The Washington herald., 1912-06-10
GROOM WILLPITCH
AGAINST DETROIT
In SECOND GAME
Nationals Boss Confident that
TOOthpick Hurlsr win Be
Able to Hold Tigers.
IN WAKE OF THE NATIONALS
spci.I to N. w.,hinrtsn HsaIa.


Detroit, Mich, June 9-Bobby Groom,
elongated hurler OF the Nationals, IL Man
ager Grihth's choice for box duty to-
morrow, and Bob Is confident that he
viii be able to keep the climbers in their
winning streak.
Groom has been going great during the
past two weeks, and Boss Grin will send
him to the hill, and expects to make to-
morrow's game the eleventh straight VIC
tory.
The success Of the team has set the old
pennant bee buzzing in the players bon
nets, and nothing less than clean sweep
OF the Tiger series will suit the members
Of the Nationals.
Joe Engel, the Pride Of the District, will
he sent in to humble the crippled Tigers.
Mullin is slated to work on the mound
for the Jungaleers.
One glance at the American League
batting averages for the week Just closed
viii demonstrate more than anything
else why the Nationals have been so
successful in their Western invasion.
Morgan. Foster, Moeller. and Gandil are
all clouting the ball well over the 800
mark. while Milan Is hitting around .2Ss.
Neither Shanks nor Mcbride can boast
OF such high averages, but the last two
mentioned have come through with safe
drives time and again when hits were
needed to score runs.
It is not to be expected that all these
youngsters will finish the season In the
coveted 800 class, for slumps are bound
to come TO every ball player, but they
are hitting up there now, and for this
reason are winning games.
A distinct feature of all the Western
victories has been the consistent manner
in which the young Nationals have
slugged their way to the top. treating all
pitchers alike. Not one game OF the
St Louis or Chicago series can be
claimed by the home clubs because the
Nationals managed to get the lucky
breaks. Every Washington victory has
been gained by a comfortable margin,
all Of which augurs well for the future
OF the club.
After the Nationals play their four
game series against the Tigers and Maps
they return TO the Capital on June IS,
where one game Is booked with the Ath-
Ietics, then Grins band goes TO Phil
adelphia for a series. returning on the
Path for a long stay in the Concrete
Coliseum.
1t is Just possible that a double header
will be played in Washington on June Is.
The Nationals have . postponed game
with Mael's White Elephants, and Grin
said last night that II his pitchers were
in good shape he might insist upon
double bill A definite announcement OF
this will be made later.
It seems a shame that the Washington
club could not have had alright pitch
ing against New York and Boston. the
first stops on the long fling around the
circuit Griffs heroes drove in enough
runs in every game to win, had the
proper pitching been in evidence. and
with an even break in New York and
Boston, the Nationals would to-day be
right up near the top, fighting Callahan $
Comets for first place.
The encouraging part Of the trip thus
far has been the unearthing Of Engel
and Musser. untried youngsters, who
were stacked against the strongest clubs
in the league and who came through
with flying colors. These kids will be
given plenty of work from now on, as
double headers are coming thick and
fast. and Grin will need every bit Of
pitching strength he can muster.
washingtonIans who saw the New
York Nationals practice in the Concrete
Coliseum last spring before the exhibit
tion games marveled at the amount Of
pep and speed displayed. 1t was worth
the price OF admission just to watch
the Giants work out.
The Nationals are pulling this same
stun on the road. They shoot the ball
around the bases at a mile-aminute
clip, everybody chattering and making
all sorts OF marvellous stops every after
noon. In Chicago the first day the Ma
tionals appeared with this ginger prac-
tice the crowd fairly roared its approval
Fans rubbed their eyes, exclaiming:
Can that be the WASHINGTON clubT'
Capital rooters will see this same stun
pulled OF when the young Nationals re-
turn to Washington next week.