The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-23
By WILLIAM pEET.

WILSON, speaker Sldrh anu nldHy OtntIc
prominent in official and private life in
the capital.
The populace had gathered to cheer,
but instead il was an occasion for
drge. For the first time this year the
mad dash of the Nationals toward a
piece of linen called a flag was retarded,
Boston, home of the sacred cod and
Thomas W. Lawson and others, sent its
hired men here and not literally, but
actually, the team spilled the beans"
as they say i'm racetrack parlance. When
the din of battle subsidized. which was
about O'Clock, the Climbers were on
the stingy end of the score, which read
s to 5. Boston was on the cher end.
The biggest crowd that ever welcomed
a Washington team home so early in the
season was out. The Climbers were
nose ahead in the race; the weather was
fine: the worlds champions were the at
traction. and this combination was too
much for the bugs and they all went.
The Red SoX, like Caesar, came, saw
and conquered. They got away with a
running start and the climb was too
much for what the country week.-Mrs. re-
fer to as THE home boys"
Bob Groom, who has a curve that re-
sembles a round-house. when il is work
ing well, Yves sent TO the hill for the
Nationals while Mr. Stahl picked a
Leonard to serve them up for the
champions. Groom's curve was only
tangent, and outside of clear con-
Scierce the elongated one had but little.
lie lasted two rounds and then took his
glove and a drink OF water and left the
game.
President Wilson was accompanied by
hi daughter, Miss Eleanor, and his
brother Joseph +. Wilson. The Presi-
dent again stuck out the game, missed
none of the diamond drama, but did not
stretch I'm the seventh inning like the
balance of the crowd.
At the far end of the field was
big scoreboard which was interesting
throughout 1t told of the battle be
tween the Athletics and the Yankees
Upon the fate of the game depended
Washington's standing i'm the race. The
Athletics won. Four big runs were
chalked up. and then the gloom was so
thick it could have been carved with an
AK.
When the last man was out the Presi-
dent and his party entered their auto
mobile and sped rapidly downtown And
as the crowds left the stands post NOR
TENS were as plentiful as Carnegie libra
ries in small towns.
Washington could not connect with
Young Mr.. Leonards southpaw curves
when cracks meant chalks Time and
again. with men on second and third,
one Of our athletes would walk defnantly
up to the plate, only to march back,
with a crestfallen look, to the bench.
All the credit in the world is due
this Leonard person. Nothing but a kid,
he displayed remarkable GOODNESS and
nerve under fire, and his curve ball
baffied the Griffmen not a little.
President Wilson occupied his box in
the grand stand, and. was the case
on the opening day here, saw the game
from the first inning until the last man
WAS out, joining frequently with the
others when occasion demanded applause.
Without wishing to disparage the Red
SoX victory, it can be said truthfully
that the Griffmen were badly off their
feed and the class of ball apparent when
four straight games were won from the
Yanks was not in evidence yesterday.
The old pep was there, but to quote
a time-worn expression The spirit was
willing but the flesh was weak.
Groom Badly Mussed Up.
Bob Groom started the game in the
box for the Nationals and was thumped
hard. He retired while under fire in
the second inning, Melville Gallia TAX
ing his place and stopping the wholesale
slaughter, incidentally twirling good ball,
until he dug his own grave by wild
streak in the sixth, when four of the
fiery-hosed band crossed the plate
In order to substitute a pinch hitter for
Gallia in the ninth, Boston opened up
with Joe Boehling on the rubber, and the
Richmond thunderbolt allowed no liber-
ties.
Hits were even. ten for each side, but
the Boston boys did not waste their am
munition. The Nationals put up a clean
er fielding game the only miscue being
charged to Eddie Foster on a wild throw
in the first inning.
The Red Sox lost no time starting after
runs Hooper the first man up. pasted
the ball TO the right field fence for a
double Yerkes flied to Moeller, but
Speaker singled. scoring Hooper, and on
Gardner's double the famous center fielder
scampered over the plate.
Groom started the Red SoX' second in
proper manner by retiring Wagner, but
developed q sudden attack of wildness, |
walking Carrigan. and Leonard in turn.
Hooper singled to right. filling the bases.
Groom gave Yerkes base on balls, fore |
ing in Carrigan. At this stage Bob was
lifted off the mound and Gallia, the Tex
an put to work. Speaker hit slow roller
to Foster, and was thrown out at first, |
but on the out Leonard came home.
The Nationals were able to pull back
two Of these runs in the other half Of the |
second. AinSmith led of with single, |
but Shanks forced him at second. Nc |
Bride doubled to right, advancing Sharks |
TO the far corner. Gallia famed. Danny |
Moelier who always hits when Presidents |
look on, unloaded a neat single to left, |
scoring both Shanks and Mcbride. Fos- |
ter made the third out, a pop fly to
Yerkes. |
Milan Scores a Run. |
In Washington's third the Nationals |
crawled UP to within one point of the |
enemy without the aid of a base hit. |
Milan walked and stole. Taking daring |
lead off the midway bag, he succeeded |
in drawing a wild throw from Pitcher |
Leonard. The ball skipped blithely into |
center field, and, as Iris Speaker juggled |
it momentarily, the Tennessee f1ier raced |
home. This represented the sum total of /
the Nationals run scoring efforts.
Gallia pitched brilliantly until the |
sixth, when two bases on balls, hit bat /
ter, and a couple of well-placed hits |
gave the Boston gang four runs. placing |
the game well beyond the reach OF the /
ambitious Nationals, for young Leonard |
seemed to grow better as the game pro- /
ceeded, notwithstanding the fact that he /
was touched up lively on more than one /
In the Nationals first inning, after two /
were gone, a "boot'' by Yerkes and a /
mum by Hooper put couple Of men on
the bags, but the greatly desired safe
smash failed to materialize.
With two gone in the home folks
fourth Moeller singled and stole, but was
also left stranded, while in the sixth,
with only one out, Mcbride singled and