Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-20
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Yesterdays victory gave the Nationals
an even break on the series with Cleve-
land. Each team has Won four games,
though three of the first four which the
Nationals played in Cleveland went to
the Maps. The eastern trip which the
Maps concluded here yesterday has not
been successful one for the team. 1t
has lost a majority of the games after
getting flying start in New York. Biz
mingham was particularly anxious to
make it two out of three while here and
in order to assure this he worked Faik
enberg out Of turn in the final game. and
in this he erred, for Falkenberg proved
about the easiest proposition that the
Nationals have been up against of late.
In one respect the Maps have not
changed under Birmingham's regime. 1t
is still a poor road team and until it i'm
proves in this respect it cannot hope to
realize it's pennant aspirations. Figured
on its natural strength the team ought to
be a contender right down to the finish.
1t is wonderful hitting aggregation and
appears to have most formidable pitch
ing staff, but is not defensively strong
nor can 1t be given credit for playing in
tell;gent ball. If the team improves when
IL cues W us OWll IL IIIdy COH-
tinue to give the Athletics hard fight
for a while, but until it shows more
class on foreign grounds it cannot expect
to get under the wire first.
Joe BOehling gave very credi ia BILE
exhibition. He was hit safely only five
times, and while he issued five passes,
only one of these developed into a tally.
III, 81 d.
feet ball. but to do this he was under a
great strain, and he weakened percepti-
bly, during the closing innings, yet man
aged to get away. 1t was the first full
game that Boehling has pitched for his
team this season, and incidentally it
was the fourth victory with which he is
credited against no defeats. Boehling is
going to be a valuable pitcher in time.
When he learns to husband his strength
during the early innings. and has some
thing to finish with, he should be very
successful left-hander, for he has plenty
of stuff.
When Mcbride scored on Boehlng's tap
to Lajoie in the second inning the play
was made possible because Lajoie made
wild throw to Land The ball was fully
six feet away, from the intended mark,
reach by Land that 1t was prevented
from going to the grandstand. Because
of this error by Lajoie, a Cincinnati
base hit should not have been scored,
but instead Lajoie should have been
charged with an. error. The so-caIled
Cincinnati base hit" cannot be credited
whenever an error is involved in the
play. and there Is no doubt that LaJoie
erred on the grounder from Boehling
when he threw it wild to the plate.
Falkenberg won ten straight games be-
fore he lost one, and it would not be at all
surprising If he equaled his record OF VIC
tories with an equal number of defeats Just
as soon as the warm weather strikes the
tall twirler he loses effectiveness This
has been the case with him ever since
he broke into the game. He Is not apt
to annex many victories this summer,
but may come back strong in the fall.
Yesterday was the first time this sea-
son that Falkenberg was driven from the
rubber. He has been taken out of sew
eral games to allow a pinch hitter to
take his place, but yesterday he was
forced to retire under fire.
Falkenberg had little or nothing. and
after being hit hard for three innings
was sent to the clubhouse. Birming-
ham had allowed him but two days
rest between games, and this may have
had some effect on his work
1t is to be hoped that Grifith's team
will not underestimate the strength Of
the New York team during its stay here
On form the locals stand a good chance
to increase their winning percentage dur
Ing the present series Of six games, and
the. only way that they can take advan-
tage of the tailenders is to go at them
with the same vim and vigor that
characterized their playing against
Cleveland.
There is an old saying in pugilism,
Train for chump like you would for a
champ that the Nationals should fol-
low. The team has the strength to de-
feat the Yankees If it will get in and
do it's best Chances team has shown
considerable improvement since it made
its last appearance here. 1t is apt to prove
troublesome when it has good pitching.