The San Francisco call., 1897-10-25
WON BY A
NARROW MARGIN
Reliance Gains a Victory
Over Stockton in a Close
Contest.
The Game Full of Brilliant
Plays and Numerous
Surprises.
Santa Cruz Defeats the California
Markets. MoGrath's Great Catch.
Other Games.

Although the Stocktons were defeated
yesterday they have the consolation of
knowing that their opponents had no
easy time in landing the victory.
Reliance, instaad of being on top, very
narrowly escaped being shut out. Up to
the last inning it was any body's game, so
evenly diu the teams play.
The 5000 spectators that attended the
game were treated to q great exhibition.
The error column shows that both teams
were guilty of many errors but they sink
into insigniticance when it is taken in 10
consideration that they played with a ball
that travelled with the speed of cannon
ball when struck by the bat in the hands
of a sturdy player. Tais occurred often,
but the really fine fielding OF both teams
prevented further increase in tha. col
umn.
Little "Cootsy" Billings was the first
man to reach first for Stockton, and this
was due to Josh" Riley's high throw to
MaguIre, and on which the dIminutive
shortstop reached third. Selma made his
bow, and, after biding his time, was pre-
sented with base on balls. Stanley hav-
ing observed that Billings attention was
taken up with pretty maiden in the
grand stand and was playing off third, shot
the ball over to that corner, and he was
put out, much to his discom Torture
Reliance gave an linking of the game
they intended to play when they took
their chance in the initial inning. Van
Haltren. he of Eastern fame and the idol
OF the old timers, loomed up at the plate
his graceful form being set off by the neat
uniform of the New Yorks.
He was given an ovation as he stood at
the plate and responded by sending a
swift grounder between the first aud sec
ond bags The Giants representative
gave sample of his Eastern training by
his quick getaway and the great speed in
which he went TO the initial bag. He
reached there before the ball and took
second on a wild pitch. Riley singled
over short and Van went 10 thirI. Riley
stole second, and both men scored on
Lange's two bagger 10 deep center. He
went TO third on passed ball and scored
soon after on SANKEY'S sacrifice. The
inning ended by Smith ma king brilliant
running catch of Stuz' fly, which par
italy redeemed his many errors.
Stockton rolled up three tallIes in sue
ceedIng innings, and the score stood to
3 up to the sixth, when Reliance added
two more runs.
From the latter inning TO the last
neither team scored.
Harper displayed his usual GOODNESS
and speed, and there Is not a doubt that
he has not an equal in the State.
Van Haltren's work in the box was
fairly good for player who has not occu-
pied that position for the length of time
he has. his curves proved puzzling, and
he fielded his position we'll.
Stanley backed him up in good style,
and has fine throwing prevented many
base ,eais.
Borland and Selma both dstin guished
themselves by running catches. The
formers work in left fell was brilliant.
In one inning he made thirtv-yard
sprint and got under an impossible 1y
that spoiled Stockton's chances of tieiug
the score. Again in the eighth he retired
the side by getting under three i'm
possible fys. Selna's work at first was
also of nigh order.
The annexed score tells the story of
lively game: