The Washington herald., 1911-07-26
Opening Battle
Goes to Tigers
Nationals Unable to SoIpe MulLen's Shoots When
Hits Are Needed-Hughes Does Well After
GRAY BLows-Score, to 2. ....a
By WILLIAM PEET.


In spite of the fact that the Nationals
had just finished a disastrous whirl
around the Western wheel Of Ban John
sons circuit, 5000 fans parted with gate
money to welcome them home at the
Florida avenue concrete fortress yester-
day afternoon, where there was room
for everybody and no sun.
Detroit was the attraction, and there
was a lot of brand-new grass for
Hughey Jennings to pluck. The Tigers
won because George Mullen was able
to keep eleven big swats wide apart,
while Dolly Gray gave up the ghost in
the second inning, after a quartet of
slams and two runs went to the credit
of the league leaders Tom Hughes.
who finished the Job, was there with
bells on. Had he started, the result
might have been different story.
The battle was a tame exhibition, al
most featureless. The home folks could
DO nothing with the rotund George Null
len when hits were needed, and the four
run lead obtained by the Jungaleers in
the first two rounds proved enough to
put them on Easy street, the way Mullen
was. performing.
Milan and Cobb raked in a couple of
good catches, while Germany Schaefer
and DOME Bush furnished the inf1eld
thrills.
Young Mr. Clarence spartacus Walker
is credited with a pair of errors on FUN
bled balls. but the poor condition of
the turf doubtless had a lot to do with
Walkers slips, and the fans should not
criticise harshy.
Triples for Ainsmfth and Milan.
Eddie Ainsmith, Milan, Lelivelt, and
Mcbride did the hitting for the home
crew, the first pair mentioned smashing
out triples
Ty Cobb connected for three bingles
and also stole three bases, but he at
tempted to sneak home on Milan's mo-
mentary tumble in the eighth and to the
great delight of the crowd was thrown
out at Inc plate.
In the first and third innings the Ma
uonals We're up against bit of hard
luck and could not break into the run
column. Milan pried open the game in
the trst with pretty three-bagger but
was left stranded watching the next
three batters go down in order. A light
ming double play in the fourth killed off
another budding rally for the local
troupe.
The Tigers started after Dolly Gray
in a businesslike manner Drake, the
initial man up, mangled the first ball
pitched for clean single, but when he
tried to steal he found the pill waiting
for him, as Ainsmith's peg was true as
die Bush ambled on four bad ones
and galloped around to third when Cobb
singled to left. Spartacus Walker Jug
Cling the ball. Crawford rolled a teaser
In front of Gray. Bush came tearing in
for the plate and slid safely a fraction
OF a second ahead OF the ball. While this
was going on Cobb sneaked to third and
scored when Delehanty ballooned to
Milan. Moriarity made the third out,
Mcbride to Schaefer.
O'Leary opened the visitors second
with grounder, which Wild Conroy
scooped up and slammed to Schaefer
ahead of the runner. Stanage planted
a single to right center and George
Mullen had the honor of being the first
man IN pump the new right field fence
Mullen pulled up at second and Stanage
reached third on the blow.
AT this stage Manager McAleer gave
Dolly Gray the high sign. and Tom
Hughes emerged from the rathskeIler,
Jennings promptly switched Drake for
Jones, and Davy rolled to Schaefer, who
threw Stanage out at the plate. Bush |
inserted a two-bagger, scoring Mullen |
and Jones. Cobb ended the agony with |
a hoist to Walker in short left.
Nationals Score in Fifth,
1t was not until the fifth that the Ma
tionals could successfully get to Mullen. |
Eddie Ainsmith cracked out a dandy
three-bagger, the ball rolling past Sam
crawford, and the fans let out a bunch
Of roots that Jared the concrete stands.
Tom Hughes best effort was a grounder.
reaching Bush in deep short field Many
thought Ainsmith might have counted on
the hit, but he was wisely held at third.
Milan drove into left field sky, and when
Davy Jones pulled down the ball Ain
smith sprinted home. Schaefer closed the
inning with liner to Bush.
Although the home folks choked a hit
put OF Mullin in each Of the next two
rounds, nothing happened, and It was
not until the eighth that another tally
showed up.
Milan Crosses the Plate.
Milan led off with a clean single to
eft. Schaefer famed, and on EIber-
'eld's single Milan scampered around to
-hird. Leltvelt forced Elberfeld, and
while the Kid was being tagged by
0'Leary Milan was over the plate like
/ flash.
The Tigers got a cheap run in their
lah Of the sixth Delehanty singled to |
eft and took second on Walkers fum-
de. Moriarity's sacrifice showed Del to |
hird. O'Leary drove up short fly,
which Walker gathered in. Delehanty
ried to reach home and as the throw was
'erfect, Ainsmith had his man by two
eet, hut dropped the ball from the force
Il the impact
Three hits almost in a row netted the
Tigers nothing in the eighth, as Cobb