Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-21
BY j. ED GRILLO.


one half games behind Boston
By winning the first game Walter
Johnson established the new American
League record of fifteen straight vic
tories. while Carl Cashion, in the second
game, which was six-innins abbreviat-
ed affair. gets credit for pitching a no.
run no-hit contest. Superior all-around
playing by the Nationals gave them both
victories. 1t was the sixteenth time this
year that the Maps have fallen before
the men of Griffith, who only on three
occasions have been forced to lower their
colors to the visitors. Cleveland never
made more desperate effort to win than
yesterday. Manager Davis and his players
seemed determined to make amends for
their poor work here in previous games
and not only We're Gregg and Steen. the
teams two best pitchers, used. but the
strongest lineup available was put in
the field There We're no rockies played
yesterday, Yet the Nationals seemed equal
to the task and really won the two games
without much of a struggle.
The prediction made from time to time
That Carl Cashion would eventually be
a great pitcher seems to have been full
hlled. Showing steady Improvement in
every game he has worked lately Cashion
gave by far the best exhibition of his
SoASSi III Tire scCOHd game yesterday,
when for six innings he let the Maps
down without hit or run. Cashion must
be reckOned with from this out. Next to
Johnson, he seems to be the most prom
ising pitcher on the local staff. His Won
derful physique indicates that he will be
a pitcher who can work often. and now
that he has gained control of the ball
and handles himself like veteran he is
sure to win a large majority of his games.
Two pitchers like Johnson and Cashion
should greatly increase q lS
pennant chances. The team may be too
far behind this year to catch Boston. but
when the next campaign rolls around
Griffith will have pair of twirlers who
will be hard to beat
Though Johnson has always been con-
coded to be one of the greatest pitchers
In the game it was not until Yesterday
that he became a record holder His
victory gave him fifteen straight, beating
the mark set by Jack Chesbro several
years ago. when he won fourteen con-
secutive games. There is chance now
for Johnson to beat Marquard's record of
nineteen victories. He would have to
win the next five games to accomplish
this. and while that is expecting a great
deal from him. still it is possible.
For some unaccountable reason Johnson
was not in good form yesterday He
labored through the last three innings
and was hit hard. He only struck out
three men and seemed to be forcing him
self at the finish of the game. There is
no explanation for Johnson's failure to
display his usual form, only that it fire.
quently happens to a pitcher that he
lacks the stuff he needs to win. He won
his game. but it was not a genuine John
son performance.
Chagrined at the criticism which has
been heaped on his team during its stay
here, Manager Davis was determined to
make a desperate effort to win both
est available team for both games. but
benched Griggs for Johnson in the second
He also figured on manipulating his pitch
ers SO as to better his chances for victory,
but in this he failed.
Davis figured on avoiding Johnson with
Gregg. He did not want to work his star
left-hander against the Idaho Wonder.
and yet If he had he might have beaten
Johnson.
There was lot of juggling of the line
ups in the first game. Griffith announced
Shegg and Ainsmith as his battery, while
Gregg and O'Neil We're named for Cleve
land Shegg pitched but to one batter,
when Johnson relieved him. and Gregg
did the same thing in his half then Civ
ing way to Steen.
Griffith forgot the rules and thought
that he could announce Shegg as his
pitcher and then send Johnson to the
slab. But the rules provide that any
time pitcher is announced he must dis
pose Of the first batter to face him be-
fore achange can be made. So Shegg
had to pitch to Ryan. whom he retired
when Johnson went in. Gregg walked
Milan and then Steen took his place.
Judged on the way he handled himself
while pitching to the only man he faced,
in Shegg the Indian. He is left-hand
er. and seems to have plenty of stuff
and good control lie had Ryan three
and two and then shot three over the
@f 81.
Dyan then hit liner at Morgan. Shegg
10 sure to be given a trial before the
team leaves on its next trip.
Doc Johnson. the Maps new first baseman,
was responsible for the defeat of Gregg
in the second game when he made a play
which threw the crowd into commissions.
Shanks had walked with two out and
ONeil threw to first to catch him nap
ping. Shanks, seeing the throw. started
for second, and Johnson whirled around
and touched the bag, expecting Shanks
to be sliding in there. In the meantime
Shanks was on second. from where he
scored when Mcbride hit safely. Mcbride
subsequently scored on Henrys double.
and those two runs won the game when,
if Johnson had been wide-awake. not a
run would have been scored in This
inning.
Shanks is still batting in hard luck.
He had another line drive caught off of
his bat IN the sixth inning of the f1rSt
game when Lajoie robbed him of GER
tain base hit.
Ray Morgan is suffering from a wasp
bite, which accounted for the bandage he
wore around his neck.
John Henry got back into the game,
and aside from being bit slow in run
ming, as result of his injured knee, he
seems ready to take his regular turn be-
hind the bat again. But one attempt to
steal on him was made, and he nailed his
man by yards. and he incidentally put
the game on ice when he scored Mcbride
with a double in the second inning.
Detroit comes here today for four
game series. The Tigers have not been
doing we'll on this trip. losing three out
of four to New York and four straight to
Boston. But Jennings team is always
troublesome here, and ii would be Just
like them to take brace in the series
here. Groom is slated to pitch against
the visitors today, while either Works
or Lake is apt to perform for the Tigers.
Morgan played two splendid games of
ball at second. The youngster is becom-
ing stronger there with every game,
though his hitting is still a bit weak.
The Nationals have another good start
on a winning streak. The last five games
| played have been victories. and the team
| is going at fast clip again. with its
| pitchers doing great work. The return of
| Henry To the game will also make q big