Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19

The Cleveland club, with pennant aspira-
tions. opened their concluding series with
the Nationals at American League Park
yesterday afternoon and were handed a VIC
tory the score being to in their favor.
The Cleveland players and their many
friends may think they have a chance for
the pennant, but unless they play so per
cent better ball than they did yesterday
they can consider themselves iucky to fin
ish in the first division.
The elongated Faalenberg was on the rub
Der for the Nationals, and a better exhibit
ton OF the pitching art than he furnished
could not be wished but all his good work
went for nothing, as he made two of the
locals miSplays, both of which were ex-
tremely costly and practically lost the game
Just how good Falkenberg was can be
gfeaned from the exhibition he gave in the
sixth inning. when he retired the Napoleons
without run while three men were on the
rubber with only one out.
Turner led off with a scratch hit that
should have been out but for the tall pitch
ers slowness in covering first Hickman
made great try to beat Turner to the bag
but lost out by an eyelash. Lajoie then
tried to sacrifice and was successful, as
Hickman muffed Falkenberg's assist. Con-
galton followed with a pop fly to Hickman
but Rossman was passed, filing the bases
jackson then went out on a little fly to AL
tizer and Bemis forced Rossman out at
second on roller to Altizer. 1t was a rare
exhibition of pitching and the spectators
applauded Falkenberg for several minutes.
Bernhard Braced Up.
Bernhard on the other hand, got away
from the start in very bad shape allowing
two hits and two runs in the first inning
but after that he pitched like a house af1re,
Sphlphv tn, tha
ming and Altizer a single in the eighth, max
ing four safe hits altogether But notwith-
standing this great pitching Bernhard
would have had a lost game checked up
against him had not Falkenberg made his
weird throw to Hickman in the eighth in
ming.
The fielders on both teams had compare
lively easy work account of the fine
pitching by the two twirlers, little Mil at
third making the star play for the locals
when he collared Turner'S scorching
grounder In the third inning and Lajoie
and Turner were the headliners for the Wis
itors. The local fans were given their
first opportunity OF seeing the big French
man on the third corner, and after the
game 1t was the general opinion that he
could not be hooked up wrong. Some day
Larry will appear in the pitchers box and
another great twirler will be developed.
Yesterday he had eight chances and hand
led them all as clean as whistle. His star
g. play was on Altizer IN the third, when the
latter hunted and the ball rolled through
Bernhard's hands. LaJoie picked II up with
one hand and by lightning throw to Ross
man shut off the runner at first. In the
second inning, Turner and Stovall collided
in going after Nils pop fly but the clever
little shortstop got his paws on the ball
and there was no letting go for him.
The good work of the Nationals against
the ST. Louis Browns served to draw out
big crowd yesterday, over 1000 enthu-
siasts occupying seats in the different
stands.
As usual In such cases tho NatIopaIs b.a
to play bum ball and 1t would be difficult
to persuade the infrequent visitor TO the
park that the local aggregation can furnish
gilt-edge article after yesterdays work.
Nationals Began to Work.
After the Clevelands had been retired in
the first inning without run the Nationals
went after Bernhard so fercely that IT
looked though he was destined for a re-
call to the shelter of the bench. Mil, the
first man up. died at first. but Charley
Jones worked base on balls. The hit and
run game then developed. Altizer bang
ing single into right and Jones pulled Up
at third. Altizer then started 10 steal sec
ond, pulling Turner over to the bag, and
Hickman banged single right through the
spot on which 'Cotton-top" had been stand
ing. Jones walked home and Altizer never
hesitating a second. kept Logging away and
crossed the plate in safety. Hickman went
to second on the throw home, but he died
there as Anderson gave Rossman little
fly. Altzer was hit by the pitcher and
Stanley closed the inning with a weak roller
to Stovall and died at first.
In five of the remaining eight innings
the Nationals went out in their order OF
going to the plate, and in the other three
two hits and base on balls broke up the
continuity OF the procession to the plate
and back to the bench
The Cevelands hung up their first run in
the second inning Congalton led off with
double to left and Rossman laid down O
bunt Falkenberg gathered up the ball
oleanly but threw wild to third, pulling off
Nil. with the result that the little fellow
eollided with Congaton. the ball being
knocked to the stand The collision was a
hard one and Congalton was satisfied to
cit down on the sack and ponder, while Nil
rubbed his head and chased away the stars
that were floating before his eyes. Jack
son then sent a roller to Schlafy forcing
Rossman out at second, and Congalton
dashed over the rubber on the play Bemis
then popped to Schlafy and Bernhard
forced Jackson out at second on a roller
to the local second baseman.
The next Ave innings of the Clevelands