The Washington times., 1901-08-27

This Bracken halls from some burg
near Cleveland, and in his native village
acquired something of reputation as a
pitcher Since his debut in the American
League he has spent n good deal of time
writing back to the folks at home that
he is still some pumpkins as a pitcher.
But his epistIe back to the old town last
night was of a different character than
any he had heretofore sent. He dwelt
at considerable length upon the assault
the Washington hitters made upon him
In the fifth inning CT yesterdays game
in particular, although he admitted that
during the entire soiree the local fellows
seemed to take mitch pleasure in banging
at his curves. and usually with good re-
suits Bracken made no attempt 20 deny
that the Senators had simply fallen upon
him and treated him most incensiderate-
Iy. especially as he was phenon from
Fhenomville, Ohio, and had a reputation
To keep up, and was not accustomed to
seeing his choicest shoots and benders
iambasted for one. two and three bases
all in the same inning. Yet this is exact
ly what happened. notwithstanding that
"Wow-wow" Donovan occupied a posi-
tion Of prominence in one of the boxes
and rooted hard for the Bracken side.
early part Of the game that he was
compelled to apply the soft pedal in the
last two innings.
The Washingtons did not have any phe-
norns to shove forward, so Manager Man
ming tried that old war-horse. Mr.. Winnie
Mercer. who showed the difference be
tween the phenom class and the oId-fash-
toned pitcher who knows the ms and outs
of his calling and brings into use all
the tricks of the business Mercer yes
terday gave the youthful and inexperienc-
ed Mr.. Bracken cards and spades and
still beat him to standstill before the
half game post was in sight. Mercer s
exhibition was a really marvellous one.
He used rare discretion in sending men
to first On balls, and, except in one in
stance his judgment was verified by the
results. This single slin-up was when
he sent Harvey to the initial sack in the
second inning after one man had been
retired and George La Chance was on
second, the result of a cracking double
Harvey is regarded hereabouts as a real
hitter. although in other cities on the cir
cult he is in the false alarm class. But
yesterday Mercer was taking no chances
and thought he could handle sheibeck
easier than Harvey, so he sent the latter
TO first on a pass. Then Sheibeck, with
two strikes on him, got his bat in front
OF an outshoot and the bah hit some
where about the handle. Anyway, Shei-
beck and everybody else was momentari-
ly dUmfounded. while out in left field
Foster made Intellectual chase after
the hit, but 1t was too short to be cap
tured and La Chance trotted In with the
single run credited to the Clevelands dur
ing the entertainment. double play i'm
mediately afterward retired the side the
work being done by Clingman, Farrell,
and Grady. With this exception. Mer-
GERS judgment was splendid and at no
time was there any let up in his speed
or control. The Clevelands, as a matter
of fact, should be credited with only five
hits-that is. they would have only Sc
cured this number IL Mercer, with two
men out In the last inning. had not simply
1obbed the ball up to Bradley. But the
visiting third baseman managed to hit
the sphere out of the infield and was
charged with a base hit. Then Mercer
quickly got around TO business and struck
out Harvey.
There was some fast fielding done by
the locals and the usual cluster Of double
plays was secured by the infield. Cough
lin made sensational play In the ninth.
when he stopped La Chances hard drive
after sprint and shot the ball over to