Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-05
CLUB NOW NEEDS ONE
MORE GOOD PITCHER
Might Have Chance for Pen.
.nant if 1t Had Another De-
pendabIe TWirIer.
BY J. ED GRILLO.


Clark Griffith. The failure of the Ma
tionals to make it two straight yesterday
is considered a mere fluke, and the re-
naming two games are 10 go to the Ma
tionals if the manager is to be believed
In the morning the visitors simply ran
away from the tailenders. getting enough
runs during the first three innings to al
low them to rest on their oars during the
remainder of the game. but it was differ
ent in the afternoon Big Mcconnell was
not the easy mark that was Warhop- He
not only pitched fairly we'll. but he got
all the breaks, and as both Mullin and
Hughes were unable to hold the Yankees
within reach Chances squad won COM
paratively easy victory.
But Boehlng is to pitch today and if
he continues to follow the pace he has
set of late he ought not to have any
serious trouble holding the locals in
check. which means that all the Ma
tionals have to do is to get him few
runs to make victory certain.
Then Monday Walter Johnson is to re-
turn to the rubber. and of course. every
time Johnson pitches the chances are
greatly in favor OF the Nationals. re-
gardless of what team he may be pitted
against
Griffith believes that if he had one
more consistent pitcher that he would
in the race As il is he has not given
up hope that this may come to pass, but
he feels that he would have more right
to make such claim if his pitching staff
was just bit more formidable. He now
seems to have three men that he can
rely upon. Johnson Boehling and Groom
The others are uncertain. but he beileves
that Engei will develop did Boehling
over night, and If this happens he will
be sufficiently strong in pitchers to make
a great run from now to the finish.
Groom's performance in the morning
game was excellent. He had perfect
control and worked like star and
really had no great trouble in scoring
a shut-out over the Yankees. Groom.
in fact, has shown to good advantage
in the last two games he has pitched.
and it Is the impression that he has
finally struck his stride and will be a
winner from this out
While there has always been con-
siderable doubt among the fans 10
Engel's chances to make a pitcher of
caliber Griffith does not doubt it. and
what is more. Jim McAleer is of the
opinion that the Washington boy is
Grtmth's best pitching prospect among
the youngsters. This is what McAleer
said the other day in speaking of young
pitchers: "Grin has a conner in Engel
know that he has not been going
well, but any one who knows anything
about base ball must recognize his
ability That boy has a lot of stuff.
ana Just as soon as he steadies down
he will be hard to beat 1t is not TO
be expected that a boy right from
scnooI can make good from the jump 1t
taxes time to develop Them and I will
STAKE my reputation that the time is
not far off when Engel will be big
league pitcher of merit"
Though the Nationals really never had
q chance to beat the Yankees in the aft
ernoon game, a situation came up in the
ninth which threw a scare into the crowd
Snanke hit. and passes to Henry and
Boehling who was sent TO bat for Gallia
hiied the bases. after two were out +,
was up to Moeller, and as it does no,
take much of hit to drive balls into the
stands for home run on the Pole
Grounds. the crowd feared that NoaIIe,
vent after the first bail pitched. though
Mcconnell had indicated wldness b,
walking the two preceding batsmen, and
a little ~ to Hartzell resulted which end
ecd the game.
There was a lack of pepper on the par,
OF the Nationals in the afternoon game
In the other games of this trip the team
had been hustling as never before this
season. and ii was going at fast clip in
the morning game. But the hot ride from
midnight to early morning coming down
from Boston robbed many Of the play
ers of their regular sleep which told on
them after playing the morning game
and as result. the usual display OF
ginger was lacking
For the first time since Walter John
son has been member of the team he
took a day of yesterday when he was
able to be on the ball field. AS rule
Johnson never misses his practice, regard
less OF whether he has worked the day
previous or not. But he did not get his
sleep coming down from Boston after
working that hard fifteen-inning game
and Griffith insisted that he not don a
uniform and spend the day as he plea sed
This Walter did by taking several maps
instead of witnessing either of the games
At no time this season has Johnson
put in a more strenuous day than at Bos-
ton Thursday. Going fifteen innings in
the heat, and most OF them at top speed
is not child's play by any means.
Griffith thinks so well of Joe Boehling' 5
ability as hitter that he ssent him
up in a pinch yesterday in the ninth
inning with two on, and Joe walked Grif-
nth insists that Boehling is one of the
most natural hitters on his team and that
he would be well up in the averages II
he was given chance to get his regular
batting practice as do the other players.
George Mullin did not look impressive
yesterday against the Yankees but this
was mostly due TO the fact that he was
getting the worst of the breaks. MANY
OF the hits made off him, and all those
that were timely. We're of the scratchl
variety and helped the Yankees to their
runs Mullin was much chagrined owe,
his failure TO stop the tail-enders, and
he asked Griffith for another chance OF
them, which. however. Is not likely Il
be granted. because Griffith has about
made up his mind to work Boehling anC
Johnson in the remaining games. for h.
10 particularly anxious 10 win the res
of the contests here. When the Athletic.
go west they hook up first with Cleve
land, and one or the other Of these teams
will have TO take a tumble: so Griffith
wants to be as close to them as possibI,
IN order that he can gain on one or tn,
other when they meet.
There Is no way to dope base ball
After playing most brilliant and aggres
siyeiy against the Red Sox, where foul
games were won. the best the National.
could DO yesterday was to break ever
with the taiIenders and that, too, at
time when there was chance to gain
little on the leaders.
Brilliant work b. Groom. backed up b.
timely hitting In THE early innings. cav