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like a cannon. Maybe Sammy made the right choice by staying put. If he’d tried to go to second, he might have been out.
    Grumps turned back to look at the bench. He nodded at Luis Quezada, a utility infielderand pinch runner. Luis leaped up. Grumps was taking Sammy out of the game. He went to signal to the umpires that he was putting in a replacement. He stopped and brushed at his leg. He slapped his left thigh three times. He drummed his fingers on his right shoulder. He took off his cap and swiped at his shoe while hopping on one foot.
    I didn’t know the signs, but Sammy’s eyes lit up.
    Todd was still pitching. He glanced at Sammy, saw he was still on base, and turned back to face Wayne Zane at the plate. He pitched.
    Sammy took off.
    The crowd roared. Grumps turned purple.
    Wayne didn’t swing. The catcher fumbled with the ball.
    Sammy kept on running. He was halfway to second base.
    Jonny finally got a grip on the ball and flung it to second. The second baseman caught it and braced himself to tag Sammy.
    Sammy put on the brakes and started back to first.
    Grumps covered his eyes.
    Gustavo, the Finches’ first baseman, caught the ball and got ready to tag Sammy as he bolted back to first. Sammy stopped, turned, and headed back to second.
    â€œThey have Sammy picked off,” said Victor Snapp.
    It was the slowest rundown I ever saw. Sammy strode to second. The second baseman toed the bag and waited for Gustavo to throw back the ball.
    Gustavo took a few steps, and pumped. But he didn’t throw the ball. He took another few steps and made like he was going to throw, but the ball didn’t leave his hand. He gave up and started running after Sammy.

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    Sammy slid. The second baseman got out of the way. Sammy’s heel reached the bag a split second before Gustavo caught up and tagged him. The second base umpire signaled . . .
    SAFE!
    â€œHe’s safe!” Victor Snapp shouted. “Sammy Solaris just stole second base! That’s the first stolen base in his career. What a game!”
    The crowd stomped and cheered.
    The Finches’ pitcher shook his head in disbelief. Gustavo tried to throw him the ball, but still couldn’t get it out of his hand.
    Todd had to go take it by force. He glared at the ball and tossed it to the umpire for another.
    Gustavo wiped his hand on his pants, and suddenly I knew what had happened. Hecouldn’t make the throw because he had a hand full of marshmallow goo!
    Grumps called a time-out and sent Luis to pinch-run for Sammy. Sammy got a standing ovation as he came in from the field. He was beaming. His smile could have lit up a night game.

    â€œI stole second base,” he said. “I can’t wait to call Wendy!”
    â€œI didn’t give you the sign to steal,” Grumps barked.
    â€œIt sure looked like you did. You touched your leg and took off your cap. That’s the sign, coach. All that other stuff was funny to watch, but it didn’t change the sign.”
    â€œI had a spider on me! I was shaking it off,” Grumps said. “Can’t you tell the difference?”
    â€œI can’t see a spider all the way from first base,” said Sammy.
    â€œBah.”
    â€œCoach, it’s OK,” said Sammy. “I was safe. All’s well that ends well.”
    â€œYou got lucky.”
    â€œI’ll take lucky,” said Sammy. “Or magic.” He patted his hip pocket and gave me a thumbs-up sign, then went to the locker room to call his niece.
    I started to ask Grumps what happened to the spider, but decided it was not a good idea. He was called Grumps for a reason.
    Wayne Zane hit a long single, and Luis Quezada sped home. The Porcupines took a one-run lead. Ryan Kimball, the Porcupines’ closer, started warming up in the bull pen. Teddy Larrabee struck out, and then eitherDanny O’Brien or Brian Daniels flied out to right field.
    â€œThe Porcupines get four runs on five hits, and