. The drop was good and the batsman swung at it.
“That’s the stuff!” called Brooks cheerfully. “He can’t hit ’em, Dud! Right across now. Show him a good one.”
A wide and low one followed and then another. Two-and-one now, and Brooks showing three fingers for another drop. Dud tried it and failed and the umpire announced “Ball three!” Corliss shouted and stamped and clapped. Dud had none to waste and he took all the time he wanted for the next. But it slanted away erratically and the batsman tossed his bat behind him and sprang gleefully toward first, while the runner at that station went on to second. Murtha came to the box.
“Look here, Baker, what’s the matter with you? Are you trying to present them with the game? For the love of Mike, put some of them over! Let them hit ’em, I tell you. We’ll take care of them!”
“Maybe,” muttered Dud, “you’d better let me out, Murtha.”
“Let you out? Is that what you’re up to? Well, listen, Baker; you’re going to stay in here until you get the third man if it takes all the afternoon! So you might as well get busy. You can throw the game away if you want to, but you’re going to stay right here, son! Understand that?”
Dud viewed him, astonished. Then he nodded. “All right,” he said finally. “I’ll do my best.”
“That’s the talk,” responded the captain kindly. “Get a grip on yourself, Baker. You’re just as good as you were an hour ago, man! All you’ve got to do is to think so! Now settle down and make ’em eat out of your hand!”
Dud gave up trying to understand things after that. They meant to keep him at it until he had retired the side. That was the principal thing to think of. He wasn’t to look for relief but must earn his own salvation. Well, in that case he knew where he stood, and that was something of a comfort. At least, he wouldn’t have to look over toward the bench every few minutes. Either they thought he could hold what he had or they were just keeping him in to punish him. Either way, it didn’t much matter, he decided. All he had to do now was to retire two more batsmen in some way or other. That realization seemed to simplify matters remarkably!
Dud turned and studied the bases. A runner on second and a runner on first. And one out. Why, that wasn’t so bad! A double play would end the trouble, or a hit anywhere in the infield would probably account for one. He mustn’t let the batsman bunt toward third, though, for that would draw Winslow off his bag. Better give him low ones and try the inner corner. If only he could get his slow ball working again he might squeeze out of the hole he was in.