Evening star., 1912-07-11
o Nationals Are Showing Assures Continuance Of Winning Streak
1GRIT OF GRIFFITHS TEAM
IMPROVES ITS CHANCES
Gameness Displayed in Third Struggle
With NapsShows Nationals Cannot
Be Figured Out Of Race.

a good batter for the reason thas ne has
perfect stand at the plate and takes a
good swing.
Howard Shanhs is apt to be out of the
game for several days as result of be-
| ing hit by one of Baskette's inshoots
which landed on the elbow of his throw
ing arm. forcing him to retire. Red
Walker took his place and will be Played
!, in left until Shanks RECEIVERS from his in
jury, which Is not believed to be serious
AS a consistent hitter Chick Gandil has
few equais In the last fifteen games
played Gandil has not failed to hit safe
! ly one or more times. In most of these
| games he has two hits to his credit and
in several three. Washington has never
| had more consistent player than Gan
| dill. He is brilliant every day. and, as
| has been pointed out on numerous occa-
| sions. he does not appear to have a single
weakness. 1t is gradually being con-
| ceded by every one that Gandil is the
best first baseman in the league. Sew
| eral Of the Cleveland players who are
seeing Gandl for the second time gave
| this their opinion ,ast night and
| added that If there is a better third base
| man in the league than Foster they have
| not seen him.
| With the array of pitching talent that
Griffith now has at his command he is
| in a position to protect himself when
| ever twirier happens to go wrong. Yes
| terday he used three pitchers. and yet
did not weaken his staff. Groom can
come right back, because he worked but
| part of an inning. Cashion is a glutton
for work. and the six innings or so that
| he worked yesterday does not bother him.
while Vaughn took nothing more than
warm-up during his brief stay on the
! slab.
| 1t is this fact which makes the Ma
| tionais chances to land on top look de-
J~tI
happens to get hit hard, Griffith can
! make enough shifts to stop any ordinary
batting rally and still be fortified for
the succeeding games.
Because Eddie Foster does a lot Of place
hitting. which does not require a hard
swing at the ball, opposing teams get the
impression that he Is not hard hitter,
and usually the opposing outfield plays
in close.
This mistake was made by the Maps
yesterday, and, seeing this, Foster let
go at one OF Baskettes fast ones and
drove it far into right center for three
bases 1t does not pay to play for Foster
for he can come pretty near to doing
more with bat and ball than any player
in the league.
1t has been many a day since pitcher
got so lively a reception as did Bob
Groom at the hands Of the Maps yester-
day Before the first inning was five
minutes old four runs had been chased
across the plate and the bases were still
full when Groom was forced to retire
Ryan opened with single and Olsen
sacrificed. Jackson then hit far over
Shanks' head for three bases, sending
Ryan home. Lajoie was walked, and then
Griggs and Easterly came with singles.
while Birmingham doubled. That settled
Groom, and Cashion was hauled into the
game. Turner forced Birmingham. but
Cashion walked Baskette. Ryan and Oh
sen, but ended the round when Milan
grabbed Jacksons line drive A six-run
lead seemed more than the Nationals
| could overcome. but they went at 1t right
| from the start. getting run in their half
| of the first on Fosters single, a put-out
and a wild pitch.
Easterly's home run came in the sec
ond and was the final score which the
Maps secured. In the third the Nationals
got nearer their rivals After Moeller had
struck out, Foster walked, but was forced
by Milan. Gandil singled and Morgan hit
for two bases. Shanks was hit by pitched
ball and Mcbride came along with hit.
all of which netted three runs. couple
more were gained in the fifth on a walk to
sacrifice fly. The score was tied in the
eighth when Foster hit for three bases
and Milan dropped single over second.
He stole second and third, but could not
score. though he attempted to steal home.
The winning run came in the ninth. With
one down, Henry singled, Vaughn hit
long fly to right which Jackson muffed.
Henry going to third, from where he
I scored easily when Moeller hit the ball to
center through the infield, which was
playing in. The score: