Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-20
Cashion and Enge Scheduled to Work Against the Athletics
GRIFF'S CONFIDENCE NOT
SHAKEN BY DOUBLE DEFEAT
Nationals Manager Still Maintains Tha
Team Which Beats His GLIB Will Win
Pennant -Egan's Decision Poor.

| looking team. for the reason that they
displayed more spirit in their work. took
more chances on the bases and played a
more sensat ional fielding game
Barney Petty is going to be of much
service to the team. That the former st.
Louis twirler is not suffering from a lame
arm was demonstrated yesterday when he
worked in the second game and gave a
very good account of himself He was
not hit hard, but was unfortunate In that
hits came when they did the most dam
age. Furthermore. 1t was the first game
that Petty has pitched in some weeks so
that he could hardly be expected to be at
his best. He is sure to show to even bet
ter advantage the next time out.
UP to their former standard. even Egan
could not have prevented the Nationals
from winning. But this pair failed to get
anything that looked like hit. and Noel
into a dismal slump, striking out five
times in the two games. Gandil, too went
hitless until the last time up In the sec
ond game. when he hit for three bases, a
drive which failed to avail anything,
With this trio out OF batting form it IS
a wonder. indeed, that the games were so
close. for 1t has been this combination
which has been responsible for most of
the victories scored to date. It was just
Mack luck to have these players slump
with the bat at this time, but all three
Of them promise to be back in form to-
day
Griffith will be forced to use his young
sters in the double-header scheduled for
today. Johnson has not yet reported, and
when he does 1T is doubtful If he will be
ready to go the route, SO that there is no
alternative for Griffith but to give his
youngsters a chance. It is most likely that
Cashion and Engel will pitch the two
games, though Arusser may be used in
one Of them. 1t is. Of course, not very
encouraging to be forced to use a lot of
inexperienced pitching material against
the champions. but there Is nothing else
to do. and. besides. they may prove a sur
prise.
Plank Is now the only seasoned pitcher
whom Mack has left to use against the
Nationals in the series. barring, Of
course. Coombs, who is sure to repeat
before the Nationals get away from here.
On the showing that the other pitchers
on his staff have made, they should not
have easy sailing by any means.
Shanks is given credit by local critics
for having accomplished q fielding feat
at the park here which no other left
fielder has ever attempted There is a
high bank in left on the local grounds,
and Shanks mounted this during the first
game and pulled down high fly from
Oldring's bat, which had all the earmarks
of a long drive for three bases Shanks,
i
He covered all sorts of ground, and on
one occasion tore after a foul and fell
over the fence separating the bleachers
from the playing field. He seemed to
have injured himself severely, but after
little rest, resumed playing. Il
With one out in the ninth. Gandil hit
to right for three bases in the second
would win It. Shanks figured that he
could get away with the squeeze play
and gave the sign for 1t, but Gandil did
not catch It, and when Shanks hit in
front of the plate Gandil remained on
third and Thomas picked up the ball and
touched Shanks out Morgan followed
with line drive to right, but it was direct
~ at Lord and resulted in the third out
Right at this time the Wasihngton-PhiI-
adelphia series Is undoubtedly the most
important In the league, and it seems
strange that two more component UNI
pires than Egan ant O'Loughlin were not
assigned here to take charge Of the
games. Tt has been a rule to Away
assign the very bess umpires to the most
important games. but In this instance it
seems to have been overlooked.
For some unaccountable reason Eddie
Collins is not playing the game he did
last year or the year before. Mack's
great star seems to have slowed up and
he Is not hitting the ball like he did.
either. 1t may be only a temporary
slump, but the opinion is prevalent that
Collins has seen his best days. Baker
on the other hand. appears to be going
better than ever, and should have the
banner year of his career in fast COM
pany But for Baker the Athletics would
indeed be in bad way. He is teh one
man on the team who is most dangerous
at the bat. and, besides, he plays his posi-
ton well. Mack's outfield as it is now
made up is hardly above the ordinary
and Is not to be compared with several in
the league.
There is no reason for expecting the
Nationals to slump now that their win
ming streak has been broken. The loss
Of the two games yesterday does not seem
to have affected the players in the least.
They fought down 10 the last ditch in
both games and will go into today's bat
ties full of confidence and determination.
by one run in two games by a worlds
championship team, and it should not be
forgotten that il was mighty lucky to
win either.
The battle between Coombs and Hughes
in the opener was one of the best of the
year Hughes allowed but three hits In
the first seven innings, and for eight in
ninBs BANKED the champions. Coombs. |
on the other hand was scored against
in the sixth. when Mcbride hit safely, |
was sacrificed to second and scored when
Hughes doubled to left. There was not
a semblance OF a run for the locals until |
two hands We're out in the ninth, when
Baker hit over the fence In the tenth |
McBrides poor throw, Lapp's hit and.l
Egan's decision at the plate gave the
Athletics the run they needed to win
The second game. like the first, found |