The Washington times., 1910-10-18
OPENING GAME OF SERIES
JUST ORDINARY, SAYS RICE
Nothing Wonderful About Contest Which Athletics Win
From Chicago Cubs, Who Do Not Do Anything Ex-
traordinary In 'Insi de Baseball Work
BY THOMAS S. RICE.

I ever except to the side that vas not at
bat.
Too much praise cannot be given
Bender. He and Topsy Hartsel had the
reputation of being the only men on the
Athletic list in 1865 who did not curl up
before the New York Giants in thaS
disastrous worlds series. The Indian
repeated yesterday. He may pitch to-
morrow, or next day, but the first game
was the crucial test. IL was the crisis
of the season, and he was equal to the
occasion Never has he shown better
form. and never did he pitch a better
game IN Washington than he pitched
here yesterday.
He had everything Speed. control,
fast breaks, slow balls. wonderful
change of pace-all were at his COM
mand. He was absOlute'y invincible IN
the first eight innings, and had he been
hard pressed we do not believe the
Cubs would have had their tiny rally in
the ninth.
Shows Master Hand.
He showed a master hand. backed by
excellent judgment, originality of ideas
and perfect confidence. The Cubs were
absolutely buffaloed, and looked the
part. They bit like amateurs at his
curves, and swung vainly at his fast
ones when he wanted to make 4 special
effort. He may go badly the next time
out, but you can't take away from him
the credit OF pitching at least one great
ball game this year.
The best point about the whole
thing, from an AmeI can League
rOoters's viewpoint. was the first-rate
catching by Thomas He has been
figured as a weak sister. ana was not
the popular choice for the first game,
despite the fact he ranks high as
hitter. Mack took a chance on him,
and he was well worth the risk His
catching could not have been I'M
proved upon. Nobody could have done
better than he in sQuashing the dash
ing Schultz, and he handled the be-
wildering offerings of Bender with
out a mistake. If he can keep the
same gait with the other pitchers,
Livingstone and Lapp win remain on
the bench. Thomas did not get
plate he walked the first, famed the
second and walked the third. You
could not ask for better than that.
King Lives Up to Record.
King lived up to his reputation as a
great ball player, and we are glad of
II. To have a star fall by the wayside,
as is usual in worlds series. deprives
q real ian OF part Of his Legitimate
amusement. Killing made the hit that
drove in the only run for the Cubs.
and he whipped the ball 10 second in
time TO check the larcenous tendencies
of Collins, leading base stealer in the
in genuinely impressive manner.
He was there. Not a sign OF a four
1ush or a pulled reputation
The game was devoid OF real sem
SatiOnal features Where 50 much de-
Ponds upon every move, play that
ordinarily would not attract men
ton in the papers next day, becomes
a wonder, and is eXpatiated upon at
great length. Watch out for that in
the stories about the series. Sheck-
ard made a nice running catch off
murphy IN the seventh. II was high
fly that scared over near the crowd
IN right, and necessitated a gCodly
sprint by the original human grass
hopper
Baker in the seventh inning. when
the fans were on edge for fair, made
a. really good stop and heave to Davis
at first on Hofman's vicious and siz-
Zling DOunder that aImcst took the
third sacker OF his feet. 1t was a
mighty nice bit OF fielding, but was
not remarkable. Not another stunt
was above what we might expect as
a matter of course from men contend
ing for the baseball championship Of
the world.
Bender's Hit a Scratch.
The hit Bender got in the second in
ming was decidedly scratchy. Murphy
was on third and Thomas on first,
with two out. The chief smashed a
furious bounder TO the right Of Zim-
norman. 1t bounced high, and was
only reached after a sIdew1se jump It
hit in the glove all right enough, and
failed to stick. Bender is a pretty
rapid delegate to send TO first, and
even If Zimmerman had knocked down
this saucy and ill-behaved cOntribu-
ton we do not believe he would have
had time to recover his balance and
throw to first quick enough TO extin-
guish the flying Red Man
You never can tell in baseball, and
Frank Chance will agree to that today
Ever after the Cubs babe fair TO win
the National League pennant the choice
10 pitch first in the worlds series was
Overall. Let him work the opener and
cinch that. was the plea Of the Chica-
go fans. Chance thOUEFs the same way
and used Overall.
The prize package was cledniy knock
ed out OF he box in three innings. His
place was taken by McIntire, who
has not been in the dope. He let the
Athletics down with one hit in five
innings. They couldn't hit him and
knew it. The stone that the builders
rejected would have made a monstrOus
good cornerstone on which to found
the Cub hopes in the contention yester-
day.
EIMHMNIhI