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BASE-BALL.

THE first game of the season, between the Bostons and our own Nine, was played last Wednesday afternoon. Two games had been attempted before, both being prevented by bad weather; although, on one occasion, two innings were played, - the Bostons scoring five to the Harvards' six. The Bostons presented their full strength, with the exception of White, who had been expected to arrive that morning, but was believed to have been detained at Hartford. McVey took his place at the home base; Hall going to right field. The Harvards, for the first time this year, presented their regular Nine; Thatcher succeeding Bettens as catcher.

Leeds opened the game with a fly to right field, which was beautifully caught by Hall, with one hand, while running. Hodges then got his base on a safe hit, but was left, as the next two strikers retired in good order. The Bostons scored one run, Barnes getting his first on a base hit and stealing second. In the second innings for the Harvards, Kent opened with a safe fly, Tyng got his first on an error of O'Rourke, Tower and Thatcher made safe hits, and Spinney sent a ball through O'Rourke, letting in Tyng and Tower, Kent having already scored. Harry Wright then muffed a fly from Leeds, and a wild pitch let in Thatcher. Hodges fouled out; but Tyler made a beautiful hit, bringing himself to second and letting in Spinney and Leeds. Things began to look well, but the innings was quickly ended by a foul from Hooper and a fly from Kent. Leonard then made first on a good hit and stole second; O'Rourke flyed out; Hall sent a liner through Hodges, letting in Leonard, and gained his second on a wild pitch; Schafer earned first, Harry retired at first, George made a good hit bringing in Schafer, but Barnes popped one up, which was evidently considered a sure thing by George, as he reclined half-way between first and second, and awaited the result. The score now stood 6 to 4 in favor of the Harvards; but in the third innings, after Tyng had reached first on a safe liner, the three next strikers were retired in rapid succession; while the Bostons made two runs, owing to an error of Leeds and a collision between Thatcher and Tyng. The game was now tied, and began to look interesting. In the fourth innings Leeds earned first, Hodges sent a hot one between Schafer's feet, and the chances seemed good for a run; but, after Tyler went out on a fly, Leeds retired at second, and Hodges was caught in an attempt at stealing second. The Bostons were then put out in one-two-three order. Then Tyler went out on first; Hooper wasted several foot-pounds of energy, in his hit to G. Wright, by damaging Spalding on the way; Kent made a good hit, but was left, Tyng punching the ball gently to G. Wright; but, as the Bostons were again whitewashed, the score remained tied. In the sixth inning, good hits by Tyler, Thatcher, and Hooper, with errors by Barnes, McVey, and G. Wright, gave us 3 runs; but the professionals, by heavy striking and errors by Hodges, Thatcher, and Tyler, piled up 6 runs, and two runs in the seventh innings; Tower omitting to catch the ball before tumbling down. In the eighth, our Nine again failed to score, while the Bostons, by fine striking, especially a three-base hit by O'Rourke, scored 6 runs Hall quietly trotting home unnoticed amid the general demoralization. In the last innings, Kent scored an earned run; but Thatcher went out on a fly, and a double play vanquished Tower and Spinney. McVey then retired at first, Leonard reached it on an error of Hodges, and O'Rourke sent a high fly for which Tyler, Hodges, and Tower ran, the latter two rushing against each other at full speed, disabling Tower, whose place was filled by Estabrook, while Tyler went to second, exchanging with Hodges. The Bostons then scored 3 runs before G. Wright was run out between second and third, thus letting Harry home, and leaving the score 24 to 10.

On the whole, we may be well satisfied with the result; especially, on comparing it with the first game last year. The Yale Nine were beaten, twelve to two, by the Hartfords, a much weaker Nine than the Bostons. Had our Nine been able to keep up their playing of the first five innings, we might have returned better satisfied; they excelled rather in striking than in fielding, making as many base hits as the Bostons. We thought that the Harvards showed rather less nerve and pluck in playing an up-hill game than we have been led to expect from them, and they were badly out-played in base-running. The collision between Tower and Hodges in the last innings showed the need of more system in taking flys. Tower was obliged to give up playing, but has entirely recovered from his accident. It should be a matter of pride that our Nine did so well in their striking as to atone for their numerous faults and mishaps in the field; a result due chiefly to the splendid batting of Tyler, Kent, and Tyng. Hooper pitched in an almost faultless manner; while Thatcher promises to become a fine catcher, being charged with fewer errors than we have often seen committed by a veteran, though he needs to get the ball out of his hands a little quicker, when throwing to second base. We have grown so accustomed to good play from Kent that we scarcely notice it; and Tower distinguished himself by two good flys in the outfield. We append the score:-

HARVARD. BOSTON.

R. 1B. T.B. P.O. A. R. 1B. T.B. P.O. A.

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Leeds, s. s. 2 2 2 0 5G. Wright, s. s. 1 3 4 1 3

Hodges, 2b.1 1 1 4 3 Barnes, b. 2 4 4 5 3

Tyler, c.f. 0 2 4 2 0 Spalding, p. 3 2 2 0 2

Hooper, p.0 1 1 0 0 McVey, c. 0 1 1 4 1

Kent, 1b 2 3 3 11 0 Leonard, l. f. 4 1 1 4 0

Tyng, 3b. 1 3 3 3 0 O'Rourke, 1. b. 4 1 3 8 0

Tower, l. f. 1 2 2 2 0 Hall, r. f. 4 2 2 3 0

Thatcher, c.2 2 2 5 0 Schafer, 3b. 3 2 2 2 2

Spinney, r. f. 1 1 1 0 0 H. Wright, c. f. 3 1 1 0 0

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Totals 10 17 19 27 8 24 17 20 27 11

Innings. 1st 2d 3d 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th

Harvard . . . . . 0 6 0 0 0 3 0 0 1- 10

Boston . . . . . . 1 3 2 0 0 6 2 6 4-24

Runs earned: Harvards, 3; Bostons, 6.

Umpire: E. S. Payson.

Time of game: 2h. 10m.

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