The Washington times., 1908-09-16
Washington May Yet Finish Sixth
if Athletics Keep on Losing
at Their Present Rate.
Unexpected Victory With Sick Man Gates Pitching
Arouses New Hopes-Further Improvement in An
nOUnCements-Team Goes West.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

Washington made it's getaway yes
terday by beating the Athletics to /.
That was four games out Of six with
those Athletics, which is not so bad,
Tor Connie Mack always has a team
that is dangerous. even II IL is not
wearing championship blankets. Incl
dentaly, Boston also lost yesterday, so
that il is still tied with the Athletics.
Ihelr defeats yesterday cost the Ath-
letics and Boston four points each, re-
ducing them from .4Sg TO .4S5, while by
It's victory Washington gained four
points. and jumped from 40 TO .454.
Which leaves II Just thlrty-One points
behind either CT them Tor sixth place.
With its pitching stan IN its present
condition. WashingtOn's chances Of
climbing into sixth place are not bright,
but II is some comfort TO a Washing
ton fan 10 be able 20 dream OF posi-
bilities OF higher things, Instead Of
brushing up his knowledge OF living and
dead languages to find new expressions
Tor eNcuSing defeats and the Athletics
are losing right along
The cool weather yesterday kept the
attendance down. but could not dampen
the ardOr OF the genial and generous
Mr. Decker and the versatile =. Law
renee Phillips for taking tips about how
TO improve the service at the grounds
Mr.. Decker had his brand-new. signed
and sealed score cards on sale and Mr.
Phillips had the good sense TO announce
that Coombs would play center for the
Athletics. that being a change which
was decided upon too late TO get into
the printed Lineup. Such evidences Of a
Willingness to learn and Oblige. lead US
10 cheerful reflections that almost any
cream might come true, such as that
the refOrmers from Four Posts, Buzz
yards Nest, Smiths X-Roads, ana
other distant centers may some day al
low the people OF Washington 20 settle
their own affairs.
Eli Gates. who was sick Of a fever.
had an arm that panied Ike a boil.
said that altogether he was not feeling
so peart, pitched six innings of the
game yesterday, and was then relieved
by Walter johnson. Eli allowed four
scattered hits in the six sessions. and
would not have been scored upon had
the intield gotten together properly on
the double steal II that is ELS style
OF delivery when he IS OF his feed we
predict very promising future for him
whenever he gets all right once more
Gates Is better pitcher than some folk
seem 70 imagine. and while he may not
be with the club next year If all OF
Cantillon's plans go through, there are
Just about fifteen other major league
clubs that could afford TO give him a
trial. and about thirteen of the fifteen
would find him well worth carrying on
the salary roll. The same is true or
Kelley.
nam gave dllOAlltL AIldl 10 his young
pitcher Schiller. Three earned runs
were garnered OF him. and he had no
kick coming. even II the principal OBJ
feet lesson Of the game was that Lapp
is a long ways Yet from chasing Doc
Powers or Ossie Schreck out OF the
major leagues as catchers.
:
Just when he was getting the har-
pO3n for not sticking. Pickering awoke
and slammed a double 90 center in the
ninth inning. It was a valued cOntribu-
ton, because It drove in Street and
Johnson, with the last two runs, but
Pickering has been falling down with
some regularity in pinches in close
games, AMI must wake up.
For some reason the working Of Dele
hanty, Mcbride, and Street on the
double steal by the opposition Of second
and home has not been so good of late.
rrhara has haar1 air Of inHacislnr