Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-06
BEATEN IN THE MUD.
PORTSMOUTH DOwNED THE BLUE
BIRDS EASILY.
BATTED BAILEY OUT OF THE BOX.
Barley Knin Was Put In to Pitch
When the Game Had Been Irre-
tricvably Lost, and the Kid Did
Fairly Well.

The best ball club on earth will fall
down TO weaker ones sometimes. and 1t
is no dscredit to the team
Richmond cannot boast OF the best team
on earth, but 1t can proudly say the Blue
birds are the best players in the Virginia
League.
There was a game at West-End Park
yesterday evening between Richmond and
Portsmouth-a game that everybody
thought would go to Richmond. but
combination Of things known TO the base
ball public as luck" went against the
Birds, and Portsmouth had a slice Of pie.
The pie was not digestible bit,
though. for the Browns had to do lot be-
fore they got 1t, and when they did all
the sweetness was gone.
About the time appointed for the game
to begin, Jupiter Pluvius commenced to
weep. and in few seconds the diamond
at West-End Park was turned into a
regular lake. Still, the rooters came and
sat quietly in their seats with great, big,
happy smiles on their faces.
After waiting awhile and spreading saw
dust on the diamond, the game started,
and with It Portsmouths luck.
BRANDT DID WELL.
Brandt, who is beyond the shadow OF
doubt one of the best pitchers in the
league. was In the box. and his long suit
is dark days on which to work. The day
was dark enough for anybody, almost too
dark. and the young fellow pitched bail
that Richmond couldn't get at.
Bailey was in for Richmond. and could
not control the ball. Lem. is a good
enough pitcher, and a worthy mate OF
Tannehill and Mullarkey. but that com
bination of luck was there. too. for he
could not deliver the ball without nearly
slipping down. He stood it for four In
nings, during which time the Browns
succeeded I'm getting seven nice, juicy
runs. Then Jake took Bailey out ana
sent little Barley Kain to the rubber. 1t
would have done the crankiest old croaker
in Richmond lots of good to have seen
the KID toss the sphere. He Is no
pitcher, OF course, but he did have the
luck to hold down Portsmouth to one run
for three innings.
The grounds were in terrible condi-
ton, and It is simply wonderful that the
game was not a miserable exhibition.
The men of both teams kept on their
feet well, but hits to the infield were
made safe that would never have dropped
had the players been able to move with
any degree of safety.
Pender at third base had his tumbles,
for it seemed to be the luck OF the
Browns to drive hot ones to him. and
Bob would dig for them, and even when
he got them he would not be steady
enough on his feet to throw accurately.
BobS two errors would not have been
made had tho grounds been in condition.
Charley Sholta had his off day, and al
though he made no errors. he did not go
for raps Like he generally does. Several
little old dinky hits dropped close to
Charlie and he let them go The slippery
grounds had something to do with his
work, but not all.
pop WAS OFF.
And Pop" Tate was off on balls and
strikes-seriously off. Now. It's all fool
ishness for a man who knows the game
as Ed. Tate does to make such little mis-
takes. He is a ball-player and knows
how a man feels when a ball Is called
strike, and for that reason should GER
tainly watch close.
Hargrove, as usual, put up brilliant
game, and showed that he was head and
shoulders over the other men on the
team. He got pair of doubles that were
valuable.
When the seventh inning ended dark
ness had settled over the grounds. but
the eighth was started. Foster struck
out because he could not see the ball,
and the game was called.
Here is the score-it tells all the de-
tails, except that a brick contractor
made n bid for the clay on the uniforms
after the game: