Home-runs sink the Grays

The Grays lost two more games to the Providence Game Hens on Saturday, July 14, on a hot, dry day. Frequent gusts of wind drove enormous clouds of sand across the Mello Field infield, sometimes obscuring the flight of the ball. In short, it was like every day of the year: a beautiful day for base ball.

The first game was lost by the unpleasant score of 23-13. The Hens won on the strength of very strong batting. They made four home-runs over the distant fences, including three of the consecutively. The Hens are normally a strong nine, but had never been known to put on this sort of display before. They won the battle, but the home runs may cause them to lose the war. New York Clipper scribe Henry Chadwick, who knows more about base ball than any man living, insists that over the course of a long season, the effort expended in this sort of activity will surely tend to wear down the energy of even strong, clean-living young athletes like the Hens. More importantly, no spectators will ever pay to see sluggers flailing away at the ball like so many lumberjacks.

After the first game, President Norton dispensed with the services of the professional umpire and donned the gray jacket himself. While this was obviously done to reduce expenses on the home grounds, Norton also officiated a fair game, stood bravely behind the catcher, and survived with his nose intact.

In the second game, played by 1886 rules, the Hens were clearly exhausted by their thunderous home-run bat-swinging and base-running, and made only eight runs. Several of their players also had to retire from the field due to the strain, and they finished the last inning with only seven men. However, the Grays were no better off, and lost by a score of 8-4.

The Grays' record now stands at 6-6. The club won its first six games, and has now lost six in a row (discounting the abbreviated exhibition victory). They are falling behind in the chase for the pennant, and need to demonstrate more moxie to regain their winning ways.

One curious feature of the day was the fact that none of the pitchers for either team in the double-header was able to complete their game. Their delicate arms were apparently being rested for some other pursuit. Home-runs! Change pitchers! The late exhibition of futuristic base ball by the Pawtucket Red Stockings has apparently influenced both teams. Perhaps next we will see Bryon Bratt and Neal Bogosian patrolling the out-field with a large leathern gloves on their hands? Let us pray not!