Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-15
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Special Dispatch to The star
DETROIT, Mich, August IL. = While
Walter Johnson was resting on the bench
Joe Boehling, the much overworked leIt-
handler of the Nationals, was on the rup-
ber pitching his fifth straight defeat.
Johnson, who has not pitched In tive
DAYS. was not used in the first game
here, so that he would not have to work
in two games of the four that are to be
pIayed here. and as result Cleveland
has moved farther away from the Ma
tfonals and the Athletics are not being
threatened any more than they have
been by the Griffmen.
But then Griffith has some very i'm
portant business to do with Johnson De-
fore next sea son opens, and he Is cater
ing to the big pitcher to prepare him
for the ordeal when it comes time to sign
new contract. Consequently, Johnson
is asked to work but seldom, as result
of which he is laboring through most OF
his games, while Boehling. who is sure
not to be exorbitant in his demands. Is
pushed along at a gait that is sure to
! tell on him sooner or later.
| In the meantime. all hope of landing
! second place Is slipping away, and it l.
decidedly questionable whether the Ma
|
Sox from finishing third Detroit IS the
one team in the circuit that Johnson has
| beaten just as soon as he steps on the
rubber and 1t would have been child play
| for him to win two games here, for. as
! the Nationals were able to score four
runs yesterday. it would have been a
cakewalk for Walter. Now he can work
| in but one game here, and Will nave TO De
| pitched out of turn to work In one IN
| Cleveland. But Cleveland is by no means
4 Iy.If nc hly q
! beaten him three times this season and In
! the other two games Johnson has never
! had smooth sailing. But the team which
he is almost certain to defeat is shown
him but once 1t is a matter or record tna'
since Griffith made the system of allow
| ing Johnson to rest for a week or so be-
| tween games he has not shown his best
| form though he has been cOnSlSten.
. winner. That he would display his pes'
! form IL worked about every fourth day Is
the general opinion, ana, lncioentaiiy, ~ u
| this were done the Nationals would nave
| a better percentage in the standing.
/ But it does not seem to be the deSlre
| to win games and work Johnson more
| than enough to keep him in good phys!ca
| condition. for the very good reason that
] he is TO be led to believe that he is being
| given every consideration, which may DC
| used as an argument when he puts In the
| figures which he wishes his new CONTRACT
| to contain.
Joe BoehIing's work yesterday was not
poor 1t was a game which he would
| have won nine times out OF ten, Du'
the youngster is just in one OF those un.
| lucky streaks when everything goes
| against him. That he is being worked
too much, Of course, is generally reanzed
but then there is purpose to serve, Sc
| what Of 1t.
! Had Roehling not allowed Cobb to rat
tie him in the eighth inning he probably
| would not have lost his game In ina,
round. With the score tie. two GU,
| and none on Cobb dumped one OF boeni-
ing's curves in front Of the plate. ana by
a brilliant sprint beat the ball TO irst
| No sooner had he reached there tnan ne
started to worry Boehling by taking q
long lead off the base. Boehling threw &c
| Gandil time and time again to drive Cobr
| back. and each time he took a longer
lead. Naturally he was paying more at
! tention to Cobb than he was 70 pitcnlne
Ito Veach, with the result that he got into
| a hole. a AGO.,
Incidentally Cobb stole second. After
| Reaching there. he attracted SO much OF
Boehling's attention that he did not pitch
| to Veach as he should have, ana the
| result was a two-base hit to the score
hoard. which scored Cobb with what
| nroyed to be the winning run. 1ao
! Boehling given his attention to the bat
fer instead of Cobb there would IDLY
have been a different story to tell
Fonr runs is bit more than the Ma
| tionals average to a game. yet that mum
her Of tallies did not prove sufficient L
| win yesterday.
! Though the Nationals at one stage ha6
a three-run lead and appeared to De goint
along nicely, Boehling had An inning
when things broke poorly, ana pe1ore ~