Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-10
BY J. ED GRILLo.


The fight for second place is now on in
earnest. The dual victory the Nationals
scored over the Maps yesterday has once
more put Griffith's team in, a position
where 1T, may, forge. ahead Of Cleveland
within the next few days. 1t cannot,
however, pass the visitors during their
stay here. /. There is still a four-game
margin, and as but three games remain
to be played here the Maps cannot, be
dislodged during the present series. But
the chances are that their lead will be
materially cut down before they get out
of town, for it is not unlikely that the
Nationals will annex two Of the three
remaining games.
Johnson Is sure IT, make his second APP
pearance Of the series Friday. and Grit
fifth may also send Boehling back with
but one days rest. From here the Maps
go to Philadelpila. u4ne Chicago will be
pitted agai1st the Nationals. and If the
breaks faSer-fhe %aoca.3 1t Is possible for
them notssonly to pass Cleveland put 10
actually gain position from Wnicn II
would be possible to mount the top rung
Of the championship ladder. This, OF
course. is rather remote prospect, yet
in q game which is as Uncertain as A'ase
bali almost anything. can happen.
!. Griffith is confident that his team VIII
will have g. comfortable lead by the time
the western invasion is over, and. fur.
thermore he has not given up all hope
of. beating out the Athletics,
Local patrons have never before wit
messed more brilliant playing by the Ma
tionals than they displayed in the doubie-
header yesterday. For the first time thls
season the team played as IT does on the
road in a majority Of it's games 1t
easily outclassed its opponents and vir-
tuaIly played rings around them, excel.
ling in every department OF the game.
Realizing that they must make strong
stand against the Maps II they are TO
fith's players went into the two contests
full of spirit and determination. with the
result that the two games We're never In
doubt.
Ball such as the team pl-yed YESTERDAY
would have landed 1t far out In front had
there been more of 1t on the home
grounds. Yesterday was really the hrst
time this season that the team showed
to its best advantage at home. II mas
made similar shOWings on the ROAD, Dut
up to yesterday the standard OF play at
home has not been what 1t ought to be.
Clyde Milan never played better ball
than he did yesterday Not only did ne
indulge in timely hitting and brilliant
fielding. but his work on the bases was
revelation. He did much to bring about
the victory in the first game. He tied the
score single handed IN the third inning
OF the first game, when he scored a run
without the au Of a base hit. He walk
cd il this inning and then stole second.
FOSTER out put him on third, and after
Turner had thrown out tiandil he MADE a
dash Tor the plate. In the very next in
ming he saved Boehling lot Of trouble
by splendid catch. Johnston had start
ed the inning with a hit. only to be
forced by Turner Graney then hit a
sharp liner 10 center. 1t did not seem
possible for Milan TO reach the sphere,
, but he did and then with a quick. accu-
rate throw to first doubled up Turner.
Walter Johnson allowed but three hits
in the eight innings that he worked. Two
Of these, double by Johnston and q
single by Graney, came In the second
inning, and Melted the Maps the only
run they secured off of Johnson. Once
in the lead. Johnson worked with his
usual ease. never eXerting himself unless
he was in a tight place. and that, of
course, was not often. On the whole IT
was not a strenuous afternoon for the
great pitcher. and 1t is as good as set
tied that Griffith will send him back
again on Friday, which would give him
two days rest.
Joe Boehling has been a stumbling
block for the Maps all season The crack
lefthander has not lost a single game to
the Birmingham tribe, though some of
the critics of that city have insisted
right along that Boehling was lncky and
really had no real ability BoehHng has
won FIVE games from the Maps this sea-
son. which Is quite a showing for a pitch.
er who is not supposed to have anything.
The dual defeat the Maps suffered prob
ably put them out of the race for the
pennant. Had conditions been reversed
yesterday and the Maps had won two
| while Chicago was shutting out the Ath-
j letics the margin between the two lead
| ers would have been so small that II
would have given the Maps a splendid
l chance to gain first place. But the dual
upset, coming at a time when there was
a chance to gain on the Athletics, Is not
going TO have a stimulating effect on
birmingham and his charges
| Bob Groom, who. on the last occasion
he faced the Maps made quick work
Of them. winning 6 to 4, will be
pitted against them this afternoon
Either Fean Gregg or Fred Falkenberp
will oppose him.
| Not one of the i've pitchers Birn,ine-
/ ham used against the Nationals yester-
day was effective. Gregg was yaIike
after ne had walked Morgan and Henry
| and Lad, tTo balls on Shanks IN the sec
ond innins.
/ tCuliop was then brought in. and while
ihe walked Shahks, tillirs the bases, he