Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-16
PINCH H|TTERS
FAIL IN CRISIS
Groom Disposes Of Three m
Eighth and Saves Game
by 0ne-Rm Margin.
NATIONALS on EVEN
TERMS WITH CHICAGO
Yesterdays Victory Causes
Tie for SECOND Place.
Griggs 0utguessed.
BY j. ED GRILLo.

) CLEVELAND, Ohio, June IS.
In struggle which was not
decided until the last man was out
in the ninth, the Nationals this
afternoon annexed their sixteenth
consecutive victory, thus standing
on even terms with Chicago for
second place in the championship
race. Not one of the victories the
team has been scoring furnished
SO doubtful a contest as the one
of today, the final score of E to 5
not indicating the heart throbs
that those pulling for Washing
ton endured during the game.
But, as the old saying goes, all's
well that ends well, and when the
win column of the team is perused
today's victory will not look very
different from the others. But it
was close struggle, in which real
grit and gameness again survived.
AT one stage of the battle the
score stood 8 to o against the visi-
tors, and while they eventually
overcame this advantage they
were never out in the clear, and
there were several occasions when
"A base hit would have broken the
winning streak.
This was particularly true in
the eighth. when Manager Davis
-nsed three of his pinch hitters, and
every one of them is a giant with
the bat, yet no runs were scored.
1t was the most interesting in
ming of the game, and many gray
hairs were sprouted before it was
over.
Pinch Hitters Fail.
At this stage the score stood as at the
run. Groom, who had taken Cashion's
place disposed of the first man to face
him, but walked Butcher. the next bat
ter up. Butcher attempted to steal, but
the good arm of John Henry retired him,
and it seemed that a rally had been
stopped. But the unexpected happened
and Turner came along with base hit
into left What was more he stole, De-
cause Henry dropped the ball just as he
was about to throw. This gave hope. and
when Jackson was trotted out to bat for
Ball the crowd went mad with hopes.
Here Griffith cut into the game. He IN
structed Groom TO walk the southern
slugger, and Groom followed instructions
while the crowd jeered- To offset Crit
fths strategy Davis ordered Easterly,
4 another good hitter, to bat for O'Nei
Groom worked on him, but eventually
got himself in a hole and walked him.
filling the bases Then pandemonium
reigned, and when Griggs, the only other
pinch hitter on the Cleveland bench. was
trotted out to bat for the pitcher the
crowd fairly raved
II seemed that the Maps had caught
Griffith at his own game. and 1t was now
up to Groom. and II could not have been
up to better man. Tall Bob worked
slowly against the former Toledo slugger
He curved the first one over without
Grtggs offering TO swing. He wasted the
next one. but came right back with a
curve and Griggs made futile swing
Then Groom studied his man. He pre-
a
splitter. Griggs seemed to recognize the
BLUM and set himself for another curve
but Bob had switched the cards and shot
straight fast one through the middle
which Umpire Connolly called strike
and the side was out while groans arose
from the stands.
Washington again outplayed Cleveland
but for all that the victory had to be
earned.
AS was predicted. Gr,fath started the
Nuytth Il -.
poorly, but unfortunately, and but for
the strong stick work of his teammates
would have gone down to defeat But
when the score showed his team to be
but a single tally in the lead Griffith
who seems to know the psychological
moment to change pitchers, dragged him
out and substituted Groom. and il was
this move which gave his team the vic
tory.
Mitchell Started Well.
The way Willie Mitchell pitched the
first three innings it looked as IL the
breaking UP of the winning streak was
at hand. No runs had been scored off
him, and in the third the Maps had
tailed three times. But il seemed to
only spur the Nationals on to lead them
and In the very next inning they came
within one OF tying the score. and had
~ not been Tor some perfect throwing
by their outfielders the Maps would have
been more than wiped out Ii was In
this inning that the Nationals made five
hits, got a pass and the benefit of two
passed balls. yet scored but two runs.
But undaunted by that failure they went
into the next round and took the lead.
which they held 10 the finish, though the
substitution of Steen for Mitchell put an
end TO their cavorting around the bases
during the latter innings of the game
Cleveland got her three runs in the
third on pass to Mitchell. who opened
the inning. Graney hunted and Cashion
fielding fu-f
on. Olsen flied out to Morgan. hut La
joie came through with a two Dagger over
third. only TO score when Birmingham
also hit safely. But Mcbride ended the
rally when he picked up Butcher.
grounder. touched second in time to force
Birmin CHAM and then got the ball to frs
L. time to make a double play
Milan opened the fourth with a hit, but
Continued on Second Page.)