The Washington times., 1906-07-08


Washington. 5; Detroit, 8.
Washington lost the poorest game
of the year TO Detroit yesterday, but
IL may be played again, as Manager
Stahl officially protested it last night
to President Ban Johnson Of the Ameri-
can League.
The protest was due 10 one Of the
most remarkable plays ever seen on
a diamond. According to the decision
OF Umpire Tim Hurst. Sam Crawford
in the seventh inning made two
bagger on a hit that didn't 20 ten
feet from the plate.
Struck Fair, Bounded Foul.
Errors by Mil and Cross and pass
had put O'Leary, Eubank. and Schaefer
on the bags, with two out. Crawford
hit a ball straight up in the air over
the plate. and Wakefield and Kitson
both went after 1t. Each was yelling
that he would assimilate the little ny.
and the consequence was when they
got in the proper positions 10 make
good their yells they AlphOnsed and
Gastoned and the ball fell between
them. The rebound took a slant and
shot the ball over 20 the grandstand.
where 1t rolled around merrily on foul
ground, while Wakefield and Kitson
stood glaring at each other, quarreling
about who was in the wrong.
The three men on bases were not
interested in the quarrel, but improved
the shining opportunity. O'Leary hus-
tied home. and not until he had crossed
the plate did the team come 10 its
senses enough 20 howl at the belliger-
ent battery to get the ball.
What Dye Think o. That?
Wakefield made a Wild dive for the
leather. but before he could get it
Eubank had also scored and Schaefer
had gone TO third. A passed ball sent
Schaefer home, but Mcintyre ended the
agony by getting out, KitsOn 10 StahL
Four runs, with no real hit and only
one pass A sorry spectacle and one
calculated TO make the 5000 rooters
present wonder why they were there
instead Of fishing.
Hurst's Queer Decision.
The ball undoubtedly struck on fair
ground by about five feet. in the direc-
tiOn of first, but as undoubtedly bounded
foul by forty feet How Hurst could
have decided It fair in view OF the
definition of a fair and a foul hit in
Reach's Onicial American League Guide,
is "A mystery. Stahl protested vOlubly,
and In this he was backed up by the
entire team, especially Cross. Kilt
redge, and the other veterans who have
been in the game so long that they
have helped to make rules. They
showed that as the ball had hit fair
but bounded foul many feet this side Of
first base and had not been interfered
with there seemed no possible way OF
calling II fair. but Hurst was obdur-
ste, and the only explanation he would
give was that the ball was hit too
high" What the heighth Of the hit
had to do with the fact that II even
tually bounded foul Is still another mys-
terry.
The rule about a ball rolling outside
does not. of course. apply TO bunts only.
although bunts bring Il into prominence
more than other hits, a man may
hammer a terrific low bounder toward
first or third and If II hits foul ground
on the second bound, say for instance
before it has passed the bag. II is a
palpable foul. Hurst, for some mex
plicable reason, undertook TO differen-
tiate between a high fly on one side
and a drive and bunt on the other and
make a neat little exception of his
own. It is hardly likely that his ruling
will be sustained
Very Poor Game.
The game on the whole was as bad
as that i'm which which Washington
heat Boston on Monday by Il TO B. and
those who saw that farce thought II
would be impossible to see another such
exhibition in a major league. There
was almost incessant jawing with the
umpire, and a roast is coming 70 Tim
Hurst for taking as much of it as he
did The spectators knew that Tin
wouldn't change his decision for q house
and lot and did not want the agony
delayed by seeing him allow player.
and managers TO pour useless protest:
into his ear.
Stahl and the Washington team Of
Tended in this respect when they chewet
the rag for several minutes over tha'
weird double by Crawford. Hurst an
nOunced that IL was fair. and fair q
remained.
Eubauk broke forth with choice lin'
OF remarks in the fourth inning becaus'
Wakefield was called safe at second
and after roaring around for a tins
was chased. He seemed 10 be glad q
get away and the general impress OF
was that he deliberately tried to ge
put out.
Looked Like a Fight.
In the sixth inning il looked as though
there were going TO be a repetition o
the famous incident In New York thi
spring when Tim Hurst smashed Clarl
Griffith in the mouth Mcintyre hat
<WO fast strikes called on him, whicl
snade him sullen and bull-headed. ant
1e adopted the sXpedient Of standing
directly on the rubber until he wa
ready 10 bat Kitson beat this schem'
: sending a fast shoot which hit Nc