The Washington times., 1908-04-21
Nationals Again Fail to Rise
To Occasion in Close Finish
Furnish Gotham Fans With Delicious Thrills,
Then Send Them Home Happy and Con-
tent-Cates' Queer Feats.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

NEW YORK, April 2l.-WashingtOn
should prove the most valuable card in
the American League on the road this
season. Il can always give the other
fellows g run for their money, furnish
an abundance Of ninth-inning thrills,
then let the home team win. No more
felicitous combination could be imagined
for a fan--providing he is roofing for
Washington's opponents
That TO beating by New York yes
terday vas a typical sample Of the kind
Of aSebaIl the team is playing this year
and has played for some years past.
Two runs were made in the eighth
inning. which made the score what it
was at the finish. In the last round
Street beat out a drive into the ground
in front OF the plate. Mcbride tried TO
sacrifice and popped TO Chesbro. War
ner batted for Shipke and famed.
Milan was put in to bat for Gates, who
had famed twice in succession. and
while Milan was at the plate Chesbro
made a wild pitch which advanced
Street to third. Then Milan whitfield,
How's that for arousing popular inter
est in the great national game-outside
of washington:
Gets Early Start.
New York got its start and won by
making two runs of CiehTing in the first
inning Keller walked, Jake StahI
doubled. and Elberfeld singled. which
tells thar tale.
For some reason best known 10 him
self. Manager CantiIlon supplanted
Gehring with Gates. The latter is a
complaining OF not being right just
yet He was hit freely. but had a
most unusual record. Ten safeties. in
him, but only two runs materialiZed-
The brace of ITALICS came in the fifth
round from two doubles, a single and
q sacrifice, a small enough return for
the amount Of smuggling.
Gates uueercst feat was when he
escaped in the fifth inning. With two
out, Doyle, Niles. and Keller success
siyely singled 70 center. filling the
bags. Stahl flied to center, and no
body crossed the plate.
In the third inning also Gates did
a neat bit OF work Niles opened with
a single and took second on Keeler's
tap 10 center. Gates gave Stahl strTg
OF fast 'nshoots close to his chest. and
StaEl famed Elberfeld's infield out
advanced the runners. and Gates cap
ped the climax by striking out Chase.
Hitting Responsible.
These instances show that the High
! landers had TO be on the jump all the
/ time to win. and the question arises
Why old Washington lose2 Aside from
a dearth OF TALES it is hard 10 explain
I why the team is dropping these close
| games The principle might be 'lacl
| Of consistency in hitting" Three O
/ the teams eight hits yesterday were
made with two out. But. 70 show how
| contrary baseball can be. the two rum
made in the eighth inning were started
! with two dead
| Further, CIymer and Freeman. VIII,
/ have not been doing well in coming Il
/ the front at psychological moments, bOtl
/ hobbed up Yesterday with clouts at eN
| aCtly the right time. After GaHley had
! singled IN the eighth and Delehanty
/ had walked CIyner scored Ganley witt
! a Whack TO right, and sent Delehanty
/ TO third. Freeman hit a bounder q
! Niles that could not have been han
ldled with a net. and Delehanty tailed
! CIymer going TO third.
New York substituted CheSbrO FOL
Doyle at this juncture. Street was al