Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-15
BY J. ED GRILLO.

For the first time this season the Ma
tionals have won two games i'll row,
and a more elatcd lot of ball players can-
not be imagined. From Manager NC
Aleer down the team has commended right
along that once it could win two games
consecutively it would indicate that they
had struck their stride, and from that on
there would be a different story to tell.
sions to accomplish this feat, but never
succeeded until yesterday. There was
singing and hand shaking in the club
house after the game. and even the
rather detected visage of Jim McAleer
seemed softened.
"All we have needed is a few victories,
and we could not get them while our
pitchers were not delivering. We nave
had grand pitching in the last two games.
and the result Is our opponents nave
scored but one run and we have won two
games in a row. said NcAleer. L believe
that from this out we will put up an en-
tirely different article of base ball. When
they were breaking bad for us / always
felt encouraged with the way the boys
hung to their jobs. They did not allow
themselves to become discouraged. and
believe that We have struck our stride
1T is, of course, a question OF having
two of the other pitchers ready to DO
til we get them in the game. But we are
coming along now and 1 feel more hope
full than ever before. I've a game team
and 1t will win If the pitchers get to
going, of that I am certain"
What a difference there was in john
sons pitching yesterday compared with
his last time out. Tuesday. when he was
ineffective against the White Sox. There
is no explanation for these reversals Of
IN a nifChpr-.
natural that a man should not be as
good one day as another without realiZ-
ing 1t.
Johnson pitched yesterday as he has in
the majority of the games he has pitched
since becoming a member of the team,
but the old hoodoo of always getting into
games in which he cannot AFFORD TO take
a single breathing spell still follows him.
1t was SO again yesterday. The Ma
tionals only scored one run. and Johnson
had to work every inch of the way to
keep that advantage, and he did 1t In
brilliant fashion.
When Johnson Is himself the fact that
the first man up gets on does not as
rule prove disadvantageOus. for he can
under such condition call on his remark
able reserve force and pitch himself out
of a hole. If yesterdays game Indicates
that Johnson has regained his old form
he will be a hard man to beat from this
out.
Larry Lajoie broke into major league
base ball some fourteen years ago, and
being an fnfelder he has been in the
game every day of each season that his
physical condition allowed it. One would
imagine that this STRAIN would In course
of time tell on player. especially one
Of Lajoie's weight, but he looks as good,
if not better. today as he ever did. He
is that same graceful fielder. who never
has a hard chance apparently, and that
same wicked swing and perfect eye.
What is more. the great trenchman
looks to be in better form this spring
than ever before. With all mis- ability
and fame Lajoie is undoubtedly one OF
the most modest men in base ball. You
would never know that he was on the
field were 1t not that his playing Is sure
to attract attention.
Things are not breaking we'll for Milan
He is having lot Of line drives caught
which, however. shows that he Is still
hitting the ball.
At the rate Johnson is striking out bats
men this year he will again iead tne
league in the percentage of strikeouts.
Yesterday he famed eight.
Incidentally 1t might be remarked that
George Mcbride has got to going In his
old way. He was everywhere on that
field yesterday and his good stops OF ugly
bounding grOunders did much to prevent
the Maps from tying the score. Mcbride
sure TO come. even alteT d Udu StdIt
resulting from his illness this spring, and
when he is going right there is not
shortstop in the American League his
superior as fielder.
I.aioie came within an inch Of grabbing
GessIer's single in the first. which gave
the Nationals their only run. with one
hand. But the ball was hit so hard that
it broke through Larry's glove and rolled
to Flick. When Doc meets them 1t is a
dangerous matter to tackle his drives.