Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-20
CRACK COLLEGE BATTERY
MAY JOIN NATIONALS
Pitcher With No-Hit Game to His Credit
Being Negotiated For-Jack O'Connor
Can't Get Help From Other Teams.

Gessler's triple. Unglaub's hit scored
In the eighth Milan hit, Killifer sacri-
feed and again Elberfeld brought Milan
home with a hit and scored himself on
iessiers second three-bagger. But Tn
glaubs single was lacking to bring Doc
home.
The Nationals hold at least one record
for this season. in that the team has. not
game In which the Nationals have not
scored was that Swimming tie game with
New York. in which neither side got a
run across the plate. and that cannot be
counted shutout for either In every
other game the team has scored at least
one run. which speaks well for its run-get-
ting proclivities. There is no doubt that
Milan more than any one else is RESPONSE
Die Tor this encouraging condition for
there have been mighty few days that
Claude has not reached first base one or
more times. His ability to get on the
bases has been Of the greatest value to
the team, for 1t always gives a chance for
runs
Street and Mcbride pulled off a double
play that one sees but seldom Griggs
was on first as the result of pass in the
second inning. Schweitzer struck out, and
second. Street threw him out easily, and
Schweitzer was out the moment the third
strike was called because first base was
occupied.
Elberfeld's reputation as a fielder was
not OF the best when he joined the To-
calls. He said himself this spring that he
did not think he would improve the Ma
tionals infield by reason of his fielding,
but he hoped to make himself valuable
in other respects. But Elberfeld's field
ing has been of the best this spring.
He has had but one poor day, in the
game that Reis.ing pitched, when he had
lot of trouble throwing the spit bali
across the diamond. In all his other
games he has not only fielded brilliantly,
but his work has been Of such high order
that 1t is now generally conceded that the
Kid Is playing the best ball of his ca
strict attention to his own affairs. is not
bothering with the umpires or other play
ers. and. when it comes to COUGHING rum
ners coming into third, he hasn't an
equal.
In the fourth inning yesterday Elber-
field gave splendid exhibition Of block
ing runner off the bag. Hoffman was
on first when johnson made a wild pitch.
norman started to go all the way to
third. and seemed to have plenty of time
to reach the bag. Street threw to Elber-
field. who got the ball in front Of the bag.
and then made a dive into Hoffman.
carrying him out with him and getting
the decision.
There may be players who get more hits
during a season than Doc Gess!er but II
Is questionable whether any of the other
sluggers In the league get more timely
1000. he getting two three-baggers, a pass
and being hit once by a pitched ball. This
is a most creditable performance for a
left handler against left handler, and one
OF his hits was to left and the other to
right. There Is no way to play for Doc.
He is apt to hit into any field, and when
he does it is usually good and hard.
Those hits yesterday reminded one of the
days when Doc would come here with
Boston and break up the matinees
knowing Stones weakness as thrOwer,
McAleer did not hesitate to chase Milan
home on both of Elberfeld's hits to left
which Stone gathered in not far behind
not have much behind them, and Milan
beat both throws easily.
Walter johnson, despite the fact that he
a good game of ball. was not at his best
He only gave three bases on balls, but he
was in hole On most of the men he
faced and this made 1t hard days work
for the Nationals star twirler.
The present winning streak must not
be considered a mere flash in the pan.
The Nationals are playing but little bet
ter ball now than they have all the sea-
son. though. of course, the difference in
the pitching is such that their work
shows up to better advantage. The team
Is averaging about the same number OF
runs per game that 1t has ever since the
season started. Then. too. 1t makes a
lot of difference in team when 1t is
winning. There Is encouragement in VIC
tory, which also furnishes an incentive.
the team is going splendidly now. and II
the pitchers contipNe to deliver as they
have on the occallbn of their last ap-
pearances there Is no reason why the
present gait should not be continued. That
does not mean that the Nationals will
win every game they play. but they
should be q factor in every one Of them.
and have a chance. at least, to win the
majority.
Right now the team is a tough PROPOSE
ton to beat. 1t puts up q strong defense.
has a catcher who can stop base runners.
and just enough hitting to get runs
enough to win when backed up by good
pitching.
This winning streak does not therefore.
mean that the team is just going ahead
Of its gait.
Milan Is suffering with lame back as
result Of slide in Wednesday's game.