The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-26
Bx REUBEN A LEWIS.

BY REUBEN LEWIS.
With the battle hopelessly deadlocked,
Big Dave Robertson hoisted a feeting
slant over the right field fence scoring
ODell and Paulette, and vanquished the
mighty Bill Prough, to 2. Fighting with
intense yigor, Birmingham and Mobile
had rollicked gladsomely in a seeming %
deadlock. Hogg opened weakly in the
first, but thereafter proved to be invinci-
BILE.
Elongated Clinton was pitching at top
speed and was strong with the cushions
occupied. Two had been downed with
hoists to the outheld in the eighth
round, when Al O'Dell, who proved a de-
mon with the ash, doubled near the score
board. Paulette. considered dangerous In
the pinch, fouled two strikes and then
passed up three misplaced balls. Prough
realized that the first sacker would play
havoc with a groove ball and deter
mined that he should hit stray shoot or
be given a walk. Serving curve slightly
on the outside. Prough walked him.
Then Big DAVE Robertson, with his pet
stick approached the rubber. The crowd
hushed in keen expectancy in realization
of impending danger. Prough hooked the
first across the outside corner and Rob
ertson appeared completely baffled. On
the second ball pitched the pig fellow
drew ball. Expecting to slip in the sec
ond strike with fast ball low in the
groove, Prough gave Robertson his op-
portunity. The mighty youngster hit with
a resounding crash and the ball spurted
on a line drive toward right field.
l. yfr,rr fI1fa 10 l.
lop died easily as the bail continued its
fieeting journey over the border of the
park While the pellet cleared the fence
by 10 feet Just a few feet within the fair
zone, O'Den, Paulette and Robertson
scored, sending the game far beyond re-
call.
The Barons were outplayed from every
angle. The Gulls watched the slightest
opportunity to advance on the Barons
misplays. In the field the Barons bobbled
more often and were unable to hit as fre-
quently as the Gulls. But the Barons bat
tied in earnest and fought to a hard death.
Hogg outpitched APrough.
The Gulls gained an early lead, by mag
nifcent base running and McGflvray'
tumble in the opening round. Stock ana
Starr were unable to reach first, but
O'Den hit a slow grounder to deep shore
which Ellam captured in fine form and
nearly downed the sprinter Mayer had
an opportunity to stop the Gull, but
O'Dell drew a bad peg at second and pur-
loined the second sack. When Pauiette
hit a hzzling roller to Mcdonald, ODell
took a commanding lead. Mcdonald
pegged accurately to McGilvray, but Big
Bill dropped the return and O'Dell scam
pered home.
Hogg, pitching for the Gulls, began his
regime with little stuff but gradually
grew stronger After Stock had thrown
out the first two Barons in the first, Nc
Donald drew a pass and annexed second.
Knisely doubled to left field and scored
Eddie with the tieing run. Mayer, who
was retired in the eighth with foul tip,
followed with q timely single to lett ana
sent the Barons insthe front.
O'Dell, the leader of the Gull assault,
opened the fourth with a safe wallop to
center. Paulette sacrificed to McGilvray,
while Robertson sent a fast bounder to
McGilvray. Bill attempted to retain 1t,
but failed and O'Dell scored the tieing
run.
In the third and fifth, Messenger reached
second by a hit and a subsequent theft,
but the following batters We're unable 10
advance him. In the seventh, Ellam
opened with a double to right field, but
again he was left on the sacks. While
the Barons could not forge in the Lead the
Gulls were held safely until the decisive
rally in the eighth.
The home run seemed to humbled Progh,
for the big twirler just lobbed the ball
over in the ninth, when the final two runs
were added by the eager Gulls. With
Clark out, Miller singled to left, but was
forced at second by Hogg. Stock hit
line drive to ELAN, but the shortstop
failed to hold the fast drive and both run
ners were safe. Clifton allowed both to
advance a base when a low pitched ball
rebounded into the diamond. Starr singled
to Messenger and the duo of Gulls trotted
homeward.
Birmingham filled the bases in the
eighth when, with two out Knisey sim
gled, while Miller fumbled Clifton's line
drive to right McGilvray drew a pass,
but ELAN was called out on three success
sive strikes. The rally in the ninth was
suuelched without a resultant tally,