CHAPTER XIII
A BREAK IN THE LUCK
It was a highly elated crowd of Giants that chattered away excitedly inthe clubhouse after the finish of the game. Jim and Joe came in for themajor share of the honors, the first because of his superb pitching andthe latter for the glorious home run that had clinched the victory.
"Some pitching, Barclay," said Hughson, clapping Jim on the shoulder."Do you realize that only thirty-two batters faced you and that elevenof them went out on strikes? That's what I call twirling."
"It'll take some of the chestiness out of these Pirates," laughedLarry. "They thought we were going to be as easy meat for them as therest of the teams. And, begorra, it looked as though we would from theway the game started."
"You did your share all right, Larry," replied Jim. "That home run ofyours was a beauty. And that two-bagger was no slouch."
"But that clout of Joe's was the real cheese," said Denton generously."Gee, Joe, I was a little sore when McRae put you in to take my turnat bat. But when I saw that old apple clear the fence I knew that theold man had the right dope. I haven't made a hit like that since I'vebeen in the game."
"Who has?" queried Curry. "I'll bet it comes pretty close to being arecord. If that house hadn't been in the way the ball would be goingyet."
"Don't forget, Joe, that you'll have to pay for that broken window,"laughed Wheeler.
"I guess McRae would pay for a hundred broken windows and never say aword," chuckled Iredell.
He would have been still more sure of this had he been able to seeMcRae's face at that moment and overheard what he was saying to Robson.
"You've had a real bit of luck to-day, John," the latter had remarked,his broad face radiant with satisfaction. "You've discovered that youhave another first string pitcher. That work of young Barclay wassimply marvelous."
"You said it, Robbie," agreed McRae. "It was a rough deal to give ayoung pitcher the job of beating the Pittsburghs after they had a fourrun lead. But he stood the gaff and came through all right. From thistime on he'll take his regular turn in the box. But it isn't that thatpleases me most in this day's work."
"What is it then?" asked Robbie.
"It's the batting of Matson," replied McRae thoughtfully. "I've been inthe game thirty years, and I've seen all the fence-breakers--Wagner,Delehanty, Brouthers, Lajoie, and all the rest of them. And I tell younow, Robbie, that he's the king of all of them. The way he stands atthe plate, the way he holds his bat, the way he times his blow, theway he meets the ball--those are the things that mark out the naturalbatter. It's got to be born in a man. You can't teach it to him. Allthe weight of those great shoulders go into his stroke, and he makes ahomer where another man would make a single or a double. Now mark whatI'm telling you, Robbie, but keep it under your hat, for I don't wantthe kid to be getting a swelled head. In Baseball Joe Matson we've gotnot only the greatest pitcher in the game, but the hardest hitter ineither league. And that goes."
"Oh, come now, John," protested Robbie, "aren't you going a little toostrong? The greatest pitcher, yes. I admit that. There's no one insight now that can touch him, now that Hughson's laid up. And betweenyou and me, John, I don't believe that even Hughson in his best dayshad anything on Matson. But when you speak of batting, how about KidRose of the Yankees?"
"He's all to the good," admitted McRae. "He's got a wonderful record;the best record in fact of any man that has ever broken into thegame. He topped the record for home runs last season, and by the wayhe's starting in this year he'll do it again. Up to now we haven'thad anyone in the National League that could approach him. But I'mwilling to bet right now that he never made so long a hit as Matsonmade this afternoon. Of course Rose has had more experience in battingthan Matson, and for the last two or three years he's hardly done anypitching. But if I should take Matson out of the box right now and playhim in the outfield every day, I'll bet that by the end of the seasonhe'd be running neck and neck with Kid Rose and perhaps a wee bit aheadof him."
"Well, maybe, John," agreed Robbie, though a little doubtfully. "Butwhat's the use of talking about it? You know that we can't spare himfrom the box. He's our pitching ace."
"I know that well enough," replied McRae. "But all the same I'm goingto see that he has many a chance to win games for us by his batting aswell as by his pitching. On the days he isn't pitching, I'll use him asa pinch hitter, as I did to-day. Then, too, when he is pitching, I'mgoing to make a change in the batting order. Instead of having him downat the end I'm going to put him fourth--in the cleanup position. Ifthat old wallop of his doesn't bring in many a run I'll miss my guess."
The very next day McRae had a chance to justify his theories. Hughsonhad told the manager that he thought he was in shape to pitch, andMcRae, who had great faith in his judgment, told him to go in. The "OldMaster," as he was affectionately called, used his head rather than hisarm and by mixing up his slow ball with his fast one and resorting onoccasion to his famous fadeaway, got by in a close game. In the sixth,Joe was called on as a pinch hitter, and came across with anotherhomer, which, although not as long as that of the previous day, enabledhim to reach the plate without sliding and bring in two runs ahead ofhim.
Two homers in two consecutive days were not common enough to passwithout notice, and the Pittsburgh sporting writers began to featureJoe in their headlines. There was a marked increase in the attendanceon the third day when Joe was slated to pitch. On that day he "mademonkeys" of the Pittsburgh batters, and on the two turns at bat whenhe was permitted to hit made a single and a three-bagger. In two otherappearances at bat, the Pittsburgh pitcher deliberately passed him, atwhich even the Pittsburgh crowd expressed their displeasure by jeers.
On the final day, Markwith was given a chance to redeem himself, andpitched an airtight game. But Hooper of the Pittsburghs was also at hisbest, and with the game tied in the ninth Joe again cracked out a homerto the right field bleachers, his third home run in four days!
Markwith prevented further scoring by the enemy, and the game went intothe Giants' winning column.
"Four straight from the league leaders," McRae chuckled happily. "Thebreak in the luck has come at last."
Baseball Joe, Home Run King; or, The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record Page 14
