Evening star., 1909-04-18
NATIONAL LEAGUE.
How the Clubs Stand.
Today's Games.

St. Louis at Cincinnati.
Pittsburg at Chicago.
A large majority Of the 1000 base ball
fans who journeyed to the American
League Park yesterday afternoon to see
the Nationals cross bats with the Bos-
ton Red Sox may not have been satisfied
with the result of the game, which end
ed with a score of 6 to 1 in favor Of the
visitors, but if they knew anything about
base ball they saw some remarkable
sights II was dreary exhibition from
Washington standpoint and the score
alone saved its looks for the hackers of
the visitors. One play came off that
probably has no precedent in major league
base ball and there were also a large
share OF those unforeseen occurrences
tnat make the national game what it is.
TO start with there was a repetition OF
what occurred in recent game between
the Nationals and the New York High
landers for young Mr.. Gray, the Cali
fornia pitcher. did in the first inning Of
Yesterdays game exactly what his
brother Californian, Mr.. Groom, did in
the first inning OF his initial appearance
against the New Yorkers-blew up and
lest the game.
OF course, in view Of subsequent innings
and events Washington could hardly have
won the game anyhow. They were not
there with the stick at the right time.
while they were there with the errors all
the time, but 1t did look bad to see Bos-
ton get two across the plate on Gray in
the first session.
Wolter Taken Out.
Then to make things disagreeable for
us just as the Nationals got on to the
delivery OF Wolter. the young Californian
fy. xIa To- 81 h, tate fnr
six innings and part Of another. Manager
Lake promptly yanked him out and put
in his places a swarthy young man named
Areilanes, who, although wild at times.
lreld the Nationals safe for the rest OF
the game.
But 1t was that eighth inning that broke
the hearts OF the loyal Washington root
ers. 1t was a hair-raiser. for things
happened SO swiftly and in such a
peculiar fashion that everybody wondered
what it was all about
Tom Hughes. VINO relieved Gray at the
close of the first inning. was wild. but
always managed to tighten up in the
crucial moments until the first half OF
that eighth inning. when the spirit Of the
airships appeared to hover over the field
and carry both teams Up in the atmo-
sphere. Truly 1t was remarkable ses-
sion. Right at the start Lord, the first
man UP. dropped Texas Lacquer into
left field. which was too slow and teasing
q variety lOT DOD OHSiduD tO get unUcf
Then came Speaker. who bunted toward
third base. Hughes went after it and it
caromed of the toe of his shoe. Before
he got 1t Speaker was safe on first and
Lord was dancing around on the far side
OF second.
Gessier came TO the bat and Hughes
shot the crack slugger a hot one. so hot,
in fact, that Charley Street dropped it.
Lord paraded 10 third and Speaker slid
into second. Then. at a signal from
C-ntiiion, Hughes purposely walked
Gessler. The next man at the bat was
,Ins Danzig. new man who is holding
down first base In place of Jake Stahi.
VINO is out of the game on account of in
lcrIes. DanZig had been striking out and
Hughes naturally looked upon him as
easy. But Danzig landed on the ball and
il rolled TO Conroy. The third baseman,
fiurried by the delay in getting 1t. threw
Lord loped home from third on the play,
leaving three men on the bases. Then
came the play that made the oldest base
ball experts in the stands or on the bases
sit with their mouths hanging open in
wonder.
Niles Funny Stunt.
Niles came to bat and laced a long.
high drive into right field. II went far
back of where Clymer was standing. but
he got nearly under il and IL looked for
a fash though he would get it. Danzie
who was on first, evidently expected CIV
mer 10 catch the ball, for he stood rooted
10 the bag. preparing to so to second
on the tnrow-in.
But Niles did not figure II that NAV
He put his head down and started around
ha "a r0I