Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-19
M'ALEER'S CREW PUTS
Up A L|STLESS GAME
Groom's Pitching Was Poor and He
Was Relieved by Gray in
Sixth Inning.
SPADE, A NATIONAL LEAGUE
DISCARD, PUZZLES BATTERS
Weather Was Sultry and Deadened
the Washingtonians+Hardy a
Bad Relief for Street.
BY J. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ST. LOUIS Mo-. June 1s.-In no game
that the Nationals have played this sea-
Bon did they give so poor an exhibition as
today, when the Browns scored 9-to-0
victory over them. Whether II was be-
cause of the intense heat or some other
cause differs little, but the fact remains
that 1t was an off day of the worst kind
for the Nationals. To begin with. the
spirit which has characterized the teams
playing on the present trip was entirely
absent The players went into the game
as II II was labor they had to perform
instead of pleasure The playing was
listless In every way. and there was not
the slightest evidence of ginger at any
stage OF the game on the part of Nc
Aleer's men.
Perhaps it was because of the rather
Indifferent manner in which Groom start
ed his game. He was nothing like him.
self. and conducted himself more like a
washerwoman than a major league pitch
er, his control was of the worst, and
when he did get the ball over it was usu-
ally hit.
To add 10 this, support was Of saffron
hue. and runs. of course, came in punches
for the Browns. much to the delight of
the several thousand fans, who would
rather see McAleer's team beaten than
win a pennant.
Groom did not last quite six innings,
during every one Of which he was in
trouble. Had it not been for some
monumental luck the Browns would have
rolled up scores from the outset, for they
had plenty of opportunities. but Groom
got out of several tight places by the
Skin of his teeth. until the fourth. when
the break came and three of the Browns
crossed the rubber. They had scored
three more in the sixth before he got
out of the game and Gray came in. and
another one was scored off of him in
this inning.
When Groom went to the bench Street
went with him, for the game was then
ing a chance of injuring the teams only
catcher Harry took Gabby's place and
performed in his usual manner, dropping
about every ball that was pitched to him,
and helping the Browns score along with
bad peg TO FIRST, which cost a run. But
then ii matters not how the Browns got
their runs, for there seemed no way for
the Nationals to get any.
Bob Spade. recently with Cincinnati.
and passed up by every club in the Ma
tional League as being a has-been, was
on the rubber for the Browns. 1t was
his first appearance here. and he got
away with but three hits charged against
him. Just how Spade accomplished this
Is hard TO understand, for the ball. when
he delivered it to the plate. looked as
big as cantaloupe. yet the Nationals
could not connect with it to any eff
fective extent. Whether it was some
thing special that he put on the sphere
or just the listless work Of the batsmen
is perhaps hard to determine. but 1t is a
fact that about all McAleer's batsm. n
could do with his delivery was to pop
up weak flies. Being the latest acquIsi-
ton TO the team. the crowd shouted itsels
hoarse as inning after inning passed and
the visitors failed to get a run of of the
new pitcher. He Is now considered a
great find. though his reputation may
suffer the next time he faces a team.
The best chance the Nationals had for
runs came in the very opening inning.
which Milan started with a hit. Lelivelt
forced him and Elberfeld drew a pass
Then Lelivelt tried to work the hit and
run with Gessler. but the ball was pitched
out and Lelivelt was nailed at third
Gessler proved easy and the chance was
gone.
In the second half Of the inning Groom
got out of a tight place. With one out
Hartzell was given life when Elberfeld
threw low to Unglaub after making a
good stop Of the srounder. Wallace sim.
gled and Groom faltered long enough to
walk Newman. filling the bases. with but
one out But Schwei.zer popped up to
Conroy and Mcbride took care of Hoff-
man. ending the inning.
street and Mcbride prevented trouble
In the second. which Truesdale opened
win NIT stephens sacrificed and Spade
was walked. Fisher forced Spade and
then he and Truesdale tried the double
steal Streets throw to Mcbride and
the iatters return to the plate were per-
feet. and Truesdale was nailed by yards.
In the fourth things happened. Hoff-
man struck out. but Truesdale was walk
ed Stephens got swinging bunt down
the third base line after Truesdale had
stolen second Street made a peg to
catch Truesdale of third. but the ball
got away from Conroy. and Stephens went
10 second. Spade hit to Mcbride. whose
Inro" to the plate was too late to catch
ir9esdaie- Then Fisher singled to right
ana two more runs came home
In the sixth matters were cinched
Groom hit Stephens to begin with and
Spade got safe bunt through Groom
Fisher singled and then Groom hit Hart
zen- Two sacrifice flies followed. and
four runs were over the pan.
Though Gray struck out three men In
the seventh. and did not allow hit he
walked Hoffman and Hardy's wild throw
OF the third strike on Stephens sent Hoff
man home. The final run came in the
eighth. when hit by Wallace. Conroy's
error and a double steal sent run over