Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-19
GET SEESAW GAME
Nationals Beat Worlds Cham
pions in Thrilling Contest.
GANDIL'S HIT DOES TRICK
Brings in Winning Run After Two
Men Are Disposed Of
in Ninth.
iANDIL'S HIT DOES TRICK
BY J. ED GRILLo.

For the seventeenth consecutive time
the Nationals were returned winners yes
terday in the first game Of a series of
seven with the Athletics.
The fact that the men of Griffith were
up against the worlds champions did
not awe them. and while it is true It
took everything they had to win the
game. 1t nevertheless is a fact that they
put UP the better article Of ball.
It was a seesaw battle. in which the
winner was not decided until the final
inning. when a base hit from Chick Gan
dis bat sent the winning tally across
the plate and incidentally caused a riot
Gus scene in the stands, where thousands
had gathered to welcome the victorious
team.
From a struggle which seemed to be
well in the hands Of the locals the scene
suddenly changed in the seventh inning
and the locals found themselves behind
But with that same determination and
spirit which has made their famous
string Of victories possible they went
into the fray for keeps and soon
once more had gained the lead, only to
be tied again in the ninth. and 1t was
in the last half of this inning that the
game was won.
Brilliant Defensive Work.
Brilliant defensive work alone saved the
day for the Nationals. On two different
occasions, when Groom was in apparent
danger. runners were nipped off second
and the situation changed from one which
seemed precarious to one of confidence.
One of these plays came In the eighth,
which Oldring opened with double. He
ventured too far from the bag to avoid
Henry's throw to Mcbride, and a moment
later was caught off third. which he
tried to reach. A base hit followed which,
however, availed nothing. when it would
have scored a run. Again in the ninth.
with g. man on second and two out, with
a dangerous batter up, Groom and Nc
Bride caught runner of second and
probably saved the game.
Groom pitched a good game Of ball, but
was unfortunate in that he was hit for
two three-base hits at critical stages,
which resulted in all the runs the Ath-
ietics secured. His support was OF the
highest order. and but for it he would
have gone down to defeat.
For six innings Long Bob was invinci-
BILE, but from that out he had a hard row
to hoe, and had it not been for the SPLEEN
did defensive work in catching the two
men Off of second he would undoubtedly
have been defeated.
For the Athletics Morgan started, but
he did not last long. In fact, Mack had
three of his twfrlers in the game, and
hide.
But 1t was Chick Gandil who was most
responsible for the victory. His mighty
. stick was responsible for four of his
teams five runs. while his fielding helped
not little.
Nationals First to Get Going.
The Nationals were first to get under
way. After the Athletics had been
blanked in their half. in which Collins
singled with two out. the Nationals got
busy. Moeller went out. but Foster hit
for two bases over Oldrings head Mi
when Gandil singled Shanks also hit
safely and Gandil went to third, but on
an attempted double steal Gandil was
nailed at the plate.
What seemed to be a sufficient lead was
gained in the fifth, when Groom was hit
Foster hit to Barry. who threw badly to
first and Groom scored. Milan was
walked. but Collins made a great stop
Of Gandirs grounder. retiring the side.
Two runs looked like big lead at that
stage but the Athletics overcame it and
forged to the front in the seventh.
Strunk was not troublesome but Nc
Innis got a hit. Barry followed suit
sending McInnis to third. Jack Coombs
was brought in to hit for Thomas. but
he popped up to Mcbride. and Mack
then sent in Lapp to bat for Houck. He
made no mistake in this for Lapp tripled
to right center. scoring both runners and
tying the score. He scored q moment
later himself on Lords hit, and. 1t SEEM
ed, indeed, as IL the game had slipped
through the Nationals fingers.
Washington Again Takes Lead.
But there was another half to this in
ming. and that was enough to again put
the Nationals in the lead. Both scores
came after two were out.
Moeller had famed and Foster had
popped up to Collins when Milan got a
hit. Gandil hit along the left field foul
line for two bases and Milan scored all
the way from first. Strunk relayed the
ball to Baker. who threw wild to the
plate In an effort to catch Gandi1, who
was technically out, but the play was not
allowed and Gandil allowed to score be-
cause OF the rule which gave the runner
one base beyond the one he was going
on an overthrow. There was quite an