The Washington herald., 1911-04-30
Ansmths Heavy Hitting Wins Another Game for the National
NATIONALS TAKE OPENER
AGAINST BOSTON CLUB
Ainsmitfls Timely Hitting and Hughes TwirEng After
Dolly Gray Weakens Land Well-earned VIC
tory by to Score.
Special TO The Washington Herald.

Boston, April 29.-On three lon,
hits, one a timely triple by Catcher
Ainsmith, and two bad errors by
First Baseman Williams, the Ma.
tionals succeeded in winning the
opening game from the Red Sos
to-day, McAleer's excellent judg-
ment incidentally saving the game
when Pitcher Dolly Gray wobbled
and the C Q D signal was ready
to be hoisted.
Seldom has Pitcher Joe Wood
given a better exhibition of skill in
Boston, and seldom has a pitcher
been thrown down as hard as was
the young speed finger this after
noon.
With a world OF speed, fine con-
troll, and everything at his COM
mand, Wood was robbed of what
looked like sure victory, just be-
cause that lamentable gap at first
base position has not yet been filled
upon the Boston team.
Washington fielded cleanly, with the
exception of one rather excrsable error
by Second Baseman Cunpingham and
many time when a wel-meant slap
from Boston bat went singing out to-
ward the bleachers, the plucky Elberfeld
or the omniprssent Mcbride was ready
to intercept its course. Dolly Gray sell
dom is allowed to stay in the box when
the Sox are his opponents. and to-day's
battle proved no exception. He can thank !
the splendid support accorded him for the |
unexpected victory to-day
Home Run for Speaker |
Up to the fourth inning Gray, like !
Wood, seemed to be unhittable but in
this inning Iris Speaker broke the line
of goose eggs by pounding one of Dolly
Gray's offerings to the center field fence
for the cleanest and hardest home run of
the year. One tally looked reasonably |
big TO Boston fans, but when Yerkes
doubled in the fifth and Joe Wood helped |
out his team mates by slamming a hard
triple to the right field cigarette sign.
the game seemed to be packed on ice
and the crowd was wondering whether or
not the Nationals would be able to score
In the Washington-B Boston series at the
opening of the season ii may be remem-
oered that the sixth and seventh innings
were fatal to the Sox, and history repeat
I'd Itself to-day. A pass to Cunningham TO
start off with in the sixth inning, a steal,
and Gray's timely swat to left gave Nc
Aleer's men one run and sent the Ma
ionals out to the field again only one
ally behind and with blood showing In
heir eyes. "
ans would like to see this disastrous ,
nning cut out altogether. 1t is session q
hat has cost Donovan's might riders" s
learly in almost every series. A fatal
Ass again paved the way to disaster,
or Lelivelt waited out Wood at the open
ng and took his base with a confident
mile EIberfeld was the next batter up. T
nd on an attempted hit-and-run play n
hat didn't work out right, he banged
tantalizing grounder at Engle Clyde
lade a good step and then hurled 1t
tralght across to first. The talkativei
IT. Wlllams. who chatters much better n
nan he covers the first sack, was watch a
,g to see if the play would be made at
econd, and was slightly unprepared when
he Dali came sailing into his mitt So II
e dropped 1t, to Coacher McBride's ioy. b.
nd Lelivelt kept on to third. HI
Mcbride Strikes Out. Oh
This made things look vastly different.
cBr1de hustled down to take a swing. jr
Ut he didn't do as well as expected. He a.
ok three healthy ones and sulked to-
ard the bench murmuring things that
mpire Evans could not hear. The infield p,
osed IN to make play on the next II
ltter at the plate. That is, they ex- pr
'cted to make 1t, but when Somerlot III
'atted weak grounder that got tangled
In the awkwardly moving Williams
ct, Lelivelt came across with the ty- NJ
g run and the bleacherites groaned. 70
put cunningham struck out and this w
It two down. The fans still had homes
at Wood would be able to keep the
II patsman from hitting anywhere ris
ar first base.
who had already famed once On
Is up this time to do business. Joe Tot a
Idle IN the hole for two strikes. but. ~
lowing instructions, he tried to punch
Se& "SoA Aoic at tn6 initial sack |
ood, with serene contempt for Aim
lith's ability. grooved the next one. and i'
ngo-the fans howled with rage as they ma
W Hooper chasing the pellet into right ste M
To- while two more runs came in, and nr'
runner halted on third Gray was =
. next hitter. and he famed, making
: third one who did this stunt in the on'
linS. put there was no Joy in the VII
sacners, and Wood got but little ap- are
luse. The fans were too sore to mon the
:, eu sweating brows. rur
ne Sox had chance in the last half
Ieem themselves. but they must 1
We los. sight Of the fact that there is qu
= Sn thing in Boston known in base ais
y as the squeeze play. an,
uhams got a life on a bad throw hv He
nningham after very cute .to,, ~ aid
grounder. Ainsmith eot a,,,t. hin
land Tor his fine backing up that ssvsS
extra base. Yerkes pounded ont r
ioie- Williams scored and GRAY obeved our
beckoning finger Of McAieer ana HE
lded toward the bench Hughes cam. on
and when he fumbled Nunamaker,e NJ.
rince. putting a man on third and tTh.
'tner on FIRST every one was willing sor