New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-21
GIANTS NIP THE VICTORY.
Torrid Finish of Close Game
Makes Huge Crowd Joyous.
DRUCKE HERO OF CONTEST
Holds Pirates in Chains While
His Mates Solve Leif1eld's
Puzzles Just in Time. :

e the Giants scuttle the Pirates craft for the
second time in thrilling encounter on the
hilltop yesterday afternoon. When Otis
Crandall's hefty willow scored the winning
run in the last half Of the ninth, making
the result 2 TO l, some twenty thousand
spectators raised shout that echoed from
he Heights TO Harlem
For the first time since they were con-
structed the bleachers in centre field were
filled. while the throng formed a circle
around the outfield. For three-quarters OF
an hour before the game started Broad
WAY at lesth street was closed TO trafhc by
the long lines of fans waiting TO buy
tickets. They got their moneys worth, for
more sensational baseball was crowded into
the short space Of nine innings than had
been seen here this year.
Brilliant fielding and spectacular pitching
resulted in a breathess tie for five innings,
with no scoring. The Pirates tailed run
in the sixth. but Giants did likewise in
the seventh and won out in the ninth WIN
a spirited rally, engineered by the king Of
all rally directors. John J. McGraw. who
returned 10 the game after a three days
suspension
To Louis Drucke belongs the lions share
with men on the bags was nothing short
Of marvellous. when the batting calibre OF
the Pirates is considered Five hits punched
in the first two innings failed 20 get the
Pittsburgs anywhere. and the only run they
did score was in frame where they failed
10 hit safely. Drucke had mastery control
of the sphere. giving only one pass, al
though he hit a batsman. AS the game
waxed he grew stronger and stronger, and
the five HIS he allowed in the last seven
innings were so well scattered that they
came 10 nothing.
Lefty" Leifeld. one of Pittsburg's old
stars. opposed Drucke. and he got a good
start on the trail Of a no-hit game. For the
first six innings the Giants didn't get any
thing that remotely resembled a hit. They
filed the bases with two out in the fifth
by means of a pass. an error and hit
batsman, but were unable 20 score. The
pace was too fast for Leifeld TO hold, how
ever, and the Giants. punching their five
hits in the last three innings, won the
game.
The contest was replete with thrillers OF
all kinds. Twice the Pirates were turned
back at the plate by sensational fielding
when they attempted to score. Brldwell
gave promise of making Isadora Duncan
look to her laurels as a public performer
by his grace and precision of action. While
he made a costly error. which led up TO
the Pirates only run. he handled seven
other difficult chances without a flaw. and
every move in the handling thereof was
picture. Hans Wagner was the Marie
DRESSER of the diamond. 10 preserve the
histrionic allusion. but he got there just
the same
AS far as fielding goes however. Drucke
showed them all how 10 play. He plucked
several ripe singles out of his glove for
easy out, by knocking down everything
that came his way, and killed two rallies
by his heady work in throwing runners
out at second. In the first frame he start
ed double play after Byrne had singled
by throwing TO Bridwell when Leach hit
20 the box. Clarke and Wagner then sin
gled TO no purpose In the eighth he threw
out Gibson at second when he knocked
down Lefeds liner This saved a run, for
\ when Byrne came up he singled. Drucke
made seven assists.
The Pittsburg outfeld performed with
all the daring and accuracy which has led
many critics to rank ii the best in the
big leagues. Clarke and Leach seemed 10
think that the only way to catch fly was
10 reach over the heads Of the crowd and
pull it down. When Leach corralled Larry
Doyles long one in the sixth and pulled
it out OF the bleacbers for an out, Larry
walked slowly back to the bench, with
gloomy what s-the-use expression on his
face. Leach and Clarke were credited with
eight put-outs between them. Josh Devore
made one Of his celebrated throws TO the
plate in the sixth after Meyers had whipped
the sphere over Merkles head in fielding
a bunt. The chief made a great play on
the return Of the bail, and tagged Hunter
for trying TO score. In the seventh Merkle
shot the ball to Meyers and caught Byrne
at the plate trying TO score from second
after Clarke had singled.
Louis Drucke was in a hole in nearly
every inning. but emerged safely with his
visage wreathed in smiles. His most criti-
cal period was the ninth, when, with one
out. Gibson singled, but was out at sec
ond. when Leiheld hit 10 the box. Byrne
lifted a pretty hit TO right. putting Leiheld
on second II looked dark for moment,
but Drucke made Leach Whit at three puz-
zlers and retired the side
The Giants started their rally under bet
ter auspices Devlin led off with single
10 right The master hand OF McGraw
then became visible. Fletcher was put in
to run for Arthur Fletcher made clean
steal of second. Wagner dropping Gibsons
throw. Miller fumbled Meyers's hot one,
putting Fletcher on third. Becker went
in to run for Meyers and stole second
without an attempt made 10 get him. Gran
dali. batting for Drucke, lined hot one
through the box, scoring Fletcher with the
winning run. Becker could have easily tai
lied on the hit had another fun been
needed
The Pirates were the first to score, per-
forming the feat without making a HIT
although they had lavished the safeties
about in the first and second innings with
out tallying. Wagner started the sixth by
popping a fly TO Deyore, but Drucke I'M
corked a wild one and hit Miller, giving
him a life at first Miller stole second
when Meyers threw badly TO Doyle. Hunter
grounded 10 Bridwell, and the latter at
tempted 10 throw Miller at third. He hit
the runner with the ball and every one
was safe all around. Wilson was good for
long sacrifice fly to Snodgrass, which
nearly landed In the bleacliers, Fred max
ing a beautiful catch Miller scored on the
out. however When Gibson laid down a
little dribble in front Of the plate, Meyers
picked up the ball and threw miles over
Merkle's head TO the bleachers. Devore
picked up the ball. and with beautiful
throw to the plate caught Hunter trying TO
score for the third out.
The Giants tied the score in the lucky
seventh. when Merkle opened with the hrst
clean hit of I,eihelds delivery through