The Washington herald., 1911-05-07
ATHLETICS ARE TROUNCED
IN NERVE-RACKING GAME
Wild, but Invincible in Pinches- -Gessler Plays
First Base for Nationals
By WILLIAM PEET.


It was Connie Mack's $4,000 beauty.
Lefty Russell. against Walter Johnson's
$1,000 salary whip on the Florida avenue
ball yard before a big Saturday crowd.
and Walter got away with his game, to 6.
McAleer's hopefuls crammed seven hits
down Russell's throat in the first four
inings, collecting five runs. Then they ler
him alone until the seventh, when three
healthy swats at the right time produced
a couple more tallies and incidentally won
the game.
Walter johnson steamed along like a
house afire until the fifth, when he wob-
bled and the champions got to him for a
couple of large juicy runs In the eighth
the 5000 wing refused to work properly.
three bases on balls, sacrifice fly. two
bagger. and a home-run slap sent four OF
the Athletics scurrying across the plate
and sent the creepy shivers up and down
the backs of the faithful
With the Nationals travelling under a
one-run lead, the ninth was another
nerve-racking affair. Two were down.
first and second populated, and McInnis
up. The youngster banged one at Kid
Elberfeid that Travelled SO fast it had
whiskers on it. Tabasco could not hold
the ball, and saw he had no chance to
make the play at first, so he grabbed
the pellet out of the dirt and raced to
the bag to head off Baker. 1t was some
race, but the Kid got there first and
the game was over.
Game AboundS in Features.
The melee fairly bristled with features.
Eddie Collins made a home run inside
the inclosure, the Athletics were plainly
robbed of a triple play, Bill Cunningham
raked in four hits out of as many times
up. and Doc Gessler played frst-played
it well. too-and celebrated his return to
the game by cracking out a two-bagger
and single
Captain Manager Davis, of the visitors,
actually dared to shove in another south
paw. Everybody was surprised when the
megaphone man announced the rival bat
terry as Russell and Thomas
Russell, 1t will be remembered, was the
real cut-up in the Eastern League last
season. Connie Mack got him for 81, CO.,
so the Quaker City papers said.
This Russell person looked awfully
good-as a batting average fattened. He
was hammered harder than any twirler
the Nationals have stacked up against this
year, and incidentally 1t might be men,
toned that Washington's sever tallies
yesterday were the most the club has
made in one game since the 1911 season
opened.
Doc Gessler handled himself in an
awkward manner on first; his fielding
looked crude in comparison to the work
of Henry and Somerlot. but the old boy
was right there with the stick, and the
fans would have forgiven him IL he had
made half dozen errors.
Walter johnson pitched anything but
his usual good game. His wildness in
the eighth came as shock, for Walter
seldom gives away passes to first. He
proved to be the original old steady
clock in pinches, so there is no kick
coming.
Collins Cracks Out a Homer.
Eddie Collins home run poke was a
pretty piece of knitting. 1t happened in
the eighth when the little infielder met
one of Johnson's fast ones and sent II
smoking on line toward George Nc
Bride Mac" stuck out one hand. but
missed and before Milan and Wild Con-
roy could line up. the ball had bumped
up against the center field fence. Col
Inns tore around the sacks like a mad
man, and slid triumphantly home amid
a cloud of dust. A slower man would
Washington fans came very near being
treated to a fancy triple play in the
Nationals second. Ainsmith was on
third, johnson second, and Milan first,
when Wild Conroy hoisted the ball to
Murphy. 1t looked like a safe drive
and everybody started toward the plate.
Murphy caught the ball and slammed II
to Davis. Milan scrambled back. and
Umpire Mulln called him safe. Davis, j
quick as flash, shot the ball TO Col
lins and Walter Johnson was nipped be-
meantime. had scored. The majority of
the spectators and newspaper men de-
clared that Milan was out at first and
this decision spoiled a triple play.
The Nationals broke into the run
column in the first after two had
gone. Lelivelt was hit by a pitched ball.
moved up a peg when Baker fumbled Ell
berfelds grounder. and came home on
Gessler's safe drive to center.
Three more tallies came our way in
the second. Mcbride drew a pass fer a
starter. Cunningham crashed to Old.
ring, the ball bouncing off his shoe tops
into right field. Mcbride came home and
Cunningham pulled up at third. Ain
smith drew a base on balls. johnson
singled and Cunningham ambled home
Milan beat out bunt. Conroy's hoist
c.
Nationals 4, Athletics.O
Nationals Score Again.
Gessler's two-bagger and Cunningham's |
single added another Washington run In
the third. Russell did better until the |
seventh, when Elberfeld led off with |
clean single. Gessler popped to Russell |
and Mcbride flied to Oldring. On the hit |
and run play Cunningham drove the ball |
through Collins. Elberfeld going to third. |
Then came double steal, Elberfeld was |
across the plate like flash, and Cum |
ningham reached second as McInnis |
failed to hold Thomas throw Aim
smith crashed to left and Cunningham |
came in. Two runs
The Athletics did not make hit on |
johnson until the fifth, when two run
ners made the circuit Murphy reached |
first on q hard hit ball to Mcbride. Nc 4
1pnis drove the ball into the left field /
stands for two bases A wild pitch al. /
lowed Murphy to count. and on Nc. |
Eride's error Of strunk's grounder Ne
fnnis crossed the plate