Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-24
By ]. ED GRILLo.

There is no reason why the Nationals
should not make a good showing on their
| longest trip of the season, which opens
| in New York today. The team as a whole
| is in better form now than it was
earlier in the season. while it's playing
in the recent games at home was every
thing that could be asked for. Griffith'
pitchers are going along nicely now. and
while Ii 10 hazardous to make any pre-
dictions, there Is q good chance for the
team to break even on the road. which
would be a most satisfactory showing
and would probably mean that it would
return here in or mighty near third place.
All ball teams have their slumps. and
the recent stay at home Of the Nationals
might be judged as such, since the team
lost one more game than 1t won. so that
smooth sailing may be before it. Griffith
never makes predictions, but he seemed
satisfied that he would have nothing to
explain when this long trip is over He
now than 1t has been, and, with Hughes
in condition to hold his own. he believes
that more games should be won than
have been. Incidentally, he looks for a
general improvement In the hitting. Milan
and Schaefer are sure to get going, and
when they do 1t will make wonderful
difference in the teams showing.
Dan Moeller seems at last to have
struck his stride. In the recent games
he has played by far the best ball Of any
man on the local team, and his work in
the Detroit series was Of the highest
grade, there being few outfielders in this
Torrance. 1t took Moeller some time to
get started. He, like Foster. is slow be-
ginner in the spring, but now that he has
got under sail he is sure to make a splen-
did record for himself. The local club
made a ten-strike when 1t secured Foster
and Moeller from Rochester last fall.
These youngsters give every indication of
proving themselves the finds of the year.
The present good position of the Ma
tionals Is largely due to the good work
Of the former Rochester players. Early
in the spring 1t was the timely hitting of
Foster that brought many victories to the
Nationals, and now that Moeller too. has
started to show his true form the team S
strength has been greatly Increased.
Predictions were made early this spring
that this would be Tom Hughes best sea-
son OF recent years and barring acct
dent this will be proved. Hughes is in
better condition than he has ever been.
His arm has been sound and strong all
spring and had IL not been for the injury
with which he met in the first game he
pitched on the local field he would have
placed several games to the Nationals
credit already. His work yesterday
proved that he can be relied upon from
this out Hughes has never been very
successful against the Tigers, but yester-
day he had them eating out of his hand.
He is to be used regularly from this out
and should win his share of games while
on the present trip.
The Tigers were first to score in yes
terday's game, and only Hughes good
pitching kept the game from being lost In
the second inning. Foster fumbled Cal
nors grounder and then made matters
worse by heaving a wild throw over
Schaefer's head, the batter reaching sec
ond. A passed ball sent Gainor to third.
Moriarty was passed, but Stanage hit in
front of the plate and Henry headed
"Morey' OF at second by a good throw to
Knight, Gainor sticking to third all the
time. Another passed ball allowed Gainor
to come in. Henry had his troubles
catching Hughes, and a foul tip followed
that lifted a nail on his throwing hand
and he had to retire in favor of Ain
smith. Burns then famed and Bush lift
ed to Milan. closing what looked to be a
bad inning.
Moeller singled to center and Foster
rolled a safe one along the first base line
and barely beat IL out. Milan forced Fos-
ter at second, Moeller going to third, and