The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-21


Atlanta June 20.-(Special.) THE
Barons made it two straights from the
Crackers this afternoon, coping a hot
ly contested game by the score of 3
to /. But the winning came near cost
ing them dearly. Pitcher Hardgrove
was struck by a ball from Smiths bat
in the seventh inning that cut cash
to the skull and three and a half inches
In length.
Hardgrove was off his balance at the
conclusion of his delivery, when Smith
smashed one back through the box.
The ball was driven fiercely, striking
just in front of the hurler and before
he could put up his hands in self
protection the ball caroomed to his
head, striking with such terrific force
that it bounded back to the catcher.
Play was suspended, and Smith, after
having touched first, rushed to the aid
of the injured Baron. When he saw
the big cash he turned white as
sheet. his agitation being plainly no.
ticeable from the stand and it was the
latter part of the ninth inning before
the natural color returned to his cheeks.
Misjudged the Bound
Hardgrove absolves Smith of the
blame, he stating that he misjudged
the ball on the hop, though from the
press box it looked like the ball was
hit back so swiftly that he did not have
q time to Judge anything. '-r 7.'r.-fs''ai
The wound bled profusely and Hard
grove was assisted from the field. with
Smith on one side and ELAN on the
other DR. Mitchell, the club physician
examined the wound and pronounced it
a bad cut but not serious by any
means, as the skull had not been frac-
tured
Reports from the hotel where the
Birmingham team is stopping were that
Hardgrove was resting easily and aside
from the pain incident to such a blow,
was doing very nicely. No one re-
GREETED the incident more than Smith,
who called at the hotel to see how the
wounded pitcher was getting on.
Reverting to the game, Prough took
Hardgrove's place and pitched the re-
mainder of the game. Both Hardgrove
and Prough were given sensational sup
port by their teammates, especially by
Ellam and Kniseley. A great running
catch by Kniseley of a drive from
Longs bat in the first inning robbed the
Crackers of at least two runs. He
caught the ball with on hand as it was
going past him by great jump side
ways. The ball had a home run tag on
it. AS Welchonce followed this with
double there Is no telling what might
have happened.
HardgrOve Batted Hard
Hardgrove was hit considerably harder
than the score shows. Mcbride contrbu-
ted a couple of nice catches, while Ell
lam's work around short assisted by Mar
can was of the sensational. Knseley
also had two other nice catches to his
credit close decisions on the bases were
prominent, and everyone of them went
against the locals. but in not single
incident were the umpires wrong.
Brady contributed to his own defeat
with three wild heaves to first base, these
coupled with a couple of timely hits
tossed the old pastime away, as Hard
grove was stingy with his bingles when
hits meant runs and when it looked like
a ball hit by Cracker had hit tag
on 1t, some brilliant play turned 1t into
an out.
Smith and Bisland for the Crackers did
excellent work, their stops and throws
rivaling the work Of the two Birmingham
infielders mentioned. The hitting was not
Of especial moment to mention. outside
, of the home run wallop Of Pete Kniseley,
the Baron centerhelder, in the fifth. He
clouted one on a line over Welchonces
head. the ball striking the center field
fence on the first bound. It. was one of
the longest drives ever registered on the
local lot.
HardgrOve Stingy in Pinches
The Crackers got one or more hits
in every inning, but the old pinch was
lacking. Eleven men left stranded on
the sacks is the answer in a nutshell,
with the little "breaks'' attendant at all
ball games going to the visitors.
The Crackers were the first to count
when Dunn got free ticket with one
gone in the third. He went to third
when Brady slammed single to left and
counted when Mcbride let the ball get
by. The Crackers had numerous oppor-