The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-26
COupledWith Bad Temper
Caused Trouble.
STARS FORFEITED GAME.
capt. Smith Would Not Allow Them
TO FInish Contest.
wRANGLH AT ADELAIDE PARK.

An erroneous decision by the umpire
and the subbornness and bad temper of
Capt Smith of the Syracuse Stars led
TO the forfeiting of the game to the
Grays at Adelaide Park yesterday af-
ternoon. There was a good attendance.
and the players started in with vim
and dash each side seeming determined
10 win. Egan was on the slab for the
Grays. and pitched In a way that must
have been disheartening TO the visitors.
On the other hand. Villiman, who
served the sphereA for the visitors, was
being touched up well by the Grays in
fashion that .presaged some lively
leather hunting for the Stars in the
later stages Of the game. In the third
inning the home team scored two runs.
In that inning, with Walters and Cas-
sidy on third. and second bases by their
respective, hot single and screaming
two-bagger and with two men out.
Murray had lined"o out a hit which sent
Doth runners oyer the plate together
IL was In the last half of the fourth
inning, With the score to in favor OF
the home team. that the trouble. which
eliminated in the forfeiture OF the
game, began. The Stars were at bat
and had the bases filled and one man
out. The men on bases were Lush on
third, O'Brien on second and Lezotte on
first. Smith was next man up. and he
raped a grounder between first and
second bases. Stouch was prepared to
scoop the ball when Lezotte ran into
IL and was hit by the batted ball. The
ball glanced aside and Stouch pursued
1t. Like fash he whisked the ball
back to Canavan at first base, just be-
fore Smith arrived there. At that in
slant Canavan saw two runners, Lush
aad O'Brien. going for the plate. He
threw the ball home Crisham got IL
Inc Tins n f6x MI fe Ils,f
he turned and put the ball on O'Brien
as the latter made a slide for the home
base. The Providence fielders ran in
from the field TO the bench.
1t was at this point the umpire made
his mistake, for he decided that as
there had been one man out before the
play, Lezotte, who was hit by the
batted ball. was out, and Smith was
put out by the ball being fieided to first
base before he reached II. Manifestly
the umpire had become confused by the
lightning-like rapidity of the play and
forgot the rule which applies to such
cases. Rule so. section 49, is very clear
and distinct. II provides that IF a
fair hit ball strikes him Ia base runner
before touching the fielder, and, in such
case. no base shall be run unless forced
by the batsman becoming a base run
ner. and no run shall be scored or any |
other base runner put out" Further |
than this, section of the scoring rules |
provides that sin all cases where a base |
runner Is retired by being hit by a |
batted ball. the batsman should be |
credited with base hit"
The proper decision would have been |
to declare out the base runner who was |
hit by the batted ball, to send the |
others back to the bases they held when |
the hit was made and to allow the man |
making the hit to hold first base. This |
would have left the Stars with the
bases filled and two men out. The UNI |
pfre, however. held to his first deci-
sfon, influenced, no doubt, I'm some de-
gree by the overbearing and browbeat-
ing attitude OF Capt. Smith, who re-
fused to play out the game under pro-
test or I'm any other way. Manager
Murray of the Grays did his best to
have the contest continued. but his ef-
forts were futile.
Finally Capt. Smith was ordered from
the game. and the Stars took the field |
with Becker on second in place of
Smith. Manager Kuntsch of the Stars
ordered his team to play out the game
under protest, but again Capt Smith
nterfered, declaring there should be no
more playing by the Stars. and. telling
Pitcher Villiman to leave the box,
Smith was ordered from the field by the
umpire, but refused to obey. The mud
lie had resolved itself into refusal on
he part OF the Stars to play. and the
umpire gave the visitors one minute in
which TO take their places and resume
he contest During those so seconds
smith and the manager debated. but at
heir expiration the umpire declared the
same forfeited and awarded IL to Provi-
lence by a score of to O.
AS the disappointed spectators left
he grounds they were given rain
hecks.-which will admit them free to
my game to be played on the home I
rounds during the remainder OF the
eason. aw ~
EASTERN LEAGUE STANDING.