Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-10
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

ST LOUIS. August 10-TheTe is gloom
in the camp of the Nationals. ThinSs
have been breaking badly for Grifhth
pennant chasers ever since they reached
St Louis and the end does not yet seem
10 be at hand. The greatest disappoint-
ment came when the Browns beat them
that S-to-o game Thursday. and. added
TO this came the rain yesterday. when
undoubtedly robbed the Nationals of
victory.
What is more. the showing of the De-
troit team against the Boston Red SoX IS
far below expectations. There were rea-
sons for believing that the Tigers WOULD
make an impregnable stand against the
leaders in the race. They were loud in
their boasts of what they would do to
Boston when the Nationals were there
and vet they have lost two games in
row. As matters now stand. the Fed Sox
are enjoying the same advantage as they
held when the Nationals started on their
western trip. having about a seven
game lead. Griffith's team had cut this
down materially previous to anchoring
here but has lost ground since. Some
consolation may be found in the defeat
of the Athletics Yesterday. but on the
whole matters are not breaking in
manner which briGhtens the hopes Of the
Nationals and their followers.
Elm The Nationals had scored two
runs while not a Brown had reached the
plate for St. Louis Pitcher Adams.
who proved SO troublesome in one of the
recently, had been driven off the rubber
and Powell had been substituted. while
Hughes was going along nice when rain
put an end TO hostilities. The game was
called in the third after Milan had singled
and stolen second andGandil had flied out.
1t was resumed after some twenty
minutes. and after Laporte had forced
Milan at third and Shanks had struck
out the Browns went to bat for their
third turn. Hughes had three balls on
Krichell when 1t began to pour for a
second time and then the game was call
ed off.
Grifith's players seemed in a batting
mood yesterday They began to hit
Adams right from the outset. but there is
no telling how Powell would have Jared
after he got into il to give any idea of
his effectiveness But Hughes was at
his best and both of the hits made of
him were the rawest kind of fiukes, SO
that there was every reason for believing
that the Nationals were destined to win
but. OF course, the rain spoiled 1t all. 1t
was tough day for Clyde Milan because
the game did not go the regulation length
u
clean hits and three stolen bases both
OF which would have been welcomed by
his records In the first inning he hit
safely and stole both second and third
with two hands out Gandil walked. but
Laporte popped up fly to Pratt and the
inning ended without run being scored.
Milan of course will not get credit in
the official records for his performance
and he is mad as hornet about his ILL
luck
Though the rules of the American
League make 1t compulsory for a club to
play double-header on the second trip
to any city on the very next schedule DAY
In the city where the game was postponed,
1t was not untillate last night that Own
err Hedges of the Browns came through
with the announcement that there would
be double-header today. Just why II
was not settled right after the game was
called off no one seems able to under
stand. Neither Griffith or Business Man.
aeer Fowler were able to get any infor-
nation on the subject until late at night
when Hedges said that he had decided to
abide by the rule and play two games.
Griffith has decided to work Groom and
Hughes in the double-hecder. Groom is to
get the first game and Hughes the Sec
ond, and the chances are that they will
be opposed by Powell and Allison. two
OF the local twirlers who have always
been troublesome for the Nationals. The
first game will be called at o'clock
in readiness TO save the day should he be
needed. and he is also slated to pitch the
final game against the Browns Sunday.
four times for the Nationals and he has
yet to drive the ball out of the infield
On his efforts to help his batting average
Laporte has offered only easy chances
but there Is no reason to be discouraged
about his inability to land the ball safe
~. There has never been any doub
as to his hitting ability. Last year ht
wound up the season with an average OF
hit just four points below his last year:
record. Laporte is a natural 200 hitter
and he should be of great help with thu
hat. and 1t is only because Of this tina
and benched Morgan. What the team ha:
needed right along has been another
hitter of the Gandil type. The first tril
Morgan seemed TO fill the bill to perfec-
ly falling off until he could not be con
sidered more than a weak sticker.
Excepting that I-aporte has taken Nor
gan's place at second base. Griffith has
reshaped his batting order so that il Il
now just a. IL was earlier in the sea
son. The sixth position. where one o
the catchers usually batted. has beer
turned over to Shanks. Mcbride comes
next and then the battery. inis chang,
should prove a good one, for wheneve
Ainsmith has been In the game he hal
proven too weak batter to hold 81
prominent position in the lineup. while
Shanks. who was next to the pitcher
has shown a lot of improvement in hi.
hitting since the. team left home. Crit
fifth is not worrying because Laporte dit
not start his career with the Nationals
duSpiciously with the stick as he hopes
to find him later on He figures tina
l-aporte Will eventually get into his strid'
and then when he does he will merel,
prove the wisdom of the move which sen
Morgan TO the bench and placed Laport
at second
BY some rather peculiar oversight tn
81 Louis club has never been forced 4
live up to the rule compelling every clul
IN the circuit TO furnish adequate ant
sanitary dressing rooms for the visitin;
teams The space set aside for the visit
ing teams on the local grounds is abom
Unable. and IN the future Griffith will hav
his players dress at the hotel and maxi
the trip to the park in uniform in tax
cabs. In the National League II is a ruI
that whenever club fails TO furnisl