Evening star., 1912-09-13
BY J. ED GR1LLo.

CLEVELAND. Ohio. September 13.-
Robert Groom not only pitched good ball.
but he had the benefit of brilliant sup
port. and this combination made it possible
for him to add his seventh straight VIC
tory yesterday. Ordinarily Bob would
have had a hard time beating Willie
Mitchell if he pitched as effectively as
yesterday. but wild heave by the south
paw, coupled with brace of freak double
plays, which stopped Nap rallies, made
three runs sufficient to win the game for
Sir Robert. Groom, who has been dis
playing the best form of any of Griffith s
pitchers of late, was at his best yesterday
for the reason that his control was al
most perfect. He gave but a single base
on balls. and this one blossomed into a
run in the very opening inning. But he
was good when he had to be, and to this
together with the fact that two double
plays helped him out of serious holes
his victory must be attributed.
AS Groom is now going he would really
have chance to take part in the pitch
ing record contest in which Joe Wood and
Walter Johnson have been engaged for
some time, If the season had another
couple of months to 60. He is almost
unbeatable now. but the season is draw
ing to a close, and even if he should win
every one of the remaining games in
which he is slated to work he is hardly
to be considered a contestant for the
pitching honorS.
There is a great demand for Herman
Schaefer by minor league clubs who are
anxious to secure a manager Grlnth
has heard from quite number of small
league club owners who want to secure
tI1rr SOW nf th< irr CSi n.
man, but he has turned a deaf ear to all
these entreaties. Griffith evidently .ex-
poets to continue Schaefer as member
of his team. While he has taken part in
but few games this season. he mas been
invaluable in other ways, and he has
earned his salary by the entertainment
he furnishes for the spectators on foreign
grounds. But the fact that Schaefer is
not playing regularly has mot made any
difference in his compensation. He is
drawing just as much money now from
the Washington club as he did from De-
troit in the days when he was helping
the Tigers win pennants Things are
coming mighty easy for Germany and
with lots OF minor league clubs wanting
his services. and McGraw having gone
on record as being willing to pay him a
good salary to clown for the Giants, the
future need not be feared by him.
Had it not been for a couple of double
plays which the Nationals pulled in yes
terday's game the chances are that Bob
Grooms winning streak would have been
broken by the Maps. The first one came
at a most opportune time in the seventh.
when. with one run already across the
plate, second and first occupied, with
but one out. things looked rather dubious
for Mr.. Groom. 1t was one of those
ticklish situations when an error or a
base hit plays havoc with a short lead,
and the Nationals barely had their noses
in front at this time the extent of their
margin being a single run. Hendrix was
on second as result of his two-bagger
on which Lajoie had scored. and Graney
on first. having been hit by a. pitched
ball, with O'Neil UP. O'Neil hit little
bounder in front OF the plate. which he
thought was foul, and he made no eff
fort to run. Quick as "A flash Williams
took in the situation. picked up the ball
and Foster shot it to Gandil. whereupon
Umpire O'Loughlin declared both men
out and the inning was over.
When Turner opened the ninth with
single and only one run was needed to
tie the score matters again looked
trifle shaky, for Jackson and I4ajoie, who
are really the whole Cleveland team.
were up next, and they have been feast
ing on the offerings of Griffith's pitchers.
jackson. however hit sharp grOunder
right over first. Gandil got the ball,
touched the bag and then threw TO Nc
Bride in time to nail Turner making IA
double play. This was followed by a
single by Laioie, which but for the dou
BILE play would at least have tied the
score.
Silk O'Loughlin, who. like nearly all
the umpires on the American League
staff is making decisions which are
laughable had . run-in with John Henry
in the fifth inning, the result being that
Henry was put out of the game and OF
the grounds John was at bat when
OLoughln called a third strike on him on
ball that was pitched across his race.
Henry protested and was chased. and in
cidentalIy Mike Martin, the teams train
er followed him to the clubhouse for
making remarks about the decision. Will
liams took Henrys place and handled
Groom's delivery very satisfactorily.
1t will be either Hughes or Engel
against the Tigers today. Cashon will
be sent back Saturday, and Johnson is
slated TO work Sunday, after which the
team goes to ST. Louis for three days,
after idling Monday.
Joe Birmingham deserves credit for
having accomplished one revelation with
the Maps Under his regime the team is
displaying real ginger. something whlch
, has been absolutely foreign to any team
that has represented that city in many
years Every man on the team is now
talking and encouraging his teammatc.
and the result is that the Maps are put
ting up much snappier game of bail
than they ever have before. Even Lajoie
and Turner, whose former Hstlessness
has been the source of much comment,
are hustling, and there is good chance
! OF Birmingham improving conditions
here by next season.
Grifiths pitchers did not fare We'll
against either jackson or Lajoie i'll the
/ Cleveland series. Jackson got six hits
| i'm the three games, while Lajoie boosted
{ his average with nine safe drives. The
| hitting of the veteran is nothing snort OF
wonderful He seems capable OF driving
| the ball into safe territory about any
| time he wants to, and all pitchers look
alike to him when he happens to be in
one of his batting moods. This is true,
! 100. of Jackson though after that worthy
| is through at the bat he Is not of much
| help to his team in any other respect.
/, Because Mitchell. a left-hander. was
! working against thhe Nationals. Griffith
sent Kenworthy to right and benched
Moeiler. The change worked WELL In the
! first inning the recruit led of with a
double to left which developed into the
| Nationals first run, and in the sixth he
| prevented q sure double off of Chap
| mans bat by making great running
| catch right on the right-feid foul line.
close to the fence. He was appfauded for
| this feat by the partisan Cleveland fans.
| who are particularly sore on the Ma
| tionals for the severe drubbings they
have dealt out to their pets this season.
| Washington won eighteen games out OF
| twenty-five from Cleveland. this season
| The Maps won two in Cleveland. one
! earlier in the season, when the Nationals
| jumped over there for a Sunday game,
and another when they defeated Walter
4 -,