Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-14

stopping, but this winning streak has
changed conditions. Crowds surge about
them from the time they land in town
until they are leaving it. and there are
many congratulations for the team. There
seems to be desire of majority of the
followers of American League bali to see
the Nationals win. 1t Is one of those
pleasan surprises to see a team which
| has never been contender in A pennant
race burst out and establish winning rec
ords, and this seems to appeal To the base
| ball public.
! 1t is. of course, needless to say that
| Griffith expects to take four straight here
| The optimistic manager of the Nationals
cannot see any team but his own. He
| believes it to be a wonderful combna-
| ton. which, he says, comes pretty near
to being unbeatable. and let it be said
| that they certainly have loked it on the
| present trip. There is never any ques-
ton about Griffith's team getting runs.
1t does that every day and comparatively
| easily. If it happens not to hit pitcher
| some one boots the ball around and helps
| them to runs. and there have been de-
| cidedly few occa sions when a hit has
| failed to mateialize when it was badly
| needed
I BY the time Gandil has taken his Sec
ond swing around the circuit the question
| is very apt to arise as to whether he or
Hal Chase deserves the distinction of
/ There is nothing sensational about Chick.
! but he certainly delivers the goods. He
| has already proven himself a hard and
timely hitter. and while he is not
circus performer around the bag-a la
Chance. yet he makes just as difficult
plays without much effort or any -four
| iShes. Few games have been lost by the
Nationals since Gandil Joined the team.
| In fact. the team never looked SO formid-
| able before he joined it, and what is
most encoura ging is the fact that Gandil
appears to be improving with every game.
| Now that he has become thoroughly &C
| quainted with his surroundings and
| conditions he feels at home, and con-
seauently is playing even better ball than
when he started, and his start was sure
~ successful.
Boston is credited with having the best
outfield in the league, and 1t undoubtedly
has, for every one it's three stars
has had experience enough to make him
finished. but it is decidedly doubtful II
any one of the other teams can boast Of a
| trio Of gardeners which compares favOra-
| bly, with that of the Nationals. Every
| one of them is fast, can field, hit, and
when it comes to throwing they have few
equals. Any time batter gets an extra
| base whether he hits into left center or
right. against Washington he earns it. for
| Milan, Shanks and Moeller are artists at
| making quick returns to the infeld OF
| base hits.
| Grooms pitching yesterday was brilliant
| in spots. and this saved his bacon. For
| the first five innings he seemed to be in
| his best form. but he weakened there
| after. though he managed to work him.
| self out of several tight places.
| There was never a time. however, when
| the game looked safe, for Groom seemed
| to show an inclination to grow ineffective
! at times. The Nationals grabbed them
4 selves an early lead when they scored
/ in ha frSt inning and they n
creas ed ii as they went along.
Shanks opened the second with three
| base hit to left center. Morgan promptly
| followed with safe one to center scOr-
ing him. and Mcbride. not to be outdone.
| came through with another which sent
| Morgan to second. He stole third and
scored when Groom hit a long fly to Gen.
| ter field
In the fifth they became active again
and raised their total to four. This time
! it was Groom who started matters by
| actually getting a single. He was forced
| by Moeller, however, but the latter made
up for his failure to hit by stealing sec
ond. He was caught off of second, but
avoided the baseman who tried to retire
I him and reached third in safety. Then
! Foster hit TO right. scoring him. and
| Milan was walked, Gandil sending Foster
home with a long single to right which
struck the fence.
| In the sixth the Maps got busy. After
one was out George hit the first ball
pitched for three bases and scored on
a poor throw to third. Graney walked;
Olson followed with a hit, which scored
George and a put-out brought Graney
home.
/ But the Nationals were not long get
| ting these two runs back. The game was
virtually cinched in the seventh. when
hits by Foster and Milan, Gandirs sacri-
flee. long fly and Morgan's hit brought
| home two more ITALICS.
| The Maps scored a final run in the ninth,
which Birmingham led off with a dou-
BILE scoring when Griggs who batted for
Eible hit safely to center The score: