The Washington herald., 1911-06-08
BY WILLIAM PEET.

Dixie Walkers truSty right arm Steered
the Nationals to a well-earned TO VIC
tory over the Cleveland Maps yesterday.
The Birmingham baby had his curve ball
working properly, and twirled the first
real air-tight game of any of the local
f1inging crew here this season.
1t was Walkers last chance, and that
the big fellow made good shows he has
the stun in him, and from now on bet
ter things may be expected.
Manager McAleer got hold Of Walker
before yesterdays game and told him in
plain words that he expected him to show
the fans of Washington why he walk
err was drawing wages from the ball
club. The boss intimated very plainly
that unless Dixie gave a correct imita-
ton of how to pitch, change of scenery
might be expected. This may or may
not explain yesterdays result.
Dixie deserves a whole lot of credit, at
that, for his performance. Twice he was
in tight holes, but settled down and re-
tired the side. His teammates behind
him rendered stone wall support, and
were able to bunch swats off Blanding at
the right time Doc Gessler drove IN
two Of the runs with a homer over the
right field fence in the fourth, and made
a ripping double in the sixth.
1t is also interesting to note, that the
Naplanders were yesterday treated to
their first shut-out of the 1911 season,
while the Nationals came across with
their second shut-out victory, Tom
Hughes banking the Yankees here early
in the spring.
Gessler's hitting and a great stop Of a
thrown ball by Kid Elberfeld were easily
h. ~
pitched a fair game for the visitors
and proved troublesome to all but four
members of the home flock.
After Dixie had passed Graney in the
opener and the latter had sneaked down
TO second on Olsons out, Mcbride to
Schaefer, the Alabama baby disposed of
Joe Jackson and Stovall handily, and the
fans sent up a sigh of relief, as It was
the first time in many days the foe had
been held runless on their initial ap-
pearance at the bat.
Milan broke open the Nationals first
round by crashing to left for a single,
going to second as the ball got away
from Graney. Schaefer planted a pretty
sacrifice in front of the plate, and Milan
beat it for third. Lelivelt smashed to
Ball. who knocked down the pill with
one hand, Milan breezing over the plate
Then Blanding tightened up and whitfield
Elberfeld and Doc Gessler.
The only time danger threatened was
in the Maps third. and that a run was
averted Dixie Walker can thank Kid FL
berteld. Birmingham opened with a clean
single and raced to second on a wild
pitch. Turner drew walk. Ball ground
ed to Walker, who threw Birmingham
out at third. The throw was high, and
Tabasco jumped three feet in the air,
spearing the hOrsehide with his gloved
hand and dropping back on the base a
fraction of a second before Birmingham
arrived Fisher struck out but Blanding
was passed, filling the bases. With two
strikes on Graney, Cotton Turner at
tempted TO steal home and would have
been declared safe had not Graney taken
his third healthy swing. After this in
ming the Maps did not get a man to sec
ond base. and Dixie allowed but three
scattered hits.
GesSIer's Drive Clears Fence.
The Nationals put Blanding on the rack
and choked a couple of runs out of him
in the fourth. EIberfeld drove the first
ball pitched to the concrete wall in left
Doc Gessler almost duplicated Joe Jack
sons feat Of the day before, when he
lifted one over the right field fence The
ball crashed up against a brick building
and dropped to the unseen side of the
board inclosure. GessIer trotted around
behind Elberfeld, and the fans gave him
a grand reception.
1t was Doc Gesslers war club that
added another notch to the local score
III the sixth. After Lelivelt had perished
on pop 10 Ball, Kid ElberfeId walked.
Blanding got himself into a hole with
Gessler up, givinglthe NJ. D. two and
three. The next ball came bobbing up
waist high, and Gessler, with a toe hold
ION the plate, put all his beef behind the
Swing. Like a rifle shot the pill tipped
Unto right field, humping against the
fence. Elberfeld easily scored, and Cess
Beg, in trying to stretch the blow into a
: -bagser, was caught at the hot cor
by an eyelash.
a double play was all that saved the
Haps in the eighth. Milan was on Sec
ond, with one down, when the hit and
run signal was given and Lelivelt lined
the ball TO center. Birmingham made
a nice catch, ard Milan was easily re-
tired, as ne was almost across the plate
at the time the ball was caught.
Joe Jackson, the visitors great slugger,
did not set a hit He was disposed of
on easy chances the first three times
Up, and On his fourth appearance Milan
raced over near the clubhouse and raked
in a hard liner which smacked of a
single.
The Score,