Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-15

ting Without wanting to reflect on the
ability of either Of the pitchers 1t is a
matter Of record that until the present
series here neither has been able to fin
ish more than one or two games this
season, yet both We're effective here.
The grandstand managers who start
the cry take him OUT whenever a play
er makes a blunder are not helping the
situation in the least. The team deserves
lot of credit for the splendid showing
it has made this season, and just because
1t is in slump it should not be dis
couraged. No balr player ever goes into
a game that he does not try to play his
best and when things go wrong he Is not
to be blamed or roasted 1t Is reasonable
to presume that large majority of the
team win, yet it is not helped by demand
ing a player to be taken out or making
criticisms which are uncalled for.
1t is not unlikely that Walter Johnson
and Big Ed Walsh will hook up today,
though if Johnson pitches Callahan may
work one OF his other twirlers and hold
Walsh in reserve to he used in the event
that the SoX get a lead during the closing
innings Of The game.
At no time this season have the Ma
tionals shown good form when Dan Noel
Ter has not been hitting, and the present
losing streak can be directly attributed
Moellcr has been very weak with the bat.
He has been charged with twenty times
at bat, and has only made three base hits.
Moeller has been the keynote to the Ma
tionals winning streakS. Whenever he is
hitting and getting on the bases the play
ers behind him seem to be able 10 drive
runs home, and whenever he SlumpS the
entire team appears to become weak with
the stick.
Dame Fortune is not smiling on Bot
Groom these days. The tall twirler is
having nothing but tough luck in every
game he has pitched of late. 1t started
in Chicago. when Doc White beat him
. to l. the two runs coming to the Sox
with two out in the first inning, when
Collins hit grounder to Mcbride which
struck some obstacle and bounded over
his head for single, scoring two runs.
Petty finished, the Browns getting two
runs in the ninth off Of him, and yester-
day errors were responsible for every run
made off of Groom. But for these he
seemed destined to pitch a splendid game
Of ball. He was taken out In the fifth.
which Rath opened with single. Mat
tick sacrificed. but Laporte dropped Will
lams' assist to first. Lord then bounded
one against the screen in right. filling the
bases. and as Mcintyre. left-hander,
was up. Griffith put in Vaughn. Gala
han. however pu ting himself in for Nc
Intyre, walked, forcing in run.
Callahan was not taking any chances
with Cicotte. Just soon as the Sox
got a two-run lead Big Ed Walsh went
out in left field and warmed up. He
stayed there until the game was over,
being ready to take Cicottes place at any
moment.
Only one of Griffiths players got past
first base yesterday. He was Laporte.
who in the fifth inning got scratch
double to right and went to third on
Shanks' out at first. Barring this in
stance, there was not a chance for the
Nationals to score off Cicotte unless one
of the locals had come through with a
long drive at several stages when men
reached first. Cicotte held the Nationals
safe all the way, while runs came rather
easily for the visitors.
They virtually put the game on ice in
the third inning. when Groom grew wild,
yet should have retired the side without
scoring. He got rid of Kuhn and Cicotte
before walking Rath. He also walked
Mattick. and then Laporte fumbled
Lords grounder, filling the bases. Bodie