Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-19
es First Game for Washington Against Athletics Today
Morgan could not get going properly and
did not hit the ball hard once.

did not hit the ball hard once.
The two cleverest plays Of the day were
those by which base runners were caught
off second These undoubtedly saved the
game, especially the one In the eighth.
when Oldring. the first man up. had dou-
bled and was then caught on second by
Henry's quick throw. With Collins up
oldring expected a sacrifice to put him on
third. Collins missed the ball, and quick
as flash Henry whipped II to Mcbride.
Realizing that he could not get back to
second. Oldring started for third, but a
perfect throw by Mcbride nailed him
there. Then Collins singled. and had Old
ring been on second he could easily have
scored.
In the ninth Maggert was on second
when Groom suddenly turned and threw
to Mcbride, who had to run to the bag
behind the base runner. and the throw
nailed him. These were splendid de-
fensive plays and virtually won the game
for the Nationals.
Barney Petty will most likely work In
one of the games this afternoon. 1t
seems to be UP to him and Tom Hughes
to tackle the champions today. and both
claim to be ready for the struggle. Petty
has always been q most successful pitch
er against the Athletics but, of course.
it has been some time since he has pitch
ed game, and 1t remains to be seen II
he is as good now as he used to be. If
he is he will prove a valuable man for
the team.
At the rate that Milan is stealing bases
this spring he will lead all the fast men
in the league when the campaign Is over.
He is already comfortably in front OF
his base-stealing rivals. and there IS
hardly day goes by. that he does not
second in the third and he did 1t easily.
Lord was the only one Of the visitors
who attempted the play. and Henry
threw him out by feet. Strunk got a
pilfer. but that was with man on tniro
and two out, and Henry could not take
any chance Of making throw. 1t Is
the catchers who have much to DO with
making the Nationals hard team 70
beat, for II Is like suicide to attempt to
steal on them.
II the team can win two more games IN
a row IL will have equaled the wonderful
record of the White Sox. who won nine
teen straight games In 1915 but the rec
ord Of the locals would be all the more
creditable because every one but yester-
days games will have been won on the
road.
Griffith, who has the utmost confidence
of his team, not only believes that the
White Sox record will be eQualed. nut ne
says he Is confident that 1t will be beaten
which evidently means that he expects 10
day.
It was like a worlds series day at
ball park yesterday. It was an immense
crowd every available foot OF space being
filled in the stands. and one never sees
like those when the two championship
winners meet in the fall. 1t was won
derful sight, a great game. and, 1t Is ques-
tionable II there has ever been a ball
game played before so representative an
audience. To have lost before that crowd
would have been q crime, and 1t was for
tunate indeed that the two teams FUR
nished SO brilliant an exhibition, and. OF
course, the victory Of the Nationals was
particularly welcome at that time
The practice which the Nationals put up
before the game occasioned a whole lot
of favorable comment. It looks like the
warm up Of a real ball team now. and Its
fielding is well worth the price or aomls-
sion. Foster. Mcbride and Gandil have
the practice stunt down to a nicely and
the public appreciates it.
That George McBrides good work this
spring has not been overlooked was evil
denced by the applause he got every time
he came to the plate. George made good,
too, getting couple Of clean singles.
Herman Schaefer was introduced to
President Taft before the game: This Is
what Dutch said to the President: Mr..
President. we have justed made great
run in the west. and we hope that you
will make a better one"
When the Nationals came to bat the
first time a huge floral piece In which
a ball was suspended bearing the num-
bers 16 was presented to Manager Grit
fifth and the players by the Washington
business men. When the game was over
Groundkeeper Fitzgerald had changed the
number from Is to II. and had placed
the ornament on one Of the flower beds in
the front Of the entrance to the grand
stand