The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-08
GIANTS
 ATHLETICS

SQKU9 HS1TA, ONbs The mighty Baker, hero of yeSter- days battle, faced the peerless Matty with two men on bases in the first 1n- ming of today Giants-AthletfcS strug- gle. And Matty struck the siugger out after Baker had fOuled twice. The teams faced each other under unfav- orabIe weather conditions but the crowd packed the park, nevertheless. Opposed to NTatty was Southpaw Eddie Plank who celebrated his 39th birth day some time ago. He retired the Giants in order in the opening inning. Because of an injured ankle MeFkle did not play and Snodgrass held down first base for the Giants.
 The National Leaguers were not a whit crestfallen over their defeat m New York yesterday, and there was not a Giant who was not ready to de- clare that Bender would be beaten the next time the Indian went to the pitch ing mound A Scotch mist as thick as New Foundland fog kept the thou sands in fear that a heavy downpour would stop the game. An industrious brass band helped to keep the minds of the fans from threatening weather The entire inf1eld and far into the out CT gardens was completely covered with canvas to keep off the dampness- This was peeled off later, leaving the diamond in fine playing condition. It was a good-natured crowd that
 
 stand and outheId stands. One vic tory was a fine tonic to the spirits of the Athletic fans and they vigorously cheered the home folks at fielding and batting practice.
 Massed in solid phalanx behind the Giants playing bench were several hundred New Yorkers,> enthusiastic, hopeful and ready to, encourage the National Leaguers.
 Should Merkle be kept from New York's frs base by his injured ankle the Giants will labor under a severe handicap, made all the greater by the absence from the batting order Of Centerfe1der Snodgrass.
 The umpires looked over the field at Il o'clock and officially reported that the grounds were in fit condition for game.
 The gates of Shike Park were not swung open until 11:3O o'clock. The bleacfers were the first to fill. All the covered stands, being reserved, were the last to fill The lines of police were stationed in front of all the stands.
 The last of the crowd had filed through the turnsti1es by 1:45 o'clock. A row of two story houses facing the park on 20th street was black with people Countless faces peered from every window and hundreds sat on improvised benches on the roofs. The revenue from these seats was enough to pay the years taxes and something besides.
 Almost constant treatment was giv- en to Merk1e's ankle during the morn ing hours. Under ordinary circum- stances, Merk1e would not play but he insisted, this morning, that he would make the attempt.
 There was a conference of unpires at the plate fin which Captain Danny Murphy and Manager McGraw parti- cipated.
 It was announced that Plank and Lapp and Mathewson and Mclean were the batteries for the days game. Umpire Connolly went behind the plate; Umpire Rigler took care of de- cisions on bases; Egan went to right field and Klem to left field.
 FIRST INNING, FIRST HALF.
 Herzog popped out to Collins, Doyle out on a short fly to Strunk-
 Plank used his famous cross-fre ball and deftly worked the corners of the plate.
 Fletcher famed.
 No runs no hits, no error.
 FIRST INNING, SECOND HALF.
 Mathewson sent up a drop curve which missed the plate by scarcely an inch. The second ball pitched was strike. Doyle made a horrible error of Murphy's grounder, the ball Altering through his legs. This gave the Ath- 1 letics' rooters a. chance to cheer.
 Mathewson put two strikes over on Oldring and then Oldring promptly singled to left, sending Murphy to sec ond.
 Mclean went down to consult l Mathewson. Collins sacrificed, Snod- l grass to Doyle, advancing Murphy and l OIdring Then came Home Run Bak- 1 CT to the bat. Mathewson's first pitch | was a ball. Baker fouled off the next | one. Baker fouled off another one and it was two strikes and one ball on | the big Athletic batter. Baker famed. | Nfathewson sending 8 fade-away for | the third strikes
 McInnis flied to Burns.
 No runs, one hit, one error.
 SECOND INNING, FIRST HALF.
 Plank had nice control and easily | famed Burns. Shafer flied out to | Murphy.
 Plank shot over two strikes on Mur- 1 ray in quick succession. Then he gave | him a ball. Murray famed, reaching | wildly for an outcurve which he miss l ed by foot
 No runs, hits, errors.
 SECOND INNING, SECOND HALF.
 Doyle tossed out strunk at first and | made nice play of it. Barry out on | a high fly to Burns. Mathewson put 1