The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-08
WHO SPILLED
PRUNES FOR
M'CANN'S men
Bad Mixup in Ninth Caused
Mechanics to Throw Game
Springfield's Way
(By Wagner.)


y Was Tom Crook ordered to bunt or
was he supposed to hit it out? Man
&ger Mccain declares he expected
Crook to so2k the ball In the fatal
ninth when Bridgeport tossed the
game to Springfield at Newfield yes
terday to l. Crook understood 1t
WAS up to him to bunt. Anyway the
4ickle fans were panning everybody
last night, which is always the case
when things go wrong.
XII Here was the situation. The score
was 1 to l in the ninth with Eley on
third and one out. Capt. Tom Crook
was at the bat. He hunted and Eley
was easily nailed at the plate. From
fhe press box it didn't look as the
bunt had been ordered. If that was
the play expected Eley would have
etarted with the pitch and would nave
scored easily. As it was he didn't
Start until the ball wass hit.
The wisdom of bunting at such a
time was doubtful. To most people
it would seem like better policy to
try to deliver sacrifice fly. Crook
is a hard hitter and he had already
made one hit single. Two hunts had
already been made and the Ponies
rather expected another. 1t looked
like a case of bad Judgment. OF
course If the ball had rolled trifle
either to the right or left OF Bann s
ter, Eley would have scored and thei-
the crowd would have praised Crook
for his strategy. That's the way it
goes.
Aside from the terrible finish it was
as fine a game as you would care to
witness. Bannister and Gibbs both
pitched excellent ball. Sandy had a
little the better of the argument be-
cause the Mechanics could gather only
y: = o,,ff nd
Russell got the safeties. Gibbs was
tapped more freely. allowing six taps.
Chief Miller and Chef Waite connect
ed for a double and single each.
Freddy gave one pass, and this gift
in the opening inning, was converted
into a run by Genest-
There was little to choose between
the fielding of the clubs. Both gave
their pitchers good support with the
Mechanics having a slight advantage
of their opponents Chief Miller and
Bannister lost their balance in the
ninth when Bridgeport nearly won.
The fans were praising Harvey Rus
sells catching last night. The young
ster was in great form and kept
Gibbs steady all through. The Ponies
are always beefing about their fast
base running but the only two who
tried to steal yesterday were caught
by a mile. Russell also delivered the
pinch hit that tied the score in the
eighth. Benny Kauff's work was an
other feature. He stole second and
also pilfered third in the eighth after
soaring Bannister by taking a big
lead off second. Eley, Stowe and
Crook fielded in fine fashion. Page
was the star for the Ponies. His
fielding was immense. He robbed
Crook of a hit by great one hand
stop in the first.
The Ponies secured one in the open
er. Genest walked and Waite smashed
one that was too hot for Ruell. Gar
della sacrificed. Page sent a sacri-
flee fly to Eley and Genest scored
Bridgeport didn't have a chance to
score until the eighth Kauff Drop
Stowe sacrificed. Russell sent the
crowd into frenzy by cracking a hit
over second that scored Kauff.
Then came the awful ninth. Chef
Waite hit over Ladd's head for two
bags Gardella sacrificed. Page sent
he was in bad position to throw and
Waite was safe at the plate by an
eyelash. Swander beat out an infield
tap and was nailed trying to steal.
Skipper Eley started the roofing
when he got to first ahead of a bunt
that Miller juggled. Bannister made
a wild throw to catch him mapping
and Eley took second. Litschi sacri-
Med. Crook then hunted and Eley
was out at the plate. Hi Ladd was
SO disguised that he struck out.
The moral of the story is this. Man
ager Mccain in the future should stay
on the bench where he can instruct
each batter before he steps to the bat.
When he goes out on the coaching
lines the game gets away from him.
With the boss on the bench there
would have been no such mixup as
took place yesterday. The score: