East laid down a sacrifice bunt and retired, but, with only one man gone and the speedy Brook on second, Toonalta’s chance to pull the game up high and dry looked bright. But when Burns had hit to Jim Wheelock and Jim had trotted across the bag and then held Brook at third the visitors’ stock sank again. Gore ended the suspense by sending a high one to Hal Collins. Wayne was requested to “start it up” when he went to the plate for the last of the inning, and the audience loudly reminded him that this was the lucky seventh! But it wasn’t lucky for Wayne, since, in spite of his resolve to bat for a clean thousand, his attempt at a hit was only a roller to Ellis and he was out before he had gone half-way to first. Vic Despaigne fell victim to Ellis’ skill, yielding the Toonalta pitcher his first and only strike-out of the game, and Chase, after nine deliveries, four of which were fouls, found something to his liking and whanged it into right field. It was a long one and might easily have put him on third, but the redoubtable Browne, he of the home-run fame, raced back to the corner of the field and made a one-hand catch that moved even the enemy to wild acclaim. The eighth began with the Toonalta’s fifth batter facing Chase, but by the time it had ended five others had toed the rubber. That inning rivalled the fourth for hair-raising suspense. Hunt, the Toonalta catcher, began the trouble by hitting safely between Jim Wheelock and Wayne for one. The subsequent batsman was an easy out, popping a fly to Chase. Rider outwaited the pitcher and finally got a pass, advancing Hunt to second. With two on bases and the hard-hitting Browne coming up, the Blues’ chances might have been bought for a penny. To make things look more desperate, it was apparent that Pete Chase was weakening. Jordan was hurried out of his sweater and sent off to warm up and Hoffman and Chase met midway between plate and mound and conversed earnestly while the Toonalta “rooters” howled jeers and polite insults. “Play ball! Quit stalling!” “It’s got to happen! Get through with it!” “Good-night!” “He’s all in! Take him out! Take him out!” “Let him stay! We like him!” “Make ’em play ball, Mr. Umpire!” Chase was for passing Browne, but Hoffman wouldn’t consent. “Feed him high ones, Pete,” he muttered, “and cut the corners, but, for the love of Mike, don’t groove any!”