Evening star., 1912-08-31
BY J. ED GRILLo.

The chances are that the Nationals
will clinch their hold on second place
before they leave here on their tina
trip. Another victory over New York
today would give the locals a clean
sweep Of the series and judged on
what the Athletics have shown in Bos-
ton. Mack'S team is slated for another
defeat. which would give the locals a
three-and- -half-game lead over the
worlds champions. Monday the Ath-
letics come here for a three-game series,
and Griffith is confident that his team
will take two of the three. He is par
ticularly anxious to get as good a lead
as possible before lie is forced to face
the Boston Red Sox for four games next
week Had the Athletics been able to
make any sort of Il stand against BoS-
ton Mack's team would very probably
have been troublesome during the rest
of the season. but the failure of the
champions against the race leaders
virtually puts them out of consideration
Tor any position other than third place.
Boston has forcibly shown it's superior
lty over the Athletics. and 1T is reason
able to suppose that Mack'S players are
now too much discouraged to make any
real efforts to pull themselves out of
the rut.
There are but seven more games
son. One with New York today, three
with Philadelphia Monday and Tuesday
and the final appearance is with Boston
the latter part of the month. In the
meantime the Nationals go to Boston
and through. the entire west after which
they play their final game in Phila-
delphia. and wind up the campaign in
New York.
Frank Laporte is doing exactly what
Grifflth expected of him. hitting the ball.
When Griffith secured Laporte his team
was in Il bad batting slump and he
inquired ON bracing ii up by getting
Laporte into the lineup. Laporte has
made good in this respect. having proven
himself most consistent hitter. He
added a couple of base hits to his
string yesterday. and helped his team
to second victory over the High
landers
Moran the outfielder recently secured
from the Chattanooga club of the South
ern League. may be in the Nationals
line up today. Moran Is expected to re-
port in time for todays game and Grif-
nth may put him in right field I'm place
OF Moeiler. Moran is said TO be very fast
on the bases. great fielder and thrower
hut his ability to hit In this company re-
mains to be displayed.
Davis. the Williams College recruit, who
pitched for New York yesterday, may
trouble yesterday was inability to get the
ball over the plate. which caused all his
troubles.
In Eddie Foster the Nationals undouht-
edly have the best third haseman in the
American League. Not only is the little
fellow clever fielder in his position.
but he is a most dangerous batter. being
able 10 hit into either field. and when
in siurging mood he can hit as hard
as any of the big men in the league
When one looks over the infielders who
have recently come into this LEAGUE from
the minors ii is remarkable indeed that
New York ever allowed Foster to slip
through its fingers. None of the third
ba semen in this league Is in the same
class with Foster. not barring Harry Lord
or Larry Gardner. two acknowledged
stars i'm that position.
Kenworthy pulled a clever trick yes
terday when he showed a grounder past
Davis which Simmons could not reach
and which netted the former Denver
player hit. He failed to do much with
Davis his other trips to the plate.
however:
Having entirely recovered from his re-
cent injury. John Henry is again dis
playing wonderful form behind the bat.