Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-23
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

CHICAGO, September 23.-By winning
both ends Of double-header from the,
White SoX yesterday, the Nationals
frightened their hold on second place. All
that now remains to cinch this position
in the race is to win majority of the
games from the Athletics in the final
series with the former champs which
opens in Philadelphia Wednesday. Moth
ing but general reversal of form can
cause the failure of Griffith's men to lose
the runner-up position in the race III
the team continues to play as 1t has on
the present trip there is not the slightest
danger of the Athletics beating 1t out. In
fact had the players put up so consistent
and brilliant performance during the weeks
they spent at home earlier in the season,
even Boston would have had reason to
doubt its ability to finish at the top. Yes
terday's victories were the result. OF
timely hitting in the first game and n
comb.nat ton of this and brilliant p-tchns
by Groom in the second.
Groom won his ninth straight game, and
with an even break of luck would have
had shut-out to his credit. johnson, on the
other hand, did not perform in his usual
fashion. He was hit hard from start to
finish, and did not go through a. single
inning without having men on the bases:
His support, however. was brill. ant. ana
to this, together with the fact that he.
did not give a base on balls, can be at
tr.buted the fact that the White Sox;
gathered themselves but three runs while,
the Nationals. by hopping on to Scott in.
the early innings gained so comfortable a
lead that they could never be overhauled'
For the next two days the team will.
virtually be idle, though some of Grit
fith's players have journeyed to Roch-
ester and Toronto. where exhibition games
are scheduled to be played But We'd
nesday the entire force will gather at
Philadelphia, and there and then the
question Of whether Washington is to fin
ish second or not will be definitely de-
cided. Having had six days of rest, it
was naturally expected that Johnson
should pitch one of his best games,
which. however. was not the case. The
lay off did not bring about the expected
effectiveness, and Johnson was hit hard
because of the brilliant work of his
fielders that the Sox did not roll up a
much higher score. Shanks in left and
Mcbride at short were particularly busy.
held the Sox in check, and but for these
the large crowd might have, witnessed
the unusual spectacle of seeing Walter
Johnson relieved by one OF the other
pitchers.
When a pitcher can win nine games
in a row he is displa ying form which
marks him as one Of the best in the
league. Bob Groom has pitched even
better ball than the scores of his games
would indicate. 1t is a matter of fact
that a majority of these nine games
should really have been shut-outs. Yes
terday. for instance, not run should
have been scored, the only tally re-
sulting from successful double steal
in the very opening inning. After that
Groom was never in danger pitching
class of ball that had the SOX baffled.
Right now Groom appears to be in the
best form, he has ever displayed since
Joining the team, and If the season had
couple more months to go it would
not be unlikely that he would break
the consecutive winning record estab-
lished by Johnson and Wood.
Clyde Milan is the leagues champion
base stealer. Regardless of whether the
official records credited Milan with 81 or
he eliminated all doubt as to his suprem-
acy in this respect yesterday, when he
stole three bases. Even II he had but
81 up to this time. he would now have
81, which is just one more than Cobb had
in last seasons race. Nine games re-
main to be played. and Milan, II he has
any luck in getting on the bases, should
be able to bring his record up to ninety.
a mark which is not apt to be reached
in many years.
Milan was responsible for a majority
of the runs which the team scored in the
first game. His double in the first In
ming scored Foster, and he came home
himself on Laporte's single. In the sec
ond, with the bases full, he drove out a
single which scored brace Of runs. and
in the ninth he hit for three bases and
came home on an infield play. Alva Will
liams was just as effective with his bat
in the second game. His triple in the
third gave the Nationals the run which
tied the score, and he put his team IN
the lead in the seventh. when, With the
bases full. he hit safely into left. Will
Hams who is doing all the catching. is
showing to much better advantage now
that he is working regularly than when
he was used only occa siOnaily. He is rot
only handling all the pitchers we'll. but
his throwing to bases is steady and ac-
curate and he Is proving himself a
most timely hitter.
For several years Harry Lord has had
the reputation of being one of the best
hall PLAYERS in the American League. ana
vet today II is most likely that he is see
ing his last days with the White SoX.
Lord is in bad with fans because he has
not been playing up to his old form. He
nroHed an absolute failure at third base
and has been shifted to the outfield. His
faiiure tn hit is what has got him in
bad. and the story is going the rounds