The San Francisco call., 1898-09-10
II WAS \ RED
 HOT FINISH. Sand Crabs Just Van- quish the Frisco Boys. TWO GRAND-STAND RALLIES VICTORY WAS sNATCHED FROM Y. THE JAWS OF DEFEAT. A Wildly Enthusiastic Crowd Revels in One of the Most Exciting , Games of the
 Season.
By doe Corbett.

Never was the uncertainty of baseball demonstrated in such a manner as yes terday at Recreation Park, and never did a collection of fanatics, proportionately speaking, make such racket as those who were fortunate enough to be present at yesterdays game between the Sand Crabs and San Franciscos, in which the latter club met defeat at time when victory was all but assured.
 Very often it so happens that team at the last moment, when victory seems be- yond reach, will, by opportune hitting, intermingled with an occasional error and a good share of luck, snatch victory from the very jaws of defeat, but very rarely does 1t so happen that two such instances become q reality within the space of two innings.
 This, however, is what occurred yester- day afternoon, and before great crowd of enthusiasts. or rather native sons, who had wended their way in the direction of the Eighth and Harrison street grounds, it being d day of recreation, etc, with them, and necessarily day which brings forth those Secreted noisy efforts.
 In, the eighth inning came the first as- surance that game is never over until the last man is out. and with this assur- anCe came that outburSt of effort which would nave done honor to departing transport
 The Friscos made a rally. This state ment, 1 realize, is d tritie broad. but 1t is a fact, and the result of this effort netted three runs, and as every one thought, the game. But. as l previously mentioned, the uncertainty of baseball was here dem Onstrated. not in tle fact that the Friscos made three runs In one inning, but in the surprising rally made by their opponents, the Sand Crabs in the following inning which resulted in the same number of runs and the contest beyond doubt, for l must here mention that the Sand Crabs made their runs in the ninth inning and the FrlscOS in the eighth
 Description would be beggared were l to attempt reproduction on paper of the excitement of that bowling mob as 1t appeared during these two stages of uncertainty. Suffice 1t to say the fans threw their hats in the air hugged each other. and then filed through the gates. wondering how it was that the fates were so cruel to the Frscos and incident ally lauding the performance of Mir Balsz, the only emergency hitter in the Sand Crabs lineup.
 Balsz sprang into prominence during the contest in just about half a second and, that success, in baseball. depends largely upon opportunity. This fact, however, makes but little difference. BalsZ was sent to bat in the ninth inning with a man on second and one on third base. two men out and two runs needed to win the game the score standing to in favor of the Friscos. II was ticklish situation, and I for one did not think 1t possible for him to score these runs It took him just Il half second to convince me otherwise. for he sent the first ball
 
 game was over, for the Friscos. in their half, failed to make even the semblance of a run.
 Balsz was. therefore, the hero of this grand game yet close upon his heels comes Smith of the Friscos.
 This chap played q grand game at short stop. accepting many difficult chances and making the hit in the eighth inning which put his cohorts ahead for a period.
 Without argument Smith was easily the star of the game and Balsz the hero, be- cause his side was victorious
 Next to these two both teams were equal. they playing the same kind of a game and displaying great ability. es- pecially in the field. Krug and Dauben- bis pitched well. both experiencing fatal inning. the. latter, however having a shade the better of things all the way through. Not a run was made off him until the rally in the eighth came to pass. and as Bals7 took his place in the final inning I cannot state how he would have fared had he been permitted to continue. The game. all through. was beautifully played in every department. the uncer- tain ending giving 1t the name of the best contest seen this season. The score fol- lows: