The Washington times., 1908-08-15

Washington broke into 400 society yes
terday when it grabbed two games from
Chicago. the first by TO and the sec
Opd by 3 TO 2.
The percentage Of the team today is
.40z just two points above the number
which is generally accepted here as the
minimum for what the team should
accomplish this year. If II does better
than that. then the excess viii be so
much velvet and Will reflect that
much more credit on Manager Canulion
aud his r4en.
Not only were the two games won,
but they were thoroughly deserved. for
all of the Washington runs were earned,
In the second game one OF Chicago's
two tallies was indirectly due TO a wild
throw by Hughes in an effort 10 catch
George Davis mapping at second. That
offset the wide throw Anderson made in
the last inning OF the second game to
head of Mcbride. who was running
from second to the plate on NIian's
short single 10 left In no way yoI look
a. il did the Nationals merit any less
than they got.
In addition 20 the fact that the home
team won the fans were delighted be
ing made by the Nationals. The fielding
was OF a high order throughout, the hit
ting was hard and timely. the base run
ming was daring-aud suCCessful-and
there was an abundance Of moves which
proved that the men were using their
heads as well as their hands.
An especially credltabIe performance
was in the second inning Of the first
game. Anderson walked. Atz drove at
Johnson, who wheeled and made a per-
feet throw to Mcbride at second. after
which Atz was doubled up at first.
There was nothing wonderful about the
stunt. but it was worthy OF notice as
an evidence OF Johnsou's Improvement
in fielding. which has been his weakest
point and which has lost several games
after he had pitched himself into
winning position. Johnson has the merit
OF being willing TO learn, and is not
breaking into fast company with the
foolish idea of some pitchers that II
they have first class arms and control
they need not worry about fielding. This
IS a very prevalent weakness among
twirlers, especially youngsters. but, for
tunately. II has not cropped out among
any Of the Washington finds, all of
whom are more or less good felders
and anxious 10 become better.
This season Johnson has been erratic,
pitching a good game one day and a
bad one the next time he Oficiated,
with the result that enthusiastic an
nOunCemenJs that he had recovered en-
tiTely from the operation on his head and
was back in his 1891 form were Grabbed
by subsequent poor work. But, yester-
day, he certainly showed everything he
had when he first came here and more,
Tor he Is better ball player now than
- hen. dis speed was terrific, and ia
PInches ne was right on the job with
an extra burst that made the SoN curl
up IN perfectly helpless fashion. II
was great pity he did not finish with
a no-hL record, and the first eight
innings were remarkable exhibition
OF how 20 pitch the right way. even
If he did give four passes.
The hits by both White and Jones H.
the ninth inning were perfectly clean
drives over second. so Johnson had no
ndId-luCk story coming on the fact that
he did not get by without being touch
ed. He simply let down mOmentariIy,
and there Is no kick coming that he
did
Don't let's forget that there is some
thing coming to Mike KahOe for his
handling OF JOhnsOn's delivery. The
Old-tlmer was right there with both
feet and his head. Up 10 the time
the team went West for the trip Just
finished, Mike mad not caught q game
this season. Then CanLlllOn evolved
the idea Of trying him with Johnson,
as neither Warner nor Street was get
ting results from the young phenOm.
From that time Johnson began 10
deliver the goods. Mike was not
candidate for the American sprint team
in the OlympiCs. but he has taking
a
few, and is otherwise a handy COM
panion.
Another shining light was Unglaub
who made his presence felt in both
games. 1t was his timely hit in the
first inning OF the opener that drove
in Milan with the only run Of the
game. In tine sixth inning of the second
game il was his clean double TO left
following Ganleys double down the
first base line that sent home Wash
ingtOn's first run. He thus demOnstrat-
ed his usefulness against both q left
handed and right-haDded pitcher,
something 10 make glad the heart or
the fan, for Washington has been
afflicted this season with men who were
generally helpless against sOuthpaW.
We have mentioned many of the no.
table deeds OF the double triumph, but
me real thing IL the winner line vas
Milan. he did a little of everything a
ball player could for his team, and
hOisted another notch in his own per
sonal pennant g the best young out
fielder in the [meEican League, with
the exception of Cobb. Starting with a
scratch hit In the first inning of the
first game he worked his way around
until he crossed the pan with the soli-
tdry run that developed in nine innings
OF battling. In the ninth inning Of the
same clash II was his throw to KahOs
on Fielder Jones single to center that
cut down Harry White in his prime
game,
In the second game after mufing
Jones fly in the first inning, which re-
suited in no EzEp because Of Bill
Shipke's clever work in a double play
with Freeman, Milan got hit in the
seventh inning with one out, advanced
on Shipke's sacrifice, and scored from