Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-26
By J. ED GRILLo.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, April o6.-When team wins
two Of the three games from Boston Is
Is necessarily playing high grade of
ball. That the Nationals did not make
a clean sweep here can be attributed to
couple Of misplays which cropped into
yesterdays contest and was responsible
for three Of the four runs the Red Sox
had to their credit at the finish.
1t was another instance Of where the
Nationals beat themselves. 1t seems i'm
possible for Grifith's team to make errors
which do not count. Any time there is a
slip-up. runs come over the plate. and
usually these prove enough to decide the
day.
But on the whole. the team did we'll
here. and left an impression with local
patrons Of the game that 1t will occupy
much higher position in the race than
any one has given 1t credit for. Except
ing yesterday. when Hall seemed to have
the Nationals baffled to a great extent.
the hitting has been excellent. while
the general spirit and dash of the team is
particularly gratifying. Nor is there rea-
son Tor believing that the team is going
ahead Of its gait. There is more reason
for believing that it will improve as the
season progresses. One thing is certain.
that a team which can play good ball in
such weather as has prevailed here Is
bound to show to better advantage when
1t gets warm.
For nearly the entire coming month
the Nationals will be at home. and dur
ing their stay here It IL expected that
they will materially improve their posi-
ton. Morning practice which Is figured
eral Of the players. The home series
starts with New York today and judy
ing from the showing the Hghlanders
have been making to date. there L. little
to fear from them. About the only
is to have an air-tight pitcher on the
rubber and prevent its opponents from
scoring.
Considering the fact that 1t was Tom
Hughes first appearance this spring, his
pitching was good. In fact. had he re-
ceived the support that pitcher expects
he would have battled the Boston into
extra innings, II, in fact, he did not wiz
his game. That rally Id the ninth. had
one run been needed. would have yielded
for one run. but for three. and this called
for change Of system.
But one run should have been scored
OF Hughes. The other three were the
result Of misplays. In the fifth inning
for instance. with two on and two out
Bradley hit q high fly to LETT which Noel.
Ter dropped. allowing run to score. and
in the sixth Knights mum OF McBride's
throw cost two more. Hughes had struck
out Lewis to start with. while Wagner
had flied out. Nunamaker got a hit ani
Hall hit a sharp grounder to Mcbride
who threw to Knight In an effort to force
Nunamaker. Knight dropped the ball
with a long three-base hit which cleared
the bases. This is the way they brok.
Cor Hughes.
Jim McAleer. like most base ball mer
who are familiar with the subject. be
lieves that Washington has the bes
catching STAFF in the league. Henry and
young catchers OF the major leagues. ant
while Williams did not work. he consid
ers him most valuable man when work
ed regularly.
Jake Stahl may not find It an easy mat
ter to get back into the game now tina
Bradley is covering the bag. Bradley Il
a ball player OF more than ordinary abil
ity and IL Jake has the best interests o
his team at heart. which he undoubtedl.
has. he Will think twice before brealAn,
back into the game. Stahl Is suffering
from a sprained ankle resulting from I
frolcsome motion to Jump down into tn
players hole. and II may be some week
before he will be able to get around OF
his leg.
Big Charley Hall appears to he the oul,
one OF the Boston pitchers who is IN any
| thing like good form. He pitched . splen