Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-26

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 26-1t be-
gins to look as though the Athletics have
struck their stride and returned to that
form which landed the worlds champion
ship for them last fall Judging by their
exhibition against the Nationals yesterday
afternoon, Mack's men have found them
selves, for a better display has not been
seen in the Quaker citX for long time.
Hitting like fiends at everything the
Washington pitchers sent over the plate.
fielding like nine powerful magnets at
tracing iron and Coombs pitching cham
pionship ball. made combination which
in the world.
Sixteen base hits for total of twenty
five bases was the amount of stick work
credited to the Athletics and they gather
ed them off Hughes, Gray and Sherry, the
three slab artists sent to the mound by
McAleer in a vain effort to stern the
avalanche Of drives The chief offender
was Danny Murphy. whose contributions
consisted Of a home run over the left field
fence. a double and three singles. 1t
made no difference who soeeded them up
to the plate. Danny simply laid his bat
dSdlliSl the Ddil anu tHell DcSdH Joui
ney around the bags. Close behind him In
the matter of swats was Baker. the nifty
third sacker, who had three safeties for
the total Of eight bases. The most re-
markable feature of the Athletics NIT
ting. however. was that Eddie Collins,
who has been clouting the ball like
mailman did not connect safely.
In the meantime John Coombs was do
ing his best to prove that the report sent
H., Aof hot hn W
i'll at his home In Maine with malaria
was false and the crowd was forced to
believe it was a canard. The big fellow
had speed to burn. and If Collins had not
foolishly attempted to catch ball winch
was easy for Oldring and Murphy and
then lost 1t in the sun. the Nationals
would have returned to their hotel run
less.
Naturally. with the big doings, such as
the hosting of the American League PEN
nant and the presence of Gov. Tener and
Ban Johnson, local fans were doubly
anxious that their pets should make
good showing, and they did. Everything
fans and they felt rewarded The old
fashioned parade was a part of the pro-
ceedings, of course, and the f1ag-raisins
was another. with the distinction that
the flag renrcsented the championship
turn of affairs, and remarked, with
grim smile: isn't that just our luck to
have the Athletics strike that gait against
us? There is one consolation, however.
and that is the Athletics would have
trimmed any team in the country with
that game. felt sure that their earlier
defeats could be ascribed to not getting
into their stride. but it certainly looks as
though they were off now. l don't know
whom I shall pitch in today's game, but
am sweet on johnson to put crimp in
the Athletics. Anyway. 1t will depend
largely upon whom Connie Mack selects"
President Noyes was forced to face a
battalion of cameras, with Gov. Tener,
Ban johnson, Connie Mack and Jim Nc
Aleer. but he was nonchalant, and sew
eral times had a half-burned cigar in his
mouth when the cameras clicked. 1t was
hard to get Tener, Mack and Johnson to
look at the photographers, but Mr.. Noyes
was an easy proposition, and smiled as
he gaZed into the mouth Of the machines