Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
MAPS LOOK WEAK
BEFORE JOHNSON
Star 1WirIer Allows But Two
Hits and Not a
Run.
LOCALS BUNCH THEIRS
IN FOURTH INNING
Break Losing Streak With
Rally Which Nets Six Runs.
New Lineup Presented.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

same erect on the Nationals that
did the Chicago White Sox
was demonstrated yesterday when
Cleveland made its initial appear
ance of the season here and was
defeated 8 to 0. Griffith men
presented an entirely different ar
ticle of ball compared with that
which they displayed during the
recent series with the leaders.
They looked more like major
league ball team than they did
earlier in the week. and, to use a
turf expression, actually galloped
home with victory
So far as the Maps efforts were
concerned, it was merely a dem
onstration OF that accepted philos-
ophy of base ball. that YOU can't
hit what YOU can't see. and it was
Walter Johnson who caused this
failure OF the sight SO far as the
ball was concerned.
The star of the local pitching
staff has given few better exhibit
tons during his career than the
one of yesterday. 1t was a mas
terly effort from start to finish.
and naturally there was never a
moment when he was in danger OF
being scored upon.
johnson allowed but two hits.
did not issue single pass. struck
out eleven and did not allow a !
base runner to reach second base.
The two hits came in different
innings and really amounted tol
no more than break in the mo-
notony of seeing batters strike out
or offer easy chances to the field
ers. As if miffed at his recent ex-
perience against Chicago, Johnson
seemed to be determined not to
allow such accidents to happen
again, and he started out by now
ing down the first three batters
to face him. He kept up his eff
fective work to the last, and it is
therefore needless to say that
there was never a chance for one
of the visitors to get any nearer
the goal than first base.
There is no occasion for praising Wal
ters support, for he was not hit hard
enough to make hard chances necessary,
though such as were offered were taken
care of with ease and finish.
Johnson's Work Features.
Barring the work of the great pitcher
the game was not particularly interest
ing to that element which sees something
more than a victory for the home team,
for II must be admitted that the Maps
seemed outclassed. as all teams do when
they are up against such pitching asI
Johnson was doing yesterday. For three
innings 1T was a battle. with johnson not
allowing q man to reach first, while
Mitchell, a left-hander. who was then
opposing him, was rather liberal with
admissions to the bases but stingy as a
nliser when it came to giving runs. But
the break came in the fourth. when a
series Of hits and passes Melted six runs.
which more than proved enough to win
the day.
There were a couple OF tallies added
after that Just TO clinch matters. but
these. of course. might best have been
saved for some other day.
fourth under fire. James taking his place. |
and he did not prove the desperate that
his name might suggest. though he Jared
better than his predecessor. But lead
OF six runs to. contend against, with john |
son pitching in form, naturally did not in |
spire the visitors TO any great extent and
the rest OF the game was passed
with most Of the spectators try
Ing TO guess how many johnson
would fan and II it would be pos
end without allowing hit. In this lat
ter aspiration. however, Walter proved a I
disappointment, for when the game was
ended the scores showed that a brace of
singles were charged against him.
During the first two innings Ii seemed
as IL the same hoodoo which perched
here during the Chicago series was still
camping out at the local park. for again
four men were left during the first two
rounds without run being scored.
Shanks. who had been sent to Moeller's
place TO avoid having a left-hander hit
against a .left-hander, started the game
by walking, and Foster. as usual came
through with double to left, which re-
suited in third and second being occupied
But Milan's grounder to Ball resulted in
Shanks being thrown out at the plate
Walker. who was playing for the same
reason that Shanks was in left struck
out. and thsn ningham. another new
face in the game, forced Foster at third
In the second Ainsmith walked and
Johnson got scratch hit with two out
but they, too, were left. and the spec
tators began to move restlessly in their
seats.
Rally IN Fourth.
But the break came in the fourth. when
the game was virtually clinched knight
opened the inning by drawing free trans
portation. Mcbrides bunt right at