Evening star., 1911-08-15
BY J. ED GRILLo.

A victory today would give the Nation
ent series, and every effort will be made
to bring this about. Bob Groom, who, on
no less than three occasions has beaten
pitch against either Vaughn or Ford. II
Is sure to be another tight struggle, but
the locals hope to win it. McAleer will
not pitch Walter Johnson, because he
wants to start him in the first game OF
the series at st. Louis Thursday. Johnson.
on both other western trips. pitched the
final game in every series and II is
thought luck might be changed by letting
him pitch the first Ford. who is regarded
as one of the best pitchers in the league
has made but decidedly few appearances
on the local grounds since he has been
with New York. If memory serves right
he has pitched in but one game up to this
time, though he has pitched several and
only been beaten once by the Nationals
in New York. Then Groom trimmed him.
TO O. early in the season.
Word was received from the Pittsburgh
club early today that Jack Flynn had
been disposed of to the st. Paul club OF
the American Association from which the
Pirates secured Marty O'Toole and CaIcn,
er Kelley. Flynn is to report to st. Paul
at once. This change makes him eligible
TO the draft and 1t Is not at all unlikely
that several major league CLUBS Will Try
to secure him by this process. 1t is gen.
orally supposed that Flynn goes TO =:
Paul as part of the O'Toole- Kelley DEAL
though this does not seem proba BILE, be-
cause the Pittsburgh club asked the Wash
I'M gton club to put price on him.
It is very evident now that no mistake
was made when Buck Becker was picked
I'M nv the Nationals. He has won every
game he has started. three in number.
but is charged with one defeat. q game
which he finished for Hughes, going In
with the score q tie.
ON his performance TO date Becker is
the best left-hander Washington has had
since the days of Case Patten. be is GER
tainly delivering more than did Bill
Burns, Bill Otey, Jerry Oil or Dolly
Gray. Becker has a lot OF action on the
rubber. He does no posing, but keeps
working on the batsmen as fast as they
come up. Incidentally. he fields his posi-
ton very well and seems to pitch with
lot of confidence. There is chance Tor
Becker to improve, though he handles
himself like a veteran already. Just as
soon as he has faced the various bats
men in the league few times ne Will
have an idea Of how best to pitch to
them. for Becker is of the kind who ab-
sorb a lot Of information.
George Mcbride has played whole
lot of brilliant ball on the local
grounds but 1t is questionable Whether
he ever did more to save his team from
defeat than yesterday; HIS stops OF
hard hit grounders and perfect throws
brought forth lots Of applause. but
McBride's best work was his handling
of thrown balls from Street. Gabby'3
throwing was not true yesterday, but
III I'm I'M
preventing steals. thanks to McBride's
marvellous work in handling his ugly
throws. He also stopped run at the
plate when on an attempted double
+! steal in the fifth he made perfect
| return to Street and nailed Gardner
| before he could slide to safety
Bill Cunningham is doing whole
| lot better than he did the last time
| he was played regularly. He seems
to have gotten over his strike-out
| habit, and in the last two gamees has
| not famed once. Yesterday he got
| two of the Nationals four hits and
both Of them were hard, clean drives.
| There Is little danger now OF Cunny
| not remaining in the game for the re-
mainder Of the season. With Elberfeld
| badly in need Of a rest and Cunny go
ing good his job for the present Is Sc
| cure.
| Yesterdays victory raised the Ma
| tionals' to 16 out of the last 81 games
| played at home since the last western
| trip II they win today they will have
| shown by far the best form of any team
| that has represented Washington in the
| American League. After todays game
the team leaves for the west for the last
| time this season and is not scheduled to
play home again until September T. II
the pace 1t has set can be kept up there
| is no reason why it should not make a
splendid showing on the trip. Both Of Its
| former western invasions were disastrous,
| but at that time the pitchers were going
poorly. and this. more than lack Of good
playing, was responsible for the many de-
| feats the team suffered.
| Red Walker took advantage OF the
| rules in the sixth inning. when, while
Warhop was warming up and before any
of the New York players were In position.
he hit a slow grounder down to Knight.
| Walker did not realize for time what
the situation was, but finally started for
first Knight loafed on the ball and
then threw II wild to Chase. Walker,
who had hesitated on the base line,
reached first, but had Knight thrown
properly he would have been, an easy
out. Walker. therefore. was not entitled
to q base hit. Neither did the play AZ