Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-01
SHOW PENNANT-
WINNING FORM
Nationals Play Better Ball
Against Boston Than in Any
of the Previous Games. .
JOHNSON GETS THE
CREDIT FOR VICTORY
Prevents Red Sox From Scor-
ing by Marvellous Pitching
in Closing Innings.
BY j. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch 10 The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star
BOSTON, July If the kind of ball
. the Nationals played yesterday is a sam
pie of the article they will show on the
present trip. it is not hazardous predic-
ton to say that the team will return to
its grounds in a much better position
than when it left.
At no time this season did the Nationals
look more like pennant contender than
in the game yesterday. Their perform
ance was a brilliant one from every
standpoint. save, perhaps. couple of
plumbers that were made on the bases
during the early rounds which for a
time threatened to be the cause of the
teams undoing.
But for these the game would never
have gone into extra innings Bob Groom
would have had a shut-out to his credit
while the Nationals would have had at
least two runs
The catching off second base Of Shanks
in the second inning. after he had sin
gied and stolen. cost run. for Mcbride
followed with a long single over third
base which would easily have scored
Shanks. In that very inning, after one
man was out Moeller sent long drive
to right center. which netted three bases.
He was called out, though because he
failed to touch first base. A passed ball
which followed would have scored him
beyond doubt and thus another run was
fooled away.
The one run which the Red Sox gained
in the second inning was a gift and re-
suited from Milans old failing of allow
ing a base hit to get through him. on
which Lewis scored all the way from
first base
This one run grew in dimensions as in
ming after inning passed, neither side
scoring until the eighth, when a couple Of
we'll placed tWo-baggers by Henry and
Williams, the latter hitting for Groom,
gave the Nationals the tying run. John
son then went in. and won out in the
eleventh. when, by reason of some hit
ting, two runs were scored.
Barring the incidents referred to in
which the Nationals erred and which
were responsible for the lead held by
Boston for the greater part of the game,
Griffith's men played grand ball.
Their field work was superb and they
went at Woods delivery in a way that
promised something from time to time,
though good support saved the Smoky
one on more than one occasion. The
Seemed to lose courage and stuff just
about the time that he saw himself op-
posed by his master. Walter Johnson.
Aside from the two runs which the Ma
tfonalS should have had early in the
game. they were repeatedly prevented
from scoring by brilliant work by the
Boston helders Gardner and Yerkes
made stops which but for their good work,
front early in the game. What was most
encouraging was the fact that. though
luck seemed to be against the visitors
they never gave up hope and kept hus-
tlieng and plugging along until success
crowned their efforts
Johnson pitched the last four innings
He was hit safely once and walked two
men. but was really never in danger of
being scored on. In the four innings he
struck out four men, three of them in the
final round. when. after he had gained a
lead, he cut loose to make sure of his
victory The effect of his coming into
the game was decidedly noticeable.
Not only did the crowd cheer him as he
walked on the rubber. but it expressed
the opinion that all chance of the Red
Sox scoring had ceased. The Boston play
ers. too. seemed to realize that their
chances We're hopeless. and they lost their
ambition. Wood seemed to be particu-
larly affected. He acted much like a man
who was steering forlorn hope and he
gradually weakened until defeat was his
lot
Bob Groom has pitched no better games
this season than he did Yesterday With
an even break he should have won easily
in nine innings, with a shut-out to his
credit. Misplays on the bases cost his team
two runs and Milan's break in the out
field gave the Red SOX the only run they
got Groom had everything. He worked
as he did when he was showing his bril-
liant form, and it was a real pity that
the condition came up which forced Crit
nth to take him out to send Williams in
to do the pinch-hittng.
But 1t was this switch of batters which
really saved the day. Williams who has
more than once made good in a pinch
came through yesterday. He hit a clean
drive over first base good for two bases.
which sent Henry, who had previously
doubled to center home with the tying
hl1f
and Williams did not score but with the
score tie and Johnson taking up the
work where Groom had left off the game
was as good as won. it being only
question of when Wood would weaken
for Walter was sure to go any route he
might be asked to-
Just what it is that has changed Milan
from Il strong fielder on ground balls
TO one who is most uncertain is hard to
explain. Until this season Milan was "A
sure fielder of hits in his territory. and
Yet this year he has been responsible for
any number of defeats because of this
failing. 1t was claimed when the team
was at home that the conditions of the
grounds in Washington was such that his
failure to mold grounders was excusable
but there is on kick coming on the To-
cal field, and Yet he made the same kind
of misplay yesterday when. with Lewis
on 1rst. Gardner hit to center field before
a man was retired, and Milan let the hall
get away. ana Lewis scored all the WaV
from first base, while Gardner reached
third. Just to show the kind of game
Groom was pitching, Gardner never got
any farther. Mcbride made a great stop
Of Engle's grounder and held Gardner at
third. after which Groom struck out Ball
and Foster took care of Cady.
Nothing that has happened to Alva
Williams tickled him SO much as his two
base hit in the eighth inning. which tied
tho score. If there is one club In the cir
cult which Williams likes to see the Ma
tionals beat it is Boston. and anything
that he can contribute to this effect al
ways brings wreaths of smiles to his
face. So, when he hit into right yester-
day for long double which sent Henry
home with the tying run he was just
about the happ!est man in this section
and he did not lose the chance to make
Boston folks realize that serious mistake
was made when he was allowed to go to
the National Capital.
There was one stage of Yesterdays
game when it seemed that Joe Wood had
come into his own. During the third
fourth and fifth innings he DISPLAYED
form which was battling and struck out
seven men almost in d row. Foster wound
up the third inning with a strike-out and
nd