Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-26
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Judged by the manner in which the
Athletics slammed the offerings of Wal
ter Johnson and. Bert Gallia about yes
terday the present series is going to be
a hard one Oh Griffith's pitchers. 1t is
a wonderful hitting aggregation with
which Mack is making his fight for the
pennant this year. Any time it is in a
hitting mood, and it usually is, it can
make as many runs as it chooses.
a shift of the outtield on an order from
the bench was the direct cause of John
sons defeat in the third inning yester-
day. Johnson had famed Lapp, and
when Bush came up there was a call
from the bench to the outfield order.n 3
1t to play in close. Shanks, Milan and
Moeller came i'll and stood not many
yards behind the infield. Bush hit the
first ball pitched against the bull sign.
Had Moeller been playing in his usual
position it would have been an easy out.
The opening which. Burns double gave
the visitors was taken advantage OF. Tor
Murphy followed with a single, and after
Walsh had been retired Collins hit safely,
scoring Murphy, and then came baker
with his lone home-run drive over the
right-feld fence, and the game was viz
tually over.
team cannot afford to slip against. Give
it the slightest openinS, and it will take
advantage of it, and that proved true yes
terday.
against the Athletics In the second game
today. With better break he may beat
the leaders, but he will have to display
his best form to accomplish this. BOP
Groom will probably work in the first
game, while Plank is sure to work in one
game apd Brown in the other
Just how long Bender and Plank will
retain their form If they are called uron
to finish the games which the young
pitchers start and have to give up, in adj
dition to pitching their own games, re-
mains to be seen. But that both of the
veterans are under a great strain is ap-
parent, and it is questionable whether
they can go through the entire season
at the pace that they have been asked
to set.
Bush, Houck and Brown, not to speak
of Wyckoff and one or two others, can
not be relied upon to stay nine rounds
against a good ball team. and, while they
all seem able to go part CT the route,
they need help before a game is COM
pleted. Plank and Bender have been fin
fishing most of the games the youngsters
have started, and have been getting away
with them. But it is a hong way to the
finish of the season and it is doubtful
If the two veterans can stand the strain.
Frank Baker has done more to beat the
Nationals in their games with the Ath-
letics than any other three players of the
Mack aggregati on. His home run drives
have put many a game on ice against the
locals and yesterday was not an eXcep-
ton, for it was his homer which elimi-
mated johnson from the contest.
Baker is Il wonderful hitter. He uses
a bat that the average player could not
swing, and yet he handles it as if it We're
a toothpicll. Any time Baker faces
pitcher and there are men on the bases
the opposition is in danger of being beat
en- there and then. for there is never any
telling how far he may hit the ball
This young fellow Schang. who has
been added to the Athletics catching
staff. is youngster Of a lot of ability.
In one play he absolutely exce:s any
catcher in the league. On balls that are
hit in front of the plate Or down either
foul line which are usually base hits
Schang is a wonder In a recent series
in Philadelphia he beat the Nationals by
picking up one of these hits and making
great play on it. and yesterday he I'M
doubleday prevented further trouble in
the sixth inning, when he threw Morgan
out at first on a swinging bunt, which
rolled fully ten feet down the third base
line. 1t was a remarkable play.
At the first sign of weakness Bush was
yanked. After Milan had hit over the
right fence and Gandi had singled. Bend
er was brought into the game because at
that stage the Athletics We're leading by
only two runs, and Mack does not take
any chances with his kid twirlers Bend