Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21
RUNS CAME EASY
FOR CHAMPIONS
Nationals Give Weird Fielding
Exhibition Behind Dixie
Walker.
WILD HEAVES AND MUFfS
RESPONSIBLE FOR 6 RUNS
Exciting Struggle Arouses
Players and Umpires, Who
Have Lively Clash.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

About everything that can be crowded
into a ball game, excepting good. clean
hitting, was witnessed at the ball yard
yesterday when the Athletics took the
second and last game of the series by a
score of to 5. There was some brilliant
fielding and there were also many errors
and, unfortunately, the Nationals made
most Of these at times when they proved
costly. There was a lot of excitement,
too, when, during a period that the locals
seemed about to start a rally which
threatened for time to change the
aspect of the score. some Of the players
and Manager Griffith got tangled UP with
the umpires and were ordered off the field.
AS ball game, 1t was interesting in
more ways than one The result seemed
much In doubt for most OF the way, and
every now and then there seemed a good
chance for the Nationals to forge to the
front, only to be halted by the champions,
who would then strengthen their lead by
taking advantage of some sort Of misplay.
Though apparently easily beaten, Walk
er pitched a strong game of ball, but his
support did about everything that the
game permits, and to this must be at
trtbuted his defeat. Every one of the
runs scored against him. for instance,
was the result of misplays, so that 1t can
be truthfully said, luck broke badly for
him. Coombs was far from his best, yet
he was getting away when. in the eighth
inning, he strained himself and had to
retire. 1t was the coming into the game
of Cy Morgan, who relieved Coombs, that
started all the trouble. He started by
walking Walker, and then Moeller hit
safely. With two on, none out and two
runs needed to tie, this was a most prom
1sing situation, and desiring to make
matters as uncomfortable for Morgan as
possible. some of the local players got
themselves in wrong with the umps by
tossing the bats around. The crowd took
UP the scheme to rattle Morgan and the
din and noise Of the roofing became
deafening. But Morgan got out Of the
mess with only one run scored against
him, while half a. dozen of the locals
were forced to retire to the clubhouse.
After that il was easy sailing for the
champions, who continued to lengthen
their lead In the final two innings both
tallies being the result of misplays.-
Handicapped at Start.
The game was not fifteen minutes old
before the Nationals found themselves
fighting against a three-run lead. They
displayed the proper grit. however, and
eventually got within one of their op-
ponents, and had opportunities to at least
tie the score, which. however, they never
accomplished. Runs came easily for the
Athletics Like all strong teams, their
opponents must not stump their toes IL
they expect to beat them. They were
quick to take advantage of every little
Wobble. and got six runs when. with good
support. they would not have had a
single one.
There was no damage done in the first
round. though Foster made a wobble,
which. however, did not cost anything.
But in the second 1t was different, and
three runs came home, when there should
not have been any.
Murphy, the first man TO face Walker,
got a life when Mcbride fumbled his
hard grounder for an instant and then
threw 1t wide to first, Murphy reaching
second. McInniss sacrificed him to third
and this brought the infield in for a play
at the plate Barry popped up a little
fly not ten feet behind second. but Nc
Bride, who had to turn to field the ball,
could not reach 1t and it fell safe, Muir
clean hit. sending Barry to third.
Coombs' long fly TO right scored Barry,
and Thomas moved up, scoring when
Strunk hit to left for a base. Strunk
was caught trying to advance on the
throw In.
In the second half of this round the
Nationals earned a run. Schaefer beat
out one TO Barry, got around to third
on two put-outs. and scored when Nc
Bride hit to right for a base.
In the very next inning the interest OF
the situation was helped along by an
other run being scored by the locals.
which put them within whispering dis
tance of their opponents Dixie Walker
opened with hit, and Foster sent him
all the way to third with q long single
TO right He scored when Coombs made
a wild pitch, after which Milan and
Schaefer struck out. In the sixth the
visitors got another on an error. With
one out. Danny Murphy hit for three
sacks to deep center, but Mcbride threw
him out at the plate a moment later.
Barry sent sharp grounder to Foster.
whose throw was muffed by Flynn, and
McInniss, who had moved around TO
third while Murphy was being put out,
walked home.
Seventh Was Exciting.
The seventh was the exciting inning
While pitching to Dixie Walker Coomba
strained himself and had to retire. He
had three balls and one strike on Walker
and after much delay Morgan took up the
work on the slab. He walked Walker and
then Mceiler hit safely. Foster crashed q
sharp one at Collins. who threw poorly te
Barry, but Moeiler overran the bag and
Barry finally ran him down between sec
ond and third. Milan's out scored Walker
and Schaefer ended the round on IN In.
field play.
There was some pretty work in thu
eighth, but the error cropped out agar
and another run resulted. Collins got Hi
third hit as a starter, but was forced by
Baker. whose little roller Williams sho
to second In time to stop Collins there
Baker was caught trying to steal. Muir
ply got to second when Foster. aftel
making a wonderful one-handed stop
threw far over F1ynn's head, and HI
scored on McInniss' single to left wheI
Walker allowed Moellers throw to re