The Washington herald., 1913-05-01
By WILLIAM PEE'r.

Philadelphia, Pa, April 30.-Masterfu
pitching by the great Walter Johnson
backed up with f1awless support, des.
perate and daring attack in the ninth
inning by his pals, humbled the chesty
Athletics, to o. this afternoon, in g
battle that will not be forgotten fol
months.
The Griffmen played smarter baseball
that the house of Mack. Johnson out
pitched the veteran Plank, and in the
opinion OF every member of the Climbers
the best team won. The shadow of a
long-armed human gattling gun fell
darker and darker across the green turf
of Shibe Park this afternoon, throwing
a terrible shudder into the unfortunate
Athletics who faced him.
I'VE have not a chance against this fell
low" muttered Frank Baker, as he
swung thrice into space in the sixth in
ming, when safe swat would have
scored run. How are you going to
beat johnson when the ball looks no
bigger than a pea is it whi3zes past?'
Nobody attempted to answer the great
slugger
Pitchers Battle.
Up to the ninth inning, Plank and
johnson occupied the center of the stage
in the prettiest little pitchers battle NOR
tai man ever gazed upon. 1t was a
gallant fight in which each side strove
bravely, but at the critical minute the
Nationals had the punch and the Phila-
delphia team had not.
Deley, one member of the Mackmen
reached third base during Johnson S
nine-inning endeavor. The Kansas cy-
clone allowed four scattered hits. gave
enc base on balls, and struck out ten
men. To the victors belong the spoils,
but to the veteran, Eddie Plank, some
thing better than honorable mention is
due. This thirty south
paw, with his famous cross-fire delivery,
made twelve of Griff's young athletes
bite the dust. His delivery was touched
up six hits worth, and like Johnson, he
only handed one pass to first.
So far this season Johnson has twirled
exactly thirty-six scoreless innings.
Pitchers may come and pitchers may
go, but for the perfect product, the
easy working, smooth running. rifle
shooting machine propelled by clear
brain and directed by an eagle eye, this
lanky son of the Middle West is getting
ready to carve his name so deep upon
the league records that it will stand for
all time.
Hard Game.
But to return to the ball game, the
last of the series of two when four
should have been played, no harder
grapple for a box score has ever been
seen at Shibe Park
The Climbers started off nicely by
tossing a couple of hits and a base on
balls into the first inning. There was
no scoring. Plank moved the Nationals
Gown as fast as they came up until with
one gone Gandil dubbed a single through
the box in the fourth. Chick never saw
second la Sc. Business of more air
tight stuff on the part of the venerable
who struck out seven Grifhns
during the fifth. sixth. seventh, and
Plank looked simply in
Get ready for the fireworks, boys"
shouted Germany Schaefer from the van
tage point of the third base coacher's
box when the ninth inning opened. The
Teuton was greeted with boots and Jeers.
"All right; just wait and see he shot
back at them. Hit the old pill through
Baker Zeb" admonished Germany, as
clyde Milan faced the southpaw.. This
is exactly what Milan did The ball sped
past the big infielder and Milan was safe
at first Laporte skied to Daley. Chick
Gandu who had already accumulated
two safe hits, slashed dandy to left
field and Milan was on second.
4 Double steal.
il came SO quickly that the crowd gasped.
Morgan was at bat, with two strikes and
three balls called. He took the third
swing vicious one, just as Milan and |
GandiI. both on their toes, started to ne |
gotiate the double steal Catcher Lapp |
and the whole Philadelphia infield were |
caught flat-footed and mapping. Lapp |
made half hearted throw to second, |
trying TO turn back Gandil, but there was
nobody there to take the ball. Gandil |
slid safely into the base, while Milan |
was over the plate before you could say /
Jack Robinson and il looked to a man |
I'D a tree as if the Athletics catcher had |
pulled an awful bone all of which is
more or less true, but had either Collins |
Of Barry been on the job to take the |
throw things might have worked out diff |
ferentIy and the game halted only by a
mantle of darkness.
This daring bit of baserunning evil
lently unnerved Pitcher Plank, for Ed
lie Ainsmith stepped into one Of the
fire shoots and hammered ii
@ left field. This crash scored Gandi.
Airsmith was turned back trying to
steal and the side was out; incidentally,
he game was over.
Toys with Muckmen.
Johnson simply toyed with the former
worlds champions when they came up
n the final half of the ninth. The
,rnwd tried every means known to
,cience To rattle the big pitcher, but
'olins died, Morgan to Gandil, and to
how his utter contempt or how much
lc cared for ballplayer with a big
equation as a slugger, Johnson struck
,ut Baker, and because McInnis got
resh with Tom Hughes last Saturday,