The Washington times., 1912-08-27
By SENATOR"


Walter Johnson must he charged
with the loss of yesterdays game.
according to word received from Ran
johnson, head of the American
League, today. No explana ton OF his
decision has been received.
johnson must be charged with
loss of game reads the telegram to
the ofhcial scorer here today
The official scorers opinion is that
Hughes should be given the defeat as
he was responsible for the runs made
py tne men he left on the bases when
he was succeeded by johnson.
Nothing has caused such a furore IN
this city since the great winning streak
or the Climbers on the first jaunt
throufh the West as this question Of
who shall possess the defeat, Hughes or
johnson. Nothing else was heard on
the streets last night and today hut
talk running into rabd discussion,
whether or not Jahnson's great winning
streak is ended. There are almost as
many on one side as the other, too
No Rule In Matter.
There is no hard and fast rule in the
matter. II is question Of conditions
surrounding the pitcher relieving the
other. In the official score sent to the
office Of the American League in Chi
cago it will be recommended that
Hughes be given the defeat.
The official scorer reasons that John
son was not responsible for the pres
ence of Wallace and Kricheli upon the
bases when he took I'D the box burden
in the seventh. He went in with one
out and runners on first and second.
and should be responsible only for what
happened after that.
He famed Shotton, the first man TO
face him. working in a wild pitch dur
ing the performance which advanced
both runners. Compton singled to CEN
tar Vol he,
Williams was called out on strikes.
Judging Johnson solely by what he
did when he entered the game, and
leaving out Wallace and Krichell, he
without any evil results. No one would
have been on the basis. Compton's single
would have amounted TO nothing, as
Williams followed after with a strike
out.
Might Have Happened.
Had Compton been retired making
the third out without either Wallace
or Krichell scoring, Ainsmith's run in
the last half of the inning would have
given the victory to Washington and
johnson. In that case no argument
would have followed.
There are no rules to cover this ques-
ton. 1t remains for the league itself.
through its titular representative, b.
b. Johnson, to determine where the
loss shall be charged.
of nineteen successive victories, was
removed from a game to let pinch
hitter go to bat for him. The Giants
were behind at the time, but they
scored enough runs to put themselves
in the lead, and. though another pitcher
finished the game, Marquard was given
credit for the victory by an official
decision of President Lynch.
Umpire Billy Evans declines to dis
cuss the matter, being unwilling to
say anything TO prejudice the case,
Manager Griffith, though. is of the
opinion that Hughes, because he put
the two runners on the bases. should be
charged with the defeat
Walter Johnson. who has the most
at stake. smiles and says that he isn't
worrying much about the matter at all.
He never tries for records, as is evi-
denCed by his working under wraps
whenever his team gets a lead. Ere
quently he has been in positions to
make strikeout records by keeping up
his pace, but he has eased up to save
his strength, letting the possible records
go.