Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-07
BY J. ED GRuL0.

The awakening of Cunningham and
Gessler In yesterdays game was per-
haps one of the most pleasing incl
dents OF the afternoon. What has been
predicted for Cunningham seems at
last to have come true. He was sure
to get to hitting sooner or later and
he cut 1ooee yesterday when he made
a triple and three sfng,es in - many
times at bat The inability Of Cum
ningham to hit up to his last year
standard was one Of the hardest blows
tho team has encountered this spring.
McA1eer built much of his hope on
Cunningham. whom he expected to up
hold the infield with his bat. But the
youngsteP was slow coming. Fortunate
ly McAleer did not become discouraged,
but allowed him to remain In the game
and yesterday for the first time he
looked as he did last fall. when he
gave promise Of being one OF the best
hitters on the team. There was moth
ing fukey about Cunningham's bat
ting yesterday. Every one OF MS MUS
was clean cut and sharp. It really
looked as II he had come into his own
at last. His best effort at the bat
was in the seventh. when, with the hit
and ruin on, he caught Collins covering
to get Elberfeld and showed tho ball
through the territory which Collins
had just vacated. This. more than
anything Cunningham accomplished.
made him look like q good batsman.
Had It not been for two timely hits
which Doc Gessler contributed yes
terday, the fact that he played first
base had better not be mentioned. But
Doc filled the bill as he was expected
to, for it was McAleer's idea to
strengthen the teams hitting. II not
the fielding. by playing 0essler. It has
been years since Doc played the bag
and he was just a trifie green. and 1t
cannot be said that he covered himself
with glory. After, q while, Of course.
he will do better. and II he continues
to hit as he did yesterday the team
can we'll afford to keep him there.
1t will be some time before the
Nationals will come closer to having a
triple play pulled off on them than in
the second inning yesterday. With the
bases full. Conroy hit a line drive to
base runners had all started to advance.
and Murphy shot the ball to first, in
an effort to catch Milan of of first.
The play failed. however. and Davis
shot the ball to second in time to catch
delphia players claimed that Milan. too.
had been caught, but Umpire Mullen
would not allow the claim. AinSmith
in the meantime had scored.
The peculiar feature Of the play Is
that even If a triple play had been
made Ainsmith's run would have been
allowed to score. because. he did not
leave third base until the ball was
caught, and where the third man out
is not forced tho run scores.
When the Nationals had a lead Of flve
runs the Philadelphia players seemed
to give up all hope OF victory. and this
fact was probably fortunate Tor the
locals. When with one scored and two
IN the bases in the fifth Russell was
sent in to bat instead Of one OF the
many pinch hitters that could have been
used. il did not look as II the visitors
had much confidence left in themselves.
RUSSELL struck out, as was to be ex-
|pected. while a stronger batter might
have made things much more interest
ing. It is not likely that this would
have happened had the wise MI. MACK
been on the bench.
r5aa there been ono pitcher on the bench
whose arm was not out OF order, Walter
johnson would have been taken out aftel
ffe eighth inning yesterday. Tom hughes
EARNED up. but 1t was like sticking 9
Knife blade into his shoulder every time
he delivered a bali, and so McAleer was
forced to put Johnson back and take a
chance.
II Ia needless to say that johnson did
mt Mitch In his usual form. In fact. Wal.
ter n far from right. and may have t.
place himself In care of a physician be.
FORE he VIII be able to do tho kind OF
work that 70 expected ol him. Just q
nreeenf Tie NeNonaIS p!tohinR star h
badly shot 90 pieces, and unless there 10