Evening star., 1912-09-04
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, Mass, September 4.-With
good weather prevailing the present
series Of the Nationals here should prove
the most profitable. financially. of the
season for the Washington club. All Bos-
| ton wants to see the Nationals. No other
| team has created the interest here that
| has Griffith's, and it is predicted that the
stands here will not be large enough to
hold the crowds. The reason for this is
plain. 1t has been three months since
Washington has played here. 1t was just
after leaving here Decoration day that
the team made its great spurt OF seven
| teen victories, and it has been hanging
close to Boston ever since. In no city
of the circuit has the movements Of the
| Nationals been closer watched than here,
| where in the early spring it was pre-
dicted that Griffiths team would fin
| ish last or near it.
There is some doubt as to the weather
today 1t was drizzling when the team
| arrived this morning. but the predictions
were that it would clear after noon. For
some unaccountable reason the papers
here are announcing Walter Johnson to
do the pitching here today though he
worked Monday. Griffith has no inten-
ton of using Johnson here for more than
one game and that will probably be Fri
day or Saturday.
Joe Engel is the selection to open the
series. He will probably face Ray Col
Inns this afternoon, and he stands
chance to win. Engel baffled the Red
Sox in the morning game of Decoration
day, when he was not near the pitcher
he is now, and he lost because of errors.
Gandil and Moeller came to life yes
terday with their sticks, and it was their
good work in this respect that gave the
Nationals a victory over the Athletics.
1t makes a lot of difference in Griffith's
team when this pair is hitting up to it's
standard. In fact, when they are slump
ping it is almost impossible for the Ma
tionals to win. Moeler came through
nicely with single in the eighth with
the bases full, which netted the two runs
needed to win.
There was a rather peculiar ending to
that game, but for which there is no tell
ing what might have happened. With
one out Barry singled to left, and l.app,
who was sent to bat for Egan. followed
suit with another drive to center. Milan
came in on the ball, but it struck him on
the shins and bounded in front of him.
Barry seeing this started for third. There
was no chance for Milan to get him
there, but he threw to Mcbride, standing
w
first. Mcbride threw to Laporte. who
nailed Lapp, and then threw to the plate
in time to head off Barry. who was final
ly chased down and a double play COM
pleted. But for this play Groom would
probably have been in serious trouble,
for it is not an ideal situation to have
first and third occupied and one out with
but a two-run lead to work on.
Griffith proposes to give all his young
pitchers a chance on this trip, Engel,
Musser and Cashion are to be worked,
but Gallia and Herring are also to have
a chance. The latter pair are green
hands and need experience, but Griffith
is satisfied that both have enough nat
ural ability to carry them through.
Moran. the Chattanooga outielder, who
broke into the game yesterday, is a fast
fielder who appears to know something
about base running. He did not look
very impressive at the bat, though. of
course, it takes more than one game to
give a line on a player. None of these
young outfielders have a chance to get
regular job. however unless they can
hit Griffith has one of the greatest
fielders in the league in Shanks. and un-
less he can improve the teams hitting by
making changes, Shanks will not be in
danger of losing his job.