Down by a game in this best-of-five series and starting to feel the urgency, the Blue Legs came out swinging against rookie phenom Christy Mathewson. Billy Hamilton singled and snagged second, later scoring on a sacrifice fly from second baseman and captain Nap Lajoie, who was now back in the lineup after recovering from his injury. Dan Brouthers doubled to keep the inning alive and then scored on a single by King Kelly.
The Legs handed Pud Galvin a 2-0 lead when the veteran took the mound in the bottom of the first. That lead was quickly cut in half by Resolutes leadoff man Pete Hill, who homered on the first pitch. Galvin got three quick outs after that, and it was a 2-1 Blue Legs lead heading into the second inning.
The next several innings passed quickly as the pitchers mowed down their opposing lineups. In the top of the sixth, Kelly led off with a single and stole second. (Connie Mack's inability to throw out the speedy Blue Legs baserunners has been a recurring theme throughout the series so far.) Kelly scored on a single by Jimmy Collins to give the Legs a two-run cushion.
The visitors threatened again in the top of the eighth. They lifted Galvin for pinch hitter extraordinaire Frank Chance, but failed to score. With their starter out of the game, the Legs turned to closer Vic Willis to give them a two-inning save. He retired the Resolutes in order in the eighth and, despite Fred Clarke's triple making things interesting in the bottom of the ninth, the Legs held on for a 3-1 victory to tie the series at one game apiece. Next up, we travel to the Blue Legs' home for Games 3 and 4.
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