Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-07
CUNNINGHAM HAS
STRUCK HIS STRIDE
Continued From First Pase.)

siants of the southpaws II they face
last seven games the Nationals have
played have been pitched by right hand,
ers for the opposing team. Russell Jared
the worst Of the lot. and he was hit
harder than any pitcher the locals have
faced in some time. 1t was to be Ak
pected, however, that some pitcher was
due for a trimming. for the team has
gone along enough without showing any
hitting ability.
Milan was the beneficiary of the new
scoring rule yesterday which gives the
batter hit when he sacrifices and the
play Is made at some other bag than
first and fails. In the second inning,
Milan hunted, and Russell made a throw
to third in an effort to catch Ainsmith.
but was too late, filling the bases, and
incidentally helping Milan to base hit.
When one team Is hitting and the other
isn't the latter team always seems to be
outclassed. 1t was SO for four innings
yesterday. when the Athletics were fall
ing easy prey to Johnson's pitching. The
champions seemed helpless, and the Ma
tienals seemed to have things their own
way. But just as soon as they started
to hit and sat on the bases the situation
changed materially.
The outfield as now made up is. per-
haps. the best combination that Manager
McAleer could put In the field. Conroy,
Milan and Leliveit should show much
Lelivelt win be sure to hit as well as
Milan, and Conroy, while not q hard hit.
ter. is a capable fellow 1T the bat. be-
cause he knows the game and is sure
schaefer is well he could take Conroys
place. for he would probably do better
work with the stick though he Is not %
good q fielder as is Wild.
A continuance Of the dry weather will
have the local infieid SO hard that IL
will be a hard matter to judge bounds.
and none too smooth. which 10 re-
sponsible for the peculiar bounds the
balls that are hit hard take. Every
one Of the infelders has his troubles
casions they had to leap into the air
to prevent tho ball from getting by.
After Mondays game the Nationals
leave fer Chicago. where they open
Ssr. sy s' ssS. y Seds .S ssy
city In the western end OF the circuit,
being scheduled to play four games at
every stopping place. To win eight Of
the sixteen games would be a brilliant
showing.
There was not a single inning that
the Nationals did not have one or more
men on bases. but they scored in but
four.
IF Doc GAsslsr shows me that he can
hit in his old form Will keep him on
first base" said Jim McAleer last night.
What We need more than anything else
is some man who can hit the ball. even
though his fielding "a not Of the best.
But believe that after Doc has played
q few games on the bag he will do
much better. I believe that both he
and Cunningham have struck their
stride, and II they have IL will make
a big difference In our games, Tor there
Is no denying that We have bean awfully
weak with the bat this spring. From
now on I look for much improvement
from the team In this respect"
Ainsnith works . little too fast Ao-
hind the bat to keep his pitcher stoa0y.
He no soopAr gets the ball than be
hands Il back to the patohag, end thie has
the effect Of moA4ng the Other en@ OF
Inc battery work fa1taf than be should.
This IL the result Of inaxDeFtence. A
Food. wise catcher takes q lot OF time
behind the bat, especially when his
pitcher 10 going poorly. ana Ainsmlth
should remember that there 10 no hurry
about getting the game over.
II would have been an awful blow
s ~ cinchsE Ne1aine % dis-
couragss the patrons Of : club - to