Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-21
Nationals Have Good Chance
to Win Final Game Today
With Young Pitcher In.
MAY LEAD LEAGUE AT
END OF WESTERN TRIP
On Form. Boston and Athletics
Have No Call to Win From
Griffith's Men.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

Spe"ial Dispatch 10 Tn" star
NEW YORK, April While there is
never anything certain about base ball.
the chances are that the Nationals will
make it four straight here today. not
vthstandng the fact that Griffith will
Use one of his Young pitchers.
Either Joe Eugel or Joe Boehling will
he on the slab this afternoon and if the
one selected shows his proper form he
should not find it hard matter To win
his game. for the Nationals are a so
much better team than the Yankees that
they can even shoulder the handicap of
= Young pitcher working and yet come
ont on top.
The Kind of base ball that the Nationals
have put up here is sure To keep them
At the top of the list if it continues. There
: no fault IT, find with the general play
ng of the team. 1t has shown a flash
II champions ship form ever since the sea-
son opened and if its pitchers hold up
their end it would not be at all surpris
ing To find the team leading the process
sion even after il returns from its next
long trip.
Judged on the showing of the Red Cox
in their games with the Athletics. neither
Of these teams is to be greatly feared at
this time. If Cirffith's team continues to
play the ball it did here, il is certain to
take three of the four games which Bos-
ton is scheduled to play in Washington
this week beginning Tuesday. Then comes
the trip TO Philadelphia and Boston. on
which four games will be played in each
Of tine two cities.
An even break in these games would be
Il satisfactory showing. There is no
reason why the western contingent should
he feared The Nationals have sixteen
games there and majority OF them
should prove victories.
After the western trip IS concluded
there are four more games at Phiadel-
phia. making twenty-eight games to he
played away from home after finishing
with Boston next Friday.
Just what the teams chances for WIN
ming the pennant Will probably be
proved by these games. 1t Will give the
team it's first swing around the entire
circuit and good line on the relative
strength of the teams should be obtained
thereby.
If il does as well as break even on that
"trip. and the chances are il will do better.
i ought TO be in fine position to make
a fight during the month that it will be at
home.
To date only Johnson. Groom and
hughes have had chance to show. All
three of them have made good and are
sure 10 Ne winners lHiS StdSO1l, Out IL
stands to reason that team can eX-
pect To make fight for a remnant with
hut three reliable pitchers so that much
will depend ON what sort OF work some
of the younger men do.
Griffith needs at least five pitchers
going at their best to have a chance.
Cashion is proving this spring that he is
not coid-weaJher man. He needs the
suns hottest rays to bring him into real
forIn. and il is not likely that he will be
or much aid to the team until such CON
ditions prevail. Engel can pitch. and ne
should have a much improved year. Il
this pair Of husky lads show to advan-
tage there is nothing 10 fear from the
other teams. Boehling. too. has a chance
and Gallia may prove a sensation when
he gets TO working regularly. So there
i really nothing 10 worry about So far
as the pitching staff is concerned, for
C;rift appears to be well fortified III this
respect.
That this IS to be Johnson's banner
year seems assured. The big fellow has