Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-29
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
| BOSTON. August 29.-Never before in
his brilliant career has Walter johnson
pitched greater game of ball than the
one of yesterday, which resulted in his
winning streak of fourteen straight be-
ing broken. Cruel was fate when it de-
creed that Johnson's bosom friend. ROOM
mate and pal should pave the way for
his defeat. 1t was a binder by Milan
which lost the game in the eleventh in
ming. 1t was another example of his re-
Gently acquired falling. that o. letting a
ground ball go between his legs. and this
misplay eventually resulted in the one
run yielded during the day. Never before
has johnson pitched more effectively
than yesterday. In eleven innings he al
lowed but three hits. Two Of these came
in the final round and lost him the game.
For ten innings Johnson allowed only
thirty-one men to face him. He did not
walk man. and until the eleventh Bos-
ton did not have single chance to score.
A single by Yerkes in the second round
allowed the only player to reach first
base in ten innings. Inning after inning
, he retired the side in order. When he
did not strike out batter, and ten Of
! them died by this route, easy chances
before, he was never really in danger Of
| being scored upon.
But fate seemed against him right
| from the outset There were no less
Insplay would have Given the Nationals
a run and the game, but something
always happened to prevent it. If the
batter did his share and hit the ball
prevented disaster, and as result no
runs could be scored. On the other hand.
the Red Sox got their run out Of the
only chance they had to score during
innings since any Of the locals had been
able to visit the bases. when in the
ninth, with one out, Yerkes got single
to center Milan allowed the ball to
pass through his legs, however, and
seemed that Walter would get out of the
hole. for Wagner hit high bounder to
Mcbride. with the result that Yerkes
was caught between home and third and
retired. Wagner. however. reached Sec
ond on the play. and he scored when
Carrigan hit a long drive to left CEN
ter, which neither Milan or Shanks were
able to reach, and the game was over.
Victory. over which a home crowd
always enthuses. was not greeted as it
usually is. There were few cheers, but
most of the 5000 in the stands stood up
in amaZement and wondered how it had
all happened. It was inconceivable that
pitcher whose prowess was never more
plainly shown should have been de-
feated in so sudden a manner. AS john
son walked from the rubber to the club
house he was given an ovation. 1t was
plain that even the partisan fans real
lied that great athlete had suffered
defeat because he had been unlucky.
and sympathy was expressed.
Walter had no sooner reached his
dressing room than iris Speaker broke
into the door. Walking toward Johnson
with outstretched hands. he said: wal
ter, / am glad we won, but am awfully
sorry you lost. 1t was the greatest ex-
hibition of pitching that I have ever
seen in my life. and you deserved to
win
Johnson expressed his appreciation OF
Speakers remarks with a smile on his
face. He did not take his defeat to
heart hut he undoubtedly felt that he
had been unkindly dealt with, for his ef-
forts deserved better than q defeat.
Just what it is that has made Milan
SO uncertain on ground balls is beyond
the knowledge of man. Until this sea-
son there was no surer fielder on the
team, Vet this season has seen no less
lowed the ball to get away from him.
and in a majority of these instances the
team has suffered defeat as a result.
Milan has no explanations to oner. For
a time he blamed the roughness Of the
field at home. but, inasmuch as he is
making the same kind Of errors on
foreign ground. this excuse has been
abandoned. 1t would. perhaps, help mat
tiers some il Milan would spend an hour
or SO every day on the infield and prac-
tice the art of picking up grounders.
! Collins was a lucky mortal to get
away without being scored on. A break
| of luck saved him from being at dis
advantage right at the outset OF the
game. for in the opening inning clean
single and double failed to net run.
Moeller opened the struggle by hitting
| the first ball pitched to left field for a
| hit. Foster sent sharp liner to right
| which Hooper had to Jump to catch, but
| he held the ball. Moeller then was
thrown out trying to steal. a close de-
! cision. TO be sure, but he was called out
nevertheless. Then Milan came along
with double. but no runs were scored
for Lewis grabbed Gandils liner for tho
| third out
| The next opportunity for runs came in
! the fourth. but again luck was with Col
/ Inns. Foster the first man to face him
/ in this inning, got all the way to second
when Hooper. after losing his fly in the
sum- dropped it. Milan hit a SHARP
grounder, which ordinarily would have
been hit but Yerkes happened to knock
| 1t down with one hand and threw mis-
| man out. Foster went to third on the
| play. Then came the toughest break Of
all for Gandil. Well timing one of Col