Evening star., 1912-06-13
PERFORM CLEAN
UP ACT AGAINST DETROIT
Johnson's Pitching Cowed the Tigers, and
the Fourth Straight Victory Was
Very Easily Registered.
BY J. ED GRILLo.
specisl Dispatch to The star.

Epecial Dispatch TO The Star.
I: CLEVELAND. Ohio. June 13.-There is
a possibility OF the Nationals occupying
first place in the race when they make
their appearance in Washington Tues
day. and there Is probability OF their
being the runners-up IL they fail to lead
1t by that time.
/. While the Griffithites are battling with
Cleveland. Boston and Chicago, the only
two teams which are leading Washington
in the race will be hooked up at Chicago
land II is likely that one or the other Is
going to suffer by reason of that series.
and If the two teams break even the Ma
ttionals, If they continue their present
pace. are sure to gain on both and per-
haps pass them. Judging by the showing
the Maps made against the Athletics. that
team is not going as we'll as it might. and
.unIess the Nationals slump they should
take a majority of the games there. If,
indeed, they do not repeat their perform
ances at ST Louis. Chicago and Detroit.
Groom, Hughes and Johnson have al
ways pitched gilt-edged ball against the
Cleveland aggregation, and If past per-
formances count for anything they are
all in better form now than they have
ever been. Groom will open the series
here today, and, as he has had plenty or
rest he should be at his best. Following
Groom-providing. of course, that nothing
goes wrong-HugheS, one OF the most con-
slstent stumbling blocks that the Maps
have to face. will work. and. If the occa-
sion demands. Walter Johnson Will work
the third game, while one of the young
sters, Cashion, Musser or Engel. will ap-
pear in the fourth
To win three out of four is sure TO
mean a higher position for the Nation
oil Jthj
lower them in the race. The optimistic
Griffith is claiming four straight games
in Cleveland. This is asking much, yet
III is not improbable, for with the Ma
tionals going as they are it is one of the
hardest teams in base ball 10 beat at
this time.
Even If the team fails to keep up its
present record of not losing a game in
the west, it has already established
worlds record by winning thirteen con-
secutive games on foreign grounds. No
other team since the days of modern
base ball has ever accomplished this
feat. In 1905 Chicago won eighteen
straight and lost its first game in Wash
ington. but more than half of these were
won at home, whereas every one OF the
present stretch of victories has been
scored on foreign grounds by the Ma
tionals
There is a chance for the team to make
a clean sweep of its invasion of the west,
one of the most remarkable performances
in the history of the game. Cleveland
may prove a tougher proposition than is
anticipated. but the fact that the Ath-
letics cleaned up In the series is. to say
the least encouraging, for when team
starts on slump it is no easy matter
to check il any more than it is easy TO
make team which is winning lose.
While one cannot help but be amused
at the optimistic opinions which Grif-
nth expresses. il is true that he has not
been wrong in single instance. and he
rfxkrs F1ax-a aud
less the unexpected happens, there Is
surrey no reason why the Nationals
should not play as good ball In Cleve-
land as they have elsewhere In the west,
and il they do there is no reason why
they should not have a clean slate when
they leave there.
There does not seem to be a chance for
Detroit TO cut any figure in the present
pennant race On the showing the Tigers
made against the Nationals it must be
conceded that the former champions were
outpla:ed But the most noticeable thing
about the teams work is its lack OF inter-
est and spirit. There was time when
there was no better hustling and fighting
team than the Tigers, but that day seems
to have passed. Jennings is handicapped
by the fact that he has too many players
who are looking for individual records.
Their system of play is selfish, because
they do not work in unison. 1t is team
in which every one seems to work for
himself. Ii is merely another instance of
q club being made up OF lot of players
who have passed the zenith of their ca
reers. There is incentive for them
and their goal consists of having the
averages show enough to warrant the
continuance of their salaries. Washing
ton outplayed Detroit In every respect. 1t
was faster team, displayed more spirit
and worked with an unselfish object in
view. which cannot be said of the Tigers.
Perhaps. too. the Tigers have slowed up.
Tor they did not take advantage
OF openings. while the Nationals never
into a double to go two bases when
team-Detroit.
Without wanting 10 reflect in the slight
est on the ability of Walter johnson,
for he is perhaps the greatest pitcher in
the world today. yet there is not a sem
hlance of doubt that his reputatio is of
the greatest help to him. This is par
ticularly true when Johnson faces De-
troit. The Tiger players do not believe
that IL was ever intended for them to
hit Walter, and they show IL the moment
he is announced 10 pitch Monday for
instance. when Engel hoisted the white
nag Johnson went out to warm up.
though Cashion went in TO pitch. 1t was
plainly TO be seen that the Tigers did not
face Cashion with any confidence. for
they seemed to realize that IL they got
bin into trouble johnson would take his
place, and so what was the use? Ii Is
safe to say that there was not member
OF Jennings team before yesterdays
game who 6xSrred his club as having "A