Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-15
ONE RUN ENOUGH
TO DEFEAT MAPS
Walter Johnson Pitches His
Best Game of Season
Against Cleveland.
NATIONALS BUNCH HITS
ON JOSS IN FIRST
Brilliant Struggle Is in Doubt
Until Last Man Is Retired.
Both Play ErrorlessIy.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

BY j. ED GRILLO.
Brilliant pitching by Walter Johnson
prevented the Maps from scoring run
yesterday. and d punching of three hits
in the first inning gave the Nationals the
one tally which allowed them TO score a
1-to-O victory over Cleveland.
1t was a splendid struggle. which, of
course as the small score indicates, was
never decided until the last man was re-
tired.
\ one-run lead for team that has
been going like ours during the greater
part of this season did not make the
crowd feel any too comfortable even as
inning after inning slipped by without
the Maps reaching the plate. That feel
ing of uncertainty was not dispelled
either until Stovall. while Lajoie was on
first. with two out in the ninth, drove
sharp grounder to Mcbride. and the ball
eventually landed in Unglaub's big mitt
a moment before StovaI crossed the base.
Only then did the crowd give vent to its
Joy.
Walter johnson pitched yesterday as
the Johnson of old. If anything, it was
better exhibition than the one he fur
niShed on the opening day against the
athletics, which won him the praise of
President Taft inscribed on base bail.
True, he allowed more hits than on that
occasion, but his work was cleaner, not
a single pass being given, and he was
always absolute master of the situation.
When one sees Johnson pitch as he did
yesterday il is no wonder that he has
gained fame without ever having won
many games AS he has lost in any one
season of his career in this company
lie worked only Johnson can. With
that terrific speed was perfect control.
and when he found that the batsman re-
fused to 'nibble at balls he shot just away
from the goal he could come right back.
wind up that long arm and shoot the
sphere across with such speed that the
eye could hardly follow it.
Lead Was Slight.
But when game is SO close as was this
pitcher is in trouble upon the
slightest occasion. The very fact that a
man has reached the base creates danger,
for there might come that long hit
which creeps into such games occasionally
and the score would be tied or even over
come. So johnson was in several tight
places They would not have been pre-
dicaments ordinarily, but with just one
run to spare every man that reached the
not difficult to recall what has been hap
pening of late whenever an opportunity
for runs presented itself to the opposition.
The eight athletes working side by side
with Johnson performed in their very
best form. They gobbled up everything
that was offered. thus leaving the re-
sponsibilty of winning the game to john
son himself, and it could not have been
left in better hands.
In Addie Joss Johnson found a foe well
worthy of his steel Joss as usual,
pitched an excellent game of ball. but he
was unfortunate that GeSSer got hit
in the first inning, which gave the locals
their only tally. Like Johnson, he was
steady. giving but one pass. which Offset
the hit batsman scored against Johnson.
Strange TO say, every hit excepting one
made off of Joss came after two ou-
which explains the scarcity of runs for
the Nationals So Joss frequently had
men on the bases. but it was always I'M
der conditions where il was but necessary
TO dispose of the next batter to avoid
trouble. With Johnson it was different.
lie had two innings started with base
hits, one of which was a double. and on
two other occasions he was hit safely with
on, out. yet always handled the situation
perfectly and got himself out of trouble.
In the very nrst inning Johnson was
threatened. Graneys line fly had been
captured by Lelivelt when Turner hit
through third for base. Flick flied out
but when Turner started steal Mcbride
started TO cover the bag and Lajoie,
though the ball was pitched low. reached
out and pulled it through the spot
vacated by Mcbride but moment
before, and on this single Turner went
10 third Then came short passed
baH on which Lajo took second.
But Johnson merely put everything he
had on the ball and struck out Stovan
Gessler's Timely Single.
Matters broke better for the Nationals
in their half. Milan lined out to Lajoie
as starter. but Conroy dropped Texas
lacquer to right only to be forced a
moment later by Lelivelt. Kid EIberfeld
followed with a clean single to left and
It was up to Doc Gessler. Doc delivered,
hts contribution being a screeching sin
gle to right. on which Lelvelt scored
Doc also stole second. but Unglaub flied
to Graney and the rally ended, though
it suff1ced, as was eventually proven.
Then came the real struggle. With that
one-run lead 1t was but necessary to
hold the Maps scoreless. no easy PROPOSE
ton to be sure, but Johnson Accomplished
IT.
When Graney pulled a bunt between
Johnson and first and beat it out to
start the third round things began to
look squally, for the heavy hitters were
coming up But Turner flied and so did
Flick and, incidentally, Johnson caught
Graney mapping, which helped considera-
bly,, for in the very next inning Laioie.
the next man up, hit for two bases or
course he might not have done that had
he come up in the third, but IL is good
dope to mention at any rate. But to get
back to the game itself:
IT was in the fourth that I.ajoie hit the
FIRST ball pitched TO deep left field for
two bases. II certainly looked as if the
score would be tied. but Johnson disposed
OF Stovall. Clarke and Kruger with COM
paratiye case and the danger was over
Though Mcbride walked i'm the second.
the next three men failed to advance him
and EIberfeld's hit in the third came with
two out, SO was wasted But in the
fourth there was Il chance for runs
though it came late. Mcbride nit safely
with two down i'm this inning and Street
got q bit when his grounder took a bad
hound past Turner 1t was mp 10 john
son TO cinch il. but Joss struck him GU.