Evening star., 1897-06-03
Loyalty Of the "Rooters" Strained
to the Utmost.
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES
Record of the Clubs:

DOStOu Il 10 5HSl new 1Otk 10 d Az
fiftsSurs. fi' IS Is ss,liouisyiiis s IS
The Washington Ball Club lost eleven
out of sixteen games on the recent west
ern trip. If yesterdays game can be taken
as sample of the work done the Washing
ton public need be no longer surprised that
a better record was not made. Long be-
fore the season opened 1t was officially an
nounced that the team would start in as 1t
finished last season. with the exception of
Reilly at third. but that just as soon as 1t
was shown that there was weak spot it
would be filled. There would be no more
waiting until the season was half over to
attempt at least to strengthen the team.
As 1t was known that the Wagners had a
string tied to the Toronto club. it was be-
heved that one at least of Arthur Irwin's
colts would be brought to Washington In
case of need. That there was such need
before the team started west the most loyal
OF the Washington enthusiasts had no
doubt, and :. vas confidently expected that
before the close of the series in Pittsburg
at least one new face would be seen among
the Senators, and 1t was not expected that
1t would change places with DE Monrre-
ville's either. But defeat followed defeat,
ard there was no change in the makeup
Of the team.
Everybody knows how hard it Is 70 get
good men when the season Is well under
way, but 1t was supposed that the Toronto
scheme would obviate this difficulty in
making experiments at least. Granting
that there might be some temporary hitch
in making the transfer the stay-at-homes
could not understand why Farrell and Nc
Guire were not played regularly. Both are
good hitters. and play ball all the time.
Eut this much cannot be said Of all the
others. All men do not field well and bat
we'll in the same game. If Cartwright had
fielded we'll yesterday. instead of batting
well. the victory would probably have been
OURS. Though he led the team in batting.
his hits did not contribute in the least to
Washington's W scoring. Had he both batted
ard fielded well, as first baseman in the
league ought to be able to do. there would
have been no doubt about the result
No one doubts Mr.. Earl Wagner's base
ball knowledge. or his business sagacity,
and 1t Is therefore all the more surprising
that something has not been done to hold
together the goodly band of rooters that
started the season with such enthusiasm.
Mr.. Wagner may not be able to strengthen
his team Just now, but the crowds at Ma
tional Park will dwindle day by day unless
an attempt is made. and that very soon
Washington is a loyal base ball city
there Is none more so. Good crowds will
go to see the games day after day win or
lose. so long as the team Is as good as can
be obtained and is playing ball with snap
and life. but there Is limit to all things
There is no desire to dictate to the Wash
ington MANAGEMENT as to what men to get
dividual criticism. which has the effect of
only discouraging the men. But Mr.. Wag-
ner has been out of town for several weeks
and he may not realize how the stay-at-
homes regard this matter. They believe
that Mr.. Wagner knows that something
ought to be done, and therefore they ex-
pect him to do that something, and not to
postpone the doing Of 1t.
The Senators opened up their series at
home yesterday at National Park with a
the score being to 5. the old hoodoo of
being defeated by one run still falling to
the Senators lot. A score more of ifs
could be INDUCED to account for yester-
days defeat. but six misplays, ro matte.
| to whom they belong, tells the tale of the
downfall.
The game was exciting from start to
| finish. the wind that swept over the
grounds driving high flies away from
| Brown and Thornton, and the start OF
| three runs the Colts made in the first in
| ming was quickly covered and a neck and
| neck struggle resulted at the finish.
Lange made a catch in center field that
| was CT the most sensational order and ul-
| doubtedly prevented two runs from cross
! ing the plate. The ball was a low line
| hit that came skimming from Wrigley's
| bat like a flash. The elongated center
| fielder knew that 1t would do no good to
back on that ball. so he set sail for it with
| the speed that only Lange possesses, and
| at the critical second made a dive for the
| sphere. The ball struck the fielder's hands
| not more than six inches from the grounds
| but 1t stuck there, and Little Eva" after
rolling over couple of times on the ground
| managed to pull himself together and arose
| to his feet and threw to second coming
| within an inch of making double play
The spectators cheered the play enthu
| siastically. although. as things turned out
it prevented the Senators from winninl
| the game.
Tom Brown snd "Zeke" Wrigley wer,
the bright particular stars in the game
| from a Senatorial standpoint. Both made
throws to the plate that were almost per
| feet and chopped of runs that were OF
| the eve of budding.
McJames was on the rubber for the Wash
| ingtons and barring the last inning die
| well, although his let down at that tim,
was in a manner excusable. Denzer start
ed the ball rolling for the Colts but Cap
tain Anson quickly discerned the yount
fellows weakness and put In Griffith t,
| finish out the game.
The Chicagos made three runs in tn
first inning as result of a three-base
by Everett; base on balls to Mccormick k
another ttree-baser by Lange, the latte
coming home on an infield play. In tn
second inning another run came their way
Donahue reached first on a felder's choice
| stole second and went to third on Far
rem pad throw to second to. catch hir
] mapping. Then Everett hit a hard one di
rectly at McJames and the latter Skinned
it into right field. Donohue coming hom
and the batter going to second.
| For six innings thereafter ciphers fell t
the lot Of the Colts. but in the ninth the
| made the two runs that put them ahea
| and won the game. Donahue singled
| left; Cartwright allowed Griff1th's roller t
| go between his legs and Dorahue took thirt
Everett walked. and the bases were 6lle<
McJames then made pretty play. cater
ing Donahue at the plate on Mccormick
hit. Then Lange drove a scorcher at Dt
Mont and Griffith came home when tn
short stop permitted the ball to elude hin
Then Anson hammered out a single to lef
. bringing ir Everett, but Mccormick
! | trying to score also on the play was throw
| out at the plate by Wrigley.
J The Senators were one run to the goo
| when they got through batting In ii
eighth inning and when they returned frol
! the field In the next inning they were or
run to the bad. To overcome this lead
/ their last turn at the bat Cartwright star
I ed OF with a nice two-bagger. McGuil
I then went out without advancing hir
I and while Brown was at the plate the b
! first baseman tried to steal third. but ws
5 | nailed. Donahue to Everett. Brown the
} | went out on an infleld hit and the tryir
l kru< nrynr