Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-17
FANS GIVE NATIONALS A
ROUSING WELCOME AT DEPOT
Johnson Too III to Work Against Athletics
Tomorrow = Series With Cham
pions Will Prove Real Test.

| to give a good account of himself. Plank
will most likely pitch for the visitors, and
as he is always a hard nut to crack. the
game should prove a hard-fought pitch
erS' battle.
| The improved condition of the Nation
become apparent to local patrons of the
game when they see the team In action
tomorrow. Griffith has fast, hustling
team of youngsters which is never beaten
until the last man is out. 1t has changed
materially in that 1t plays its best ball
when it has lead to overcome. So
marked is their play once they have an
uphill fight on their hands that it has been
remarked in other cities that the only
way to beat them is not to score against
them and hold them safe until the ninth.
| when a run would win To get lead
early in the game only serves to make
them angry and they have been either
tying the score or taking the lead them
| were several games on the recent trip
when 1t seemed that the winning streak
would be broken, but that grit and De
| termination which Griffith has instliled
| into his men always came to the front IN
| time to save the day.
What will undoubtedly prove the largest
crowd that ever attended ball game
| in this city will be on hand tomorrow
when the Nationals make their first ap,
performance in the west. Every reserve
seat has already been sold and long be-
| fore the game is called the park is sure
to be packed. The seating capacity OF
| it will undoubtedly be necessary to
stretch ropes in the outfield to accom-
modate the crowd.
The report that Griffith refused to stay
over in Cleveland for the game today. is
-,-I nIg
wanted to play the game scheduled for
Sunday on Monday Griffith would have
| had to hold his team there. But Cleve-
land had enough of the Nationals and
when the Sunday game was called on
because of rain they notified Griffith that
Cleveland club entirely and Griffith had
| no voice in the matter, as the league
| rules provide that when game is post
! poned and an off day follows the
to remain over to play such game. pro-
| viding it is possible for the latter to get
| to its next destination in time to carry
out its part Of the schedule.
Griffith was anxious to play, for he
believed that 1t would have resulted
in certain victory for the Nationals.
since the Cleveland team is not only all
| shot to pieces. but is playing listless
ball, and is not to be compared with
the Nationals.
Much will depend on how the young
pitchers show up in the seven games
| which are to be played with the Ath-
letics There is no way to- avoid using
the youngsters, for the veterans will
hardly be able to repeat in the series
now that Walter Johnson will be pre-
vented from working in the opening
game This series will be a great
| test for Griffith's young pitchers. for
they will be pitted against one of the
strongest teams in the country in a
| battle which may decide which one of
| the teams is going to lead the race by
| Monday. To date the youngsters have
done splendid work. and have been
perfectly manipulated by Griffith. but
| the real strain will come this week,
and no one can predict what may hap
pen.
Having rested yesterday. Griffith had
| his players out at the park at IL
| o'clock this morning, and put them
| through an hour and half Of hard
game tomorrow. Griffith is stickler
| idle days help his team and he never
overlooks an opportunity to have IT
| hustling.
| Only the first five rows in the upper
and lower stand and the box seats were
| reserved for the game tomorrow. and. OF
| course, these were sold in very little
while. The remaining seats will go on
| sale at l o'clock tomorrow at the bal
| park.