Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-19
It Was Responsible for the Downfall
Of the Washingtons.
OPENING rHE BASE BALL SEASON
Doc Amo'e Not Fully Supported
by the Men Behind Him.
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES

Only a victory for the Washington club
vas needed yesterday to make the in
auguration of the season of 1898 in this
city great success. The weather was
perfect, the attendance large, enthusiasm
on tap in large quantities, but the excep-
tional pitching of Hughes. the great sup
pert by the Baltimore boys back Of him
robbed the Washington enthusiasts Of the
browning glory Of victory. The game
went to the Orioles by the score of Q to
0, the first game at home and a white
wash at that. Alack and alas, but that
is base ball, and the friends of the Sena-
tors will yet have many opportunities of
cheering their old favorites on to victory.
1t was almost a foregone conclusion be-
fore the first ball was pitched that the
Ser ators were in for drubbing, but that
it would be such an effective one was hard
ly expected. Pitcher Hughes, a new man
to major league company, hailfng from
the Pacific slope, was on the rubber for
the Orioles, and his work was of the gilt
edge order, but two safe hits being regis
tered against him, one of which was OF
the f1uky order. Hughes has been touted
by the Baltimore base ball people as a
coming twirler. and his work yesterday
Enthusiastically stamps him as being already
here. No matter how difficult the play, in
fielding sense, he conducted himself with
exceptional GOODNESS and success came his
way in large chunks, his fielding of Jack
DoyIe's bunt being one of the prettiest
plays of the game.
Another man on the Baltimore club that
shcne out with great briliancy was Wee
Willie" Keller, the child wonder from the
city of churches. No matter how difficult
the chance Little Willie makes his best
effort and about 80 times out of 100 the
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son Keller threw himself into the barb
wire netting around the right field seats
and pulled down long fly with his left
hard. Yesterday he put up play almost
as good by diving after long drive to
right center and catching the ball about
foot from the ground with one hand. An
idea can be formed of how far out the ball
was hit when Tom Brown was rounding
third base when 1t struck keeiers hands,
starting from first when the ball left the
bat. Plays of this sort can be called
IL cky with any other man except Keeler,
but this little fellow pulls them off SO often
that it looks as If he can hold on to any
thing that touches, his hands.
Doc Amole was on the rubber for the
Washington club, and did well under try
ing circumstances. Umpire Lynch called a
balk on him in the second inning that did
much toward rafting him, while the field
ing by the men; back of him should have
been much better, the errors Of omission
being worse than those of commission.
The Baltimorfs scored their first runs in
the second inning. three TALES going up
to their credit. ! STENCILS grounder was too
hot for Merccr,I and the batter took first.
Amole caught Jake off of first, but balk
was called, andihe vent to second, coming
home on McGanns hit into center. Clarke
bit to left for two bases, and and Nc
Gam came home on Browns muff of line
fly. In the fourth inning two more runs
went up to ting Orioles credit after TWO
outs had been made against them. De-
mont had reached first on a pretty single
and Clarke was hit by pitcher. pretty
double steal followed, and then came Nc
Graw's safe driYe INTO center, two runs re-
sulting., The sixth tally was made in The
seventh inning. Jennings showed a safe
hit into right went to second on a passed
ball and then scored on kelieys drive into
center. In the Baltimores' eighth and last
inning three more runs went up to their
credit. Demont hammered single
through Wrigley's territory, and McGanns
single put him up one base. Clarke's hit
was too hot for Amole-the bases were fill
ed. A base on balls to Hughes drove De-
mont home, and McCiraw's single TO center
sent in McGann and Clarke. The umpir-
ing of Lynch and Connolly was impartial,
both gentlemen doing their best to be fair,
although the balk called on Alnole looked
like an unjust discrimination. Following
is the score in detail: