登陆注册
37365600000013

第13章 THE RUBE'S PENNANT(2)

Vane had an old head, and he had a varied assortment of balls.For Mac he used an under hand curve, rising at the plate and curving in to the left-hander.Mac stepped back and let it go.

``That's the place, Bo,'' cried the Buffalo infielders.``Keep 'em close on the Crab.'' Eager and fierce as McCall was, he let pitch after pitch go by till he had three balls and two strikes.Still the heady Vane sent up another pitch similar to the others.Mac stepped forward in the box, dropped his bat on the ball, and leaped down the line toward first base.Vane came rushing in for the bunt, got it and threw.But as the speeding ball neared the baseman, Mac stretched out into the air and shot for the bag.By a fraction of a second he beat the ball.It was one of his demon-slides.He knew that the chances favored his being crippled; we all knew that some day Mac would slide recklessly once too often.But that, too, is all in the game and in the spirit of a great player.

``We're on,'' said Spears; ``now keep with him.''

By that the captain meant that Mac would go down, and Ashwell would hit with the run.

When Vane pitched, little McCall was flitting toward second.The Bison shortstop started for the bag, and Ash hit square through his tracks.

A rolling cheer burst from the bleachers, and swelled till McCall overran third base and was thrown back by the coacher.Stringer hurried forward with his big bat.

``Oh! My!'' yelled a fan, and he voiced my sentiments exactly.Here we would score, and be one run closer to that dearly bought pennant.

How well my men worked together! As the pitcher let the ball go, Ash was digging for second and Mac was shooting plateward.They played on the chance of Stringer's hitting.

Stringer swung, the bat cracked, we heard a thud somewhere, and then Manning, half knocked over, was fumbling for the ball.He had knocked down a terrific drive with his mitt, and he got the ball in time to put Stringer out.But Mac scored and Ash drew a throw to third base and beat it.He had a bad ankle, but no one noticed it in that daring run.

``Watch me paste one!'' said Captain Spears, as he spat several yards.He batted out a fly so long and high and far that, slow as he was, he had nearly run to second base when Carl made the catch.Ash easily scored on the throw-in.Then Bogart sent one skipping over second, and Treadwell, scooping it on the run, completed a play that showed why he was considered the star of the Bison infield.

``Two runs, fellers!'' said Spears.``That's some! Push 'em over, Rube.''

The second inning somewhat quickened the pace.Even the Rube worked a little faster.Ellis lined to Cairns in right; Treadwell fouled two balls and had a called strike, and was out; McKnight hit a low fly over short, then Bud Wiler sent one between Spears and Mullaney.Spears went for it while the Rube with giant strides ran to cover first base.Between them they got Bud, but it was only because he was heavy and slow on his feet.

In our half of that inning Mullaney, Gregg and Cairns went out in one, two, three order.

With Pannell up, I saw that the Rube held in on his speed, or else he was tiring.Pannell hit the second slow ball for two bases.Vane sacrificed, and then the redoubtable Schultz came up.

He appeared to be in no hurry to bat.Then Isaw that the foxy Buffalo players were working to tire the Rube.They had the situation figured.

But they were no wiser than old Spears.

``Make 'em hit, Rube.Push 'em straight over.

Never mind the corners.We don't care for a few runs.We'll hit this game out.''

Shultz flied to Mac, who made a beautiful throw to the plate too late to catch Pannell.Carl deliberately bunted to the right of the Rube and it cost the big pitcher strenuous effort to catch his man.

``We got the Rube waggin'!'' yelled a Buffalo player.

Manning tripled down the left foul line--a hit the bleachers called a screamer.When Ellis came up, it looked like a tie score, and when the Rube pitched it was plain that he was tired.The Bisons yelled their assurance of this and the audience settled into quiet.Ellis batted a scorcher that looked good for a hit.But the fast Ashwell was moving with the ball, and he plunged lengthwise to get it square in his glove.The hit had been so sharp that he had time to get up and make the throw to beat the runner.The bleachers thundered at the play.

``You're up, Rube,'' called Spears.``Lam one out of the lot!''

The Rube was an uncertain batter.There was never any telling what he might do, for he had spells of good and bad hitting.But when he did get his bat on the ball it meant a chase for some fielder.He went up swinging his huge club, and he hit a fly that would have been an easy home run for a fast man.But the best Rube could do was to reach third base.This was certainly good enough, as the bleachers loudly proclaimed, and another tally for us seemed sure.

McCall bunted toward third, another of his teasers.The Rube would surely have scored had he started with the ball, but he did not try and missed a chance.Wiler, of course, held the ball, and Mac got to first without special effort.He went down on the first pitch.Then Ash lined to Carl.The Rube waited till the ball was caught and started for home.The crowd screamed, the Rube ran for all he was worth and Carl's throw to the plate shot in low and true.Ellis blocked the Rube and tagged him out.

It looked to the bleachers as if Ellis had been unnecessarily rough, and they hissed and stormed disapproval.As for me, I knew the Bisons were losing no chance to wear out my pitcher.Stringer fouled out with Mac on third, and it made him so angry that he threw his bat toward the bench, ****** some of the boys skip lively.

The next three innings, as far as scoring was concerned, were all for Buffalo.But the Worcester infield played magnificent ball, holding their opponents to one run each inning.

That made the score 4 to 2 in favor of Buffalo.

In the last half of the sixth, with Ash on first base and two men out, old Spears hit another of his lofty flies, and this one went over the fence and tied the score.How the bleachers roared!

同类推荐
  • 权书

    权书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 太上正一阅箓仪

    太上正一阅箓仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 脾胃论

    脾胃论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 送十五舅

    送十五舅

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 黄帝阴符经注

    黄帝阴符经注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 王爷娇妻别想逃

    王爷娇妻别想逃

    二十一世纪的杀手之王,傲风国慕容家的草包四小姐,看起来一点关联也没有,但却紧密的连在了一起。她是她,却又不是她。一场扑朔迷离的身世迷题正在悄然上演。胆小懦弱?抱歉,我的字典里从来都没有这词。天生痴傻?没事,有我这智商200的人来说那是小意思。天赋为零?你确定你没看错。相貌丑陋?这还能说什么,看我怎么揭开隐藏的面纱。在我旁边的人能不能正常点啊。无良奸商脸皮厚,冰山美男毒舌嘴,花心风流没常识……
  • 命运之反抗时狱

    命运之反抗时狱

    连接根源与抑制力的同路,那便是欲望!所谓圣杯,都是因为欲望而诞生的希望!诞生为希望,诞生本质却是绝对的期望!这也是破开自身希望与再次复生的绝望!异世界百年一届的世纪之战将立即开始!处于那破界与再生的尽头,便是那时狱!反抗吧挣扎吧,再去赞扬他们的希望吧!给于命运可笑的闹剧,犹如舞台上小丑!本文是《Fate/rise`up!》的同人
  • 荆棘救赎

    荆棘救赎

    小时的青梅竹马,长大后的若即若离。他执拗地以为陪伴是最长情的告白,直到有一天分别多年的她在别人怀里巧笑焉兮。家庭的责任,隐藏的阴谋,令人不解的离弃。。。。。。。。。。在我们看不见的地方暗流涌动着,谁是谁的救赎?
  • 大牌宠妻是辣妹

    大牌宠妻是辣妹

    一夜沉沦,拥有特殊身份的小太妹踏入万劫不复的豪门陷阱。她绝望离开时,他却捧着玫瑰出现在她面前,等待着她像从前一样成为他的女人。却没想到,她怀里的天才宝宝做了个鬼脸,笑嘻嘻的说:“爹地,不好意思啦!”顺便指了指正排着队报名追求他妈咪的帅叔叔们!
  • 重生玉石空间

    重生玉石空间

    重生为唐家五岁小妹,醒来一看不但衣衫褴褛饥肠辘辘,还被告知正处于瘟疫泛滥中心。哥哥姐姐瘦弱无力,娘亲更是一走三咳,一向自诩有点脑力的唐芷也傻眼了!好在发现随身空间,不但有神奇灵泉,更有取不完的宝石!什么?爹爹不但没死,还当了大官娶了新老婆?什么?让她娘委身做妾?唐芷包子小脸气得涨红,还真当他们是那小沟里的小鱼任意拿捏么?财力、势力,她也有,看看谁怕谁!挣大钱,养家人,没有什么比家人更重要了!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 异界九品莲花

    异界九品莲花

    老神仙飙车将冯楚夜撞死,被迫穿越。虚幻之种,九品莲花,但是,给的奖励敢不敢靠谱点啊。大筒木……血液?犹大……魔改?心好累啊。
  • 纵横揽遍夕阳处

    纵横揽遍夕阳处

    由阑波与吕安然展开叙述的章回体小说。内容人物波澜对折。
  • 无限苦修

    无限苦修

    我穿梭于各个世界之间。在古战场中肆意驰骋,在武侠世界中快意恩仇……我见识过机械文明,金属生命!也见识过元素精髓,真知奥术!更见识过妖魔鬼怪,神灵仙佛!…………以前我听人说,如果刀快的话,血从伤口喷出来的时候像风声一样,很好听。想不到第一次听到的,是自己流的血。——————新人新书,求点击求收藏求推荐求关注,谢谢!
  • 你可以成为任何一类人

    你可以成为任何一类人

    其实,命运一直藏匿在每个人的思想里。许多人之所以无法走出人生各个不同阶段或大或小的阴影,并不是由于他们天生的条件比别人差的多,而是因为他们没有思想将这个阴影纸龙咬破,更是没有耐心慢慢地找准一个方向,一步步地向前,直到眼前出现新的洞天。
  • 血蔷薇的复仇之路

    血蔷薇的复仇之路

    她,冷漠无情但对家人十分关照,她时而火爆时而冰冷但对家人十分温柔,她可爱无比却有时让人难以想象的残忍;他,一座冰山遇见了她开始慢慢融化,他,花心萝卜,遇见了她开始变得专一,他,温柔如风遇见了她变得腹黑,她们因为复仇回到中国,他们遇见她们一见倾心,她们对他们的追求视而不见,他们将以什么方式让她们逐渐接受他们,请阅读《血蔷薇的复仇之路》