Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-02
BY J. ED GRILLo.

While it must be conceded that Boston
has one of the strongest teams in the
American League, it has been outplayed
by the Nationals in three of the four
games that these two teams have clashed
in. The count now stands three to one in
the Nationals favor. and, barring a re-
markable reversal of form, two more vic
tories are apt to be added to the string
before the Red Sox leave here.
1t really seems that for the first time
in the history of the Washington team it
is getting its share of smiles from Dame
Fortune. Only good breaks were RESPONSE
BILE for the victory yesterday. Boston
had many opportunities, but something
always happened to favor the locals. But
good luck goes with good ball playing, 1t
is said, and that may explain the change
in conditions here this spring.
Winning that first game of the series
with two pitchers who were considered
! rather uncertain gives the Nationals a
big advantage. Groom, who will work
today, has yet to suffer a defeat this
spring, while. of course Johnson always
stands a good chance Of winning when
he is IN form. What is more, Wood Is
considered the most troublesome of the
Boston pitchers, and he was put out of
the way yesterday. Conditions, therefore,
are ideal to make a splendid showing in
| the series with the Red Sox, and should
! Chicago get a setback or two, it would
| actually be possible for the Nationals to
| lead the race by the end of the week.
Boston. Philadelphia and New York
have learned that the time when they
could figure on lettering their standing
at the expense of the Washington team
| has passed. Any time they beat Grimth's
| team this spring they will know they
a,to
teams do not cause big upset they Will
have a similar experience when they
reach here Griffith's team is playing
| high grade of base ball.
| There never was a team in which a.
better spirit prevailed. That is evident
| to every one and much of the good show
| ing must be attributed to this. Give
Griffith one more good pitcher and ne
would have nothing to fear from any OF
| his, rivals To date he has met at least
two of the strongest teams in the cir
| cult and his team sizes up very well with
them. AS a hitting aggregation the Ma
| tionais have not shown much. Games
have been won because Of good pitch
| ing and intelligent base ball. But there
| is sure to be Improvement in the batting
and if the pitching, holds up to the pres
| ent standard Washington is not going
| to finish seventh or anywhere near It,
It is not often that a coacher causes
his teams defeat by being in the way
of thrown ball. but this happened in
the eighth inning yesterday. With two
| stop of Lewis grounder, but poor
| throw. which Flynn was unable to stop.
The ball went through him, but Catcher
1 Thomas, who was coaching at first, got
one of his shins in the'way Of it. Speak
er scored on the play, but Bradley could
get no farther than second. though II
Thomas had not been in the way of the
ball he. too. would have scored and
Lewis would probably have reached third
Thomas very wisely stayed away from
| the Boston bench after this play, for
there was some Tuning going on there
| After striking out Bradley in the
fourth Tom Hughes tore a muscle in his
left side and had to retire from the game.
The injury is slight. however. and will
| not keep Hughes out Of the game more
/, than week or So
/ Walker, who in his three previous
games has shown but little form, took up
the game where Hughes left off, and 1T
must be said for him that he gave a
! splendid exhibition. being particularly eff
! fective at stages when the visitors threat
| ened to score Walker looked much bet
ter than he has at any time this season.
and it may be that better work can be
/ expected from him from this out. With
| Hughes out of 1t for while, Griffith is
as he has only Groom and Johnson OF
his veterans who can work regularly.
But for two poor throws to first Foster
would have had another splendid day
yesterday. His fielding of grounders was
perfect. but he seemed to have lost the
range to first. At the bat he was the
star of the game, getting three of his
! teams six hits. At the rate Foster is
| going he is sure to be well up with the
| leaders in hitting this year.
| President James McAleer of the Boston
club viewed the game from Vice Presi-
dent Walsh's box. McAleer sees lot of
| Improvement in the Nationals work, but
| he does not relish the idea that his team
| should be beaten by his former charges.
For some unaccountable reason the Red
Sox have not hit any one Of the Nation
ais pitchers hard this spring! Being a
strong-hitting team, 1t IS naturally ex-
pected that most any kind Of pitching is
| apt to be pounded by the Hubites. but
Griffith's pitchers seem able to stop them.
| In the recent series with the Athletics
Boston pounded all their pitchers ex-
| cepting Plank. and to this were due their
three victories out Of four games. In
former years Boston always found the To-
have failed to make even a respectable
showing against the local twirlers.
| The greatest improvement in the Ma
tionals' work is on the bases. There is
no other team which has more thefts to
| its credit than the locals, and opposing
! teams, on the other hand. are stopped
| catchers. No matter how fast & base
runner may be, he cannot take any
/ liberties with the Nationals backstops.
Every one of them Is strong, accurate