Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-11
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Whether the Nationals win be able To
make it five straight from the Maps VIII
depend largely upon what sort of per-
Torrance Joe Epgel will give today. En-
gel is slated to pitch against the visitors,
and as Walter Johnson is to make his
second appearance against them tomor-
row, that game is already counted as a
victory. Engel was not at his best the
other day when he was beaten by New
York, but that was an off day and nc
is expected to come back strong this aft
ernoon.
On the whole the pitching against the
Maps has been of the highest order.
Boehling, Johnson and Groom have held
the Birmingham crew in check in the
three games they have played here. In
none of them have the visitors hit up 10
their standard. Cleveland has quite
hitting club, almost the best In the
league, but Griffith's twirlers have been
able to stop it on most occasions TINS
season. Out of the twenty games played
the Nationals have won thirteen, thus
assuring them the majority of the games
regardless of how the remaining Two
may result.
Eut for the Nationals the Maps would
probably have won a pennant this year.
Reverse the result of the three games
here, and they would be within whisper
ing distance of the Athletics, and would
probably beat them to the wire. IL Is
the strong finish which the Nationals
are making that is saving the position
for the Athletics. and unless the Mack
men take brace they viii have TO deal
with the Nationals before the campaign
Is over.
This race would haze been a gallop for
the Nationals had the team been intact
during the EARL. part OF the season. Tres
euQ conditions show that a team IKE
Gfiffiths need but the breaks in having
all its regular players in the lineup TO
have an easy time winning. At least ten
games can be recalled that were lost
which would have beer won had not the
regular players been absent, ana ten
games right now would give the Ma
tionals a comfortable lead. As matters
now stand it looks very much as If the
Nationals will win the pennant for the
Athletics. But for the strong 'front.' that
the locals have presented in the present
series Cleveland would be in Il good po-
siton to make a flying finish and beat out
the Mackmen. But the Maps chances to
accomplish this ended when they failed
to do better here.
Bob Groom did sorle splendid pitching
yesterday. He had but one inning i'll which
he did not appear effective, the Iourth
and it was in that round that Cleveland
scored it's only run. Bob Aid not walk
man, struck out eight and allowed but
five hits, three of which came together
in the fourth. incidentally, he was of
considerable help to his team in an +
fensive way, walking once. bringing in a
run with a sacrifice fly and hitting safely
the last time up.
Neither Chick Gandil nor Ray Morgan
was in his batting stride yesterday.
Chick failed to get hit and Morgan
struck out three times in row. Some
pitcher is sure to suffer for this slump.
The top of the batting order was Of lit
tie or no assistance to the Nationals in
yesterdays game, while the bottom of
it did all the hitting. Henry, Shanks,
Mcbride and Groom made five of the
teams six hits, the other one being con-
tr;buted by Foster, who also drew q
couple of passes.
Birmingham is finding it 3; tough series
on his pitchers. He is forced to use
two or three in every game. Yesterday
he sent Gregg back and he was beaten
in the Seventh Then he tried Mitchell
but after he had walked Foster in the
eighth he was yanked and Steen finished.
Steen appears to have regained his best
form and worked effectively in the two
innings that he remained ON the rubber.
1t is not unlikely that Steen will work in
the game today, though Birmingham
may decide that lralkenberg stands a bet
ter chance to beat the Nationals.
The effect OF the defeats the Maps
have suffered here is apparent in their
work. The team is displaying but lit
tie life and seems TO have lost all
hope. Birmingham is still trying to
keep his players encouraged. but the
backbone. OF their fight seems to have
been broken and it will be surprising
indeed il it revives sufficiently during
the remainder of the season to remain
stubborn contender. That the Maps
expected to make cleanup here there
is no doubt and the disappointment
was bitter when they dropped a dou-
BILE header here Tuesday. The players
realize that their chances for the pen
nant have virtually been eliminated
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