Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-21
hnson Will Not Work in the Present Series at Philadelphia
SLUMP OF TWO PLAYERS
CAUSE OF POOR SHOWING
Moeller's and Fosters Inability to Get on
the Bases Responsible in Main for
Loss of Games in Philadelphia.

| terrific hitting the champions would be N
poor way. Collins is either slumpins
or has gone back. for he Is not playing
near the ball that he did heretofore
/ letics their offensive strength. He is car
rying the entire team on his shoulders,
and If anything should happen 20 him to
prevent him from playing awhile Mack
team would quickly drop out of the
i hunt.
| The Athletics practice a manipulation
of the balls which does not speak well
for their craftsmanship. The boy in
charge of the balls keeps the grip con :
| tanning them close to the grandstand IN
which sets an accomplice. When the Ath-
letics are in the lead all the new balls
are slipped to the fellow to the stan1,
who hands back old ones, and the cx-
change is reversed whenever the visiting
teams happen to get lead Inasmuch as
the balls used are manufactured by the
| owner of the local club, there is no ton
ing what sort of an advantage may be
taken by the local club in the matter of
balls. Griffith made the discovery YES
terday that the balls were being eS-
changed and called the umpire's attic at;on
to ii, but further than to take several
balls from the man in the stand no ac-
ton was taken.
Joe Engel pitched splendid game OF
ball. but he was unfortunate in that his
team failed to score of of Plank Plank.
by the way. was wild, walked five and
was hit much harder than the score
would indicate and yet he got away with
| out being scored on.
| Cashfon looked impressive in spots. but
he had one poor inning, when Collins and
Baker hit him hard.
| I'VE have to expect these slumps." said
Griffith this morning Whenever a team
! has been under strain such as we were
| In the west, there is always apt to be d
relapse, and that is what has struck us.
| But we will get to going again, mark
| that. and when wo do We will clean up
| for a lot of these teams. Our inability to
! hit is causing our troubles now. but that
| is not going to last much longer. Players
have their off days but they will come
| back. and when we do we will make UP
| for lost time
| Unless 1t should happen that Walter
Johnson works Saturday, which, of
course, is not likely, Barney Petty will
be sent in against the champions for the
second time in the series. Barney is not
satisfied with his showing of the other
day, and he believes that he can beat
them. AS there are no other pitchers to
call upon, Griffith will allow him to make
the trial.
One run in two games IS not going to
win much base ball. and yet that was the
extent OF the Nationals scoring IN yes
terdays double-header. In the first game
Plank blanked them, though it is hard to
understand for any one who saw the
game Engel pitched WE'LL but did not get
the breaks. Runs came easily for the To-
calls and most of the hits made off Engel
were of the scratch variety.
Cashion was hit hard in spots In the
second game. particularly in the third In
ming. when Mcbride gave the Athletics a
chance by dropping high fly from Old
rings bat. That started a batting bee and
before the inning was over four runs had
crossed the plate.
The attendance here ma been exception
ally good There were over 1900 We'd
nesday and yesterdays crowd was far
over the 10000 mark. The Nationals
have furnished an attraction here and 1t
would have been better still Rad they
been able to get an even break in the
four games played.