Evening star., 1909-05-24
NATIONALS co Down
BEFORE THE TIGERS
Gray PITCHES Good Ball, But
Cobb's Timely Hits Score
a Victory.
Sn.c;sl DiSnatcb to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DETROIT. Mich, May 24.-Grabbing a
game that was in many ways one OF the
most peculiar ever played on the local lot'
the Detroits yesterday went back INTO
first place at the expense of Washington
4 to >.
AGAINST them was Dolly Gray. the
Golden Gate southpaw. while for them
was Edgar WilleN. The Detroiter was hit
in six of the nine innings and had two
runners on sacks in the seventh. assem-
bling all Of his gifts in this period. Gray
kept first base clean in almost as many
innings as his own team had it occupied,
taking the Tigers in one. two. three order
In six of their eight offensive efforts. The
home team won because its bingles, four
In all, were punched. Washington went
down to defeat because it could not swat
them safe when men waited to score.
In both scoring sessions the heretofore
frequently hitless Cobb came to the plate
with runs in sight. and both times hit
Them home. Once Mcintyre and Bush
were waiting, and a single sent them
across. The other time Crawford was
perched on first and a double speeded him
around. An error followed, on which
Cobb completed the course. Outside OF
these two rounds no Detroiter made first
base, and in these two none was stranded
No Tigers Left.
That was one of the peculiarities of
game that was carried though in fast
time, and that was marked by beautiful
fielding on both sides, only excepting a
wild throw by each. each Of which cost a
run. Seldom does it happen that game
of ball is played in which one of the
teams has not a man left on the base. 1t
is an occasional occurrence of no-hit
and no-run game, but does not always
accompany such a performance. 1t Is
extremely doubtful that a Detroit team
has ever played game of ball. before
yesterday, in which no runner was left.
For q team that is at present anchored
In last place, Washington played a re-
fective pitching. Detroit. being unable to
connect safely with the big curve ball
that Gray. was handing up, but that
pitcher, to play the bet two ways, also
a number Of brilliant plays, and indulging
in one bobble, which affected the score.
but not the result. The Tigers also work
ed in an entirely different strain from
that they have shown in recent appear
ances. Willett pitched an excellent game
for his club, but he almost always had
some one on, and his backing never
.faltered, and sometimes saved him. The
only error on his side he contributed
himself. 1t cost a run.
Browne opened Nicely.
1t was in the first inning when Wash
ington got its only two tallies of the
osy. Browne was the first hitter, and
tripled to left. Conroy bounced at
Willett. who threw to O'Leary to get
Browne off the bag. The peg was wide
and got through. Browne scored and
Conroy went to second on the error.
Delehanty sacrificed him along, and
Donohue lifted fly to Mcintyre so far
Milan was easy for Crawford. ""
Though two runs looked big here. they
didn't remain large for any length of
time. Mcintyre started Detroits half
with a single over second base. Gray
handed out his only pass Of the days to
Eush- Crawford bunted in front of the
plate. advancing the men. Cobb came
to bat with a drawn-in infield, and
smashed fast liner over second base.
on which both runners registered Tyrus
tried To- steal, and Street stopped him.
Then Moriarity lifted fly.
There only one other. inning in
which the home team scored, and that
was the seventh. Outside of these periods
Gray had the Tigers hitting at infielders
or into the air, and in those six other
innings no Detroiter trod first base.
Cobb on His Job.
Starting the seventh, Crawford hit over
first. Donohue got the ball Just too far
back to be able to beat Sam. He tossed
to Gray, who covered. but Crawford S
foot spiked the sack a fraction of a step
In advance. Crawford was on his way
TO second on hit and run play. when
Cobb drove the ball out between Browne