The Dog That Stole Home (2 page)

The game against the Robin Hood Arrows started at four o’clock the next day. The Arrows were up first. Mike, playing second
base, kept glancing at the spot by the Giants’ dugout where Harry usually lay. The spot looked very empty.

The Arrows got off to a flying start. The lead-off batter, Robbie McAllister, laced a double. Then the Giants’ pitcher gave
up a walk and a single to put the Arrows on the scoreboard before the first out was made. A blooping fly over second base—just
over Mike’s head—added a second run to the first.

Rats! thought Mike. I bet I would have had that one if Harry’d been here. He pounded his fist into his glove.

The next Arrow batter struck out, but another double put them up to three runs before a fly ball ended the first half of the
inning.

The Giants came to bat, and it was one, two, three. Just like that.

The Arrows batted again, and again the lead-off batter belted a solid double. The Giants’ pitcher, Omar Petri, looked a little
shaken and gave up two walks in a row. Arrows 4, Giants 0.

Mike heard the first baseman grumble. At least I had Harry’s support when I played pitcher, Mike thought.

Out loud, he yelled, “C’mon Omar! Strike out this next guy!”

As if Mike’s words had given him just the help he’d needed, Omar fired three sizzlers in a row for the first out. Two fly
balls added the last two outs, and the Giants were back up to bat.

Omar led off with a double to right field. While Mike warmed up on deck, the second batter, Monk Solomon, took four balls
for a walk.

Now’s my chance to make up for that missed catch, Mike thought as he approached the plate.

The first pitch came in just at waist level, and Mike swung hard. A solid hit down the first base line! Dropping the bat,
Mike took off. The Arrows’ first baseman, Jim Morrow, rushed forward and scooped up the ball. Mike put on a burst of speed,
but Jim beat him to the bag. Mike was out.

A strikeout and a pop-up ended the inning.

The Arrows could do nothing in the third. But the Giants, at their turn at bat, made a turnaround and came up with two runs.

The fourth and fifth innings went scoreless for both teams.

The Arrows didn’t add to their 4–2 lead in the top of the sixth, either. The Giants, on the other hand, earned two runs to
tie up the game before the inning ended.

That’s more like it! Mike thought excitedly. Too bad you’re missing this one, Harry. It’s a humdinger.

As Mike got his glove and ran onto the field, a familiar voice entered his mind.

“It sure is,” it said.

Mike’s heart jumped. There, in his usual spot, tail snapping back and forth, was Harry!

“Hey! How’d you get here?” Mike cried.

Harry grinned. “You’ll never guess/’ he said and pointed his nose toward the stands.

Mike glanced up and saw his mother watching him with a smile.

A call from a teammate reminded Mike the inning was about to start. “What changed her mind?” he asked Harry as he ran toward
second base.

“I’ll explain later. Just get out there and play some heads-up ball!” replied Harry.

The Arrows threatened to break the 4–4 tie at the top of the seventh. Their first batter nailed a single and Omar walked the
second. A fly out held the two runners at first and second, but then the Arrows’ strongest batter, Robbie McAllister, came
to bat.

“Get ready, pal,” Harry said. “He looks like he means business!”

Mike crouched down low. Omar studied the batter for a second and then fired.

Crack!

Robbie connected for a line drive that just missed the top of Omar’s glove. The Giants’ shortstop, Rich Gates, snared it and
snapped it to Mike at second, and then Mike relayed it to first.

A double play!

“Okay!” cried Coach Wilson, clapping like crazy. “Let’s do it! Let’s break the tie!”

Mike realized he was the third man up. Heart pounding, he watched Omar fly out, then the second batter, Monk Solomon, swish
at three pitches.

“Belt it, Mike,” said Harry calmly. “A home run will do it, you know.”

“Sure,” said Mike as he stepped to the plate. “It’s easy enough from the sidelines!” He gripped the bat and waited for the
first pitch.

Crack!
He laced the pitcher’s first throw to deep right center field. The crowd cheered as he bolted around the bases. For a moment
he thought he’d hit a homer, but Coach Wilson held him to a triple.