Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-12
GRIFF'S NERVY NATIONALS
WIN OUT IN LAST INNING
Dubuc Puzzle Until the Final Round
Barney Petty Purchased and Joins
Locals in Cleveland.

a setback It has been 80 with the stars
OF other teams. and Griffith insists that 1t
will continue right through to the finish
of the season. There Is nothing that can
convince Griffith that he is not going to
win the pennant. He thinks 1t is all over
optimistic views day after day, and not
without reason, for the team continues to
win.
Detroit patrons Of the sport are strong
Washington rooters. When the team ar
rived here last Sunday thousands came
to see for themselves whether the re-
ported Improvement in the club had real
ly taken place. Sundays game proved
nothing, for 1t was poorly played con-
test, though the Nationals won 1t. There
was some doubt then as to the team 8
strength. but after yesterdays brilliant
finish Detroit Is for Washington. The
fans actually stood up and cheered Grit
over the plate. 1t was an appreciation of
q game struggle which all sportsmen en-
JOY, and the crowd showed, its approval
by applauding the Washington players.
about Griffith and congratulated him.
whereupon Griffith once more announced
that his team would win the pennant.
1t may be that Griffith will send Groom
against Che Tigers again today. He Is
ready to stand the work and he may
want to keep Johnson for the first game
In Cleveland, thus enabling Walter to
pitch two of the four that are to be play
ed there. Nothing definite has been de-
cided as to which Of the two pitchers will
work. nor will there be until Just before
the game.
Charley OLeary. now manager Of the
Indianapolis team. has wired Griffith ask
ing for Jack Knight Griffith replied
that Knight was not on the market. Now
that the team actually has a chance to
land on top. Griffith does not propose to
hurt his chances by letting out any Of
his players. Knight will be kept for
emergency purposes, though he may not
break into the game at all. This, too, is
true of Schaefer and Clarence Walker.
Hughey Jennings, after today's game,
gave the Nationals full credit for the bril-
liant work they are doing. 1T is q much
better team than I ever dreamed Griffith
had and 1t must be said that he has his
players hustling and playing good ball
l don't think 1t is a pennant winner but
1t is plain that they will be contenders
right down to the finish," is the way Jen-
nings sized 1t UP.
this which makes him hard to hit Grit
fifth has taught him how to pitch the slow
ball. and the youngster has unusually
good control Of 1t. He looked more like
before. He worked slowly and had good
control. all things considered. Cashion
has terrific speed. and. being Of marvel
Gus physique, he is sure to be able to
do whole lot of work once he gets to
going right. Griffith now has three prom
Using youngsters in Engel. Musser and
Cashion. and II they improve as he be-
lieves they will he will also have one OF
the strongest pitching STATS in the
league. and this, together with tho fact
nvA 49, - - - H.
catchers of any Of his rivals, will do
much to make his team hard to beat
What a blessing it is that those who
have tried to make George McBride's life
miserable In Washington have never been
able to influence any manager in leaving
MIN go. Mcbride Is doing wonderful
work at short field these days. Little is
said about him, but for all that he is
doing his share to bring about victories.
hitting Is about the same as always he
kills more base hits during a game than
the average good hitter makes In a week.
McBrtde's value to tie team IS fully appre-
ciated by Griffith. who says that he would
not trade Mcbride for any shortstop in
the country. If better treatment was &C
corded Mcbride when at home the
chances are that he would play just as
good ball there as he does on the roRd,
but 1t is natural that he should be an
hurled at him by home crowds.
One question which those who have not
seen much of the Nationals are constant
ly asking Is whether Foster and Moelier
are playing up to their standard or
whether they are merely showing a flash
To those who have watched this pair at
work since the season opened 1t is very
plain that both of these players are going
along at a normal gait. Neither started
brilliantly in the spring, but have come
with a rush as the season progresses.
There Is no doubt as to their ability.
They are great pair of ball players, and
their records during the present cam
paign will prove this assertion. 1t is this
pair which has changed the Nationals
from a loser to winner. and the day
that Chick Gandil was added the team
was so much benefited that 1t can at
least be mentioned in the same breath
with those who are believed to have
chance for the flag.
All three of Grifith's catchers got
ed. but was taken out to allow Schae-
fer to bat for him in the eighth, and
then. when Johnson was brought in to
finish. his battery partner Ainsmith.
took Williams place, who had succeed
ed Henry. Ainsmith did much to help
things along by throwing out Bush
when the latter tried to steal second In
the ninth. 1t was this play which
ended the game.
With one out in the seventh 1t looked
as n the Nationals would score. for
Shanks hit for three bases but Dubuc
was so effective that the next two bat
tiers were unable to do enough with his
delivery to allow Shanks to score.
1t is perhaps needless to say that
every man on the Washington bench is
fighting from start to finish. It was
necessary several times yesterday for
Umpire Evans to quiet the rooters on
the bench, who kept up an incessant
chatter trying to encourage their team
mates.
The Tigers were sailing along easily