Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-16
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

~
DETROIT. Mich. August 16.-in his
anxiety to give Walter Johnson as little
work as possible Mr. Griffith came very
near fooling away ball game yesterday.
Johnson pitched seven innings. when the
score stood to in favor of the Ma
tionals The big fellow really never had
10 extend himself for he had four-run
lead before he pitched ball, ana any
one at all familiar with Johnsons meth
DDS of working knows that he never
exerts himself unless he has 10. put
when the seventh inning was over 6rlHlth
considered that Johnson had WORKED
enough though it had been week slhce
he made his last appearance on the siao,
and he sent Walter to the clubhouse ana
allowed Gallia 10 finish. Gallia did nicely
in the eighth. when he retired the sioe
without allowing a run. and ne had Two
ont in the ninth before anything IKE
run had been scored. But AT tiils stage
he developed a wild streak. and with one
on and two out he started 10 walk tue
Tigers. .h;s
Three of them reached first by TINS
route forcing i'm run, and then CraW-
ford got base hit. which scored wv
more Gallia was yanked, ana Harper
sent In to pitch to Cobb. lie got two
strikes on the great slugger and then
Cobb reached out and mt IeAas
Lacquer over second base which none OF
the fielders could reach. Harper followed
with wild pitch. which sent Good an
the wav to third. Veach was the next
man up. and when Harper had three oalis
on him Griffith also took MN Out anu
sent Tom Hughes in to finlsh Inc Sc
lection proved good one, for while
hughes gave veach the needed ball to
send him to first. he followed BY strikine
out Gainor on three pitched balls. enuns
the game. Five runs were scored In inns
inning and, as the Tigers had gathered
twU off Johnson they were within reach
ing distance, but Hughes took care OF the
situation. Having a four-run lead from
the outset, Johnson just loafed through
the game. He merely toyed with the
Tigers. and while he was scored on
twice, as a result of his own careless
ness there was no reason why he should
not have worked. 1t would not have
been the slightest strain on him to have
continued two innings more but Griffith.
who seems intent on giving Johnson as
little work as possible. took him out.
Had he pitched him Thursday there
would have been a chance to use him
again on sunday. and it would have been
almost cinch that he would have won
both of his games. johnson is to the
Tigers what a red nag is to a maddened
bull, and five times this season Jennings
team has gone down before him.
Seventeen hits in one game is a lot
more hitting than the Nationals have
done for some time. They seemed to
be in smuggling mood yesterday. and
made short work of Mark Hall, who has
been a stumbling block for them on sew
eral occasions. Hall did not last out the
first inning. Moeller started hostilities
cut to left and Moeller scored, and then
Milan walked. Gandil hit safely to CEN
ter and Morgan came through with a
three-base hit. bringing both men home.
q wi n
retired because his ankle went back on
him. and Mcbride brought Laporte, who
took Shanks' place, home with double
to left.
Joe Lake Jared but little better than
Hall, though he was not scored ON quite
as often. 1t Is questionable If there has
been game this year in which the
Nationals have hit as hard as they did
yesterday. 1t was the first real first
class drubbing that they have admins
tered to pitcher in some time.
Had il been necessary for Walter john
son to extend himself yesterday he would
have displayed splendid form. The big
Fellow was at his best. though he was
inclined to be wild during the early in
niHSs. probably the result of the lack of
work. but he had lot of stuff, and
whenever he only half tried he was in
vincible against the Tigers. His speed
was terrific and he worked in a slow
ball now and then that baffied the bat
ters. But Johnson never extended him
self during the game. He just loafed
through the seven innings. because before
he ever started to pitch his team had
given him winning lead. There is no
city in the circuit where johnson is more
popular than here. He is the recipien,
of applause from the time that he walks
on the field until he leaves it. and that
too. in the face of the fact that he has
been consistent winner over the Tigers
for many years.
There would have been something &c
gain had Johnson been taken out afte,
the second inning, when the score stood
u TO o. for it would then have been pos
sible TO work him back today or tomor-
row, but no one was benefited by his
being taken out of the game after the
seventh. for he will now not be able &c
work again in the series, and the game
might have been lost by making switch
OF pitchers.
1t would not have hurt Johnson in the
least to have finished the game. for, as
said before, he was never under a strain
and just loafed through the seven innings
lie worked Ii does not do to fool with a
ball club like the Tigers. for they have a
punch left in them at most any time
Furthermore. two games could have been
assured here had johnson worked in the
opener and right back Sunday. This
is not an easy club. OF the sixteen games
which have been played between the two
the Nationals have won seven. If it is
the intention 10 finish as high up in the
race as possible here was the spot to
make a special effort OF the seven
games won johnson has won five, so that
the dope shows the others not to have
much Of chance. IL was Johnson's
twelfth consecutive victory. His record
is sixteen made last season. and with a
break he might excel this mark this
year.
Tho con. game about Griffith wanting 10
ppy sle'.o" for Ty Cobb came to an
abrupt end today when President Frank
Savin OF the Detroit club. called Griffith
or the phone. and in so many words told
Rim that he was not in base ball for
amusement. but for business. and that he
waUted the nonsense about the onc-hun.
crcd-thousand dollar offer cut out. Grit
Tth in order TO keep up the joke. gave
OIL tho statement that Navin had dc
rtncd ;hc offer, which was never made
.c;itiInatel..
- play which Eddie Foster made in
yesterdays game will long be remember.
cd by Detroit patrons OF the game. judged
from the cheering he received after the
way was completed.
In the fourth inning Cobb apparently
caught the entire infield mapping and lait
n, perfect bunt down the third base
Hne. Foster came in on a dead run
picked up the ball with one hand anl
without even steadying himself whipped
II TO first base. The play on the othel
end was Just as brilliant, for Gandi
reached down his gloved hand and picked
tao bali up short bound right in
I'm front OF Cobbs feer. Cobb was GU
by inches and the crowd showed its az
prevail OF a great fielding feature +,
cheering Foster and Gandil.