Evening journal., 1913-10-09
EXPERT BELIEVES MACK'S
BLUNDER LOST ATHLETICS
SECOND GAME TO GIANTS

have happened with Murphy or
Schang up, will never be known
It strikes us that this was no oc-
casion to play safely-to work out
careful trail Here was the place for
the greatest power left in one last
wallop-an opening, old haymaker.
II there was one left--and Plank
was not of the haymaker variety, at
bat In rebuttal for Connie. we eau
only say that he has won five PEN
nants and two world series and that
we never have-not even one PEN
nant or one third OF one world series.
But having the second guess we pro-
pose TO It, although we admit to
quite a shock when we saw PLANK
come up in place of some pinch hit
ter with q keener eye and a stronger
swing.
MalhewsOn's Work.
If his support had stuck with him
we believe that Mathewson could
have blurred the Athletics attack
for another nine rounds. Ever and
anon, some Yosld thump blow to
safety, but never when runner was
i'm striking distance OF home. On
these occasions he had Collins and
Baker marked for slaughter as three
of his strike-outs we're issued to this
great pair. The club that had whsl-
ed the pill so sayagely the day be-
fore. was the softess sort Of picking
for the Giant genius.
A Word About Plank.
Not forgetting Eddie Plank. One
out6eid hy In that ninth round and
Plank today would he the games
f- al nj
rather. the narrowest sort OF mar
gin between fame and defeat Plank
pitched we'll in 1905. He pitched much
better in 1911, but yesterday he
pitched the greatest game of all
three. He had the Giant attack cook
ed to a turn He had McGraw's bats
men tied into knot. It was not
until the big upset came in the ninth,
that he al last lost heart and fall
tered. II may be that he remember
ed those 30 scores Of 1899 and so
figured that the moving finger hav-
ing writ" there was no armor OF de-
fense against a fate so relentless.
The Dope Upset.
The dope was scrambled badly
enough before this series started but
at the threshold OF the third game,
Mack now had to nncov1r one of his
youngsters, unknown quantities, un-
der such a CALLING FIRE. But TO off
set this wide difference IN pitching,
McGraw had lost Chief Meyers for
the year and Merkle was still limping
with an ankle puffed up like a poi
soned poodle.
II Wiltse and Mclean could only
rr, hnfr NuC ~ Iar
there would be no worry. Long Larry
caught a finished game and led the
final rally at bat which brought on
victory. No catcher in the business
could have passed his work. And
over at first. George Wiltse. step
ping In cold after Snodgrass had
tried samely to play on ono, les.
began to Hal Chase all around that
territory. Wiltse's work in that stir
ring ninth inning will never be for
gotten. Two plays we're hurled upon
him that would have ended the game
in defeat. but he met both as II he
had played first since Hector was a
pie-eyed pup.
The Games Switch.
Enter another kink for the classic
and elastic dope. Bender and Mar
guard. on a dark day to cover speed.
we're expected to engage in a pitch
ing duel. Both we're rasped and
raked to the bone in q swattinz car
nival far beyond the ordinary. Plank
and Mathewson we're tipped for
rough work and the two we're beyond
all batting reach. No two games
could have been more unalike. Bat
ting ruled the first day and pitching
the second And in the second
game there was little left for tho
helders TO do beyond tho cut and
dried stuf-the routine work Of an
easy days play. Burns Fletcher
and Murphy gathered the only three
hard chances offered. although Wiltss
contributed his share in the ninth.
The Games 10 Come.
From this point on. the conflict
grows even more interc ting. Mack
has three pitching euesses ahead in
Bush. Shawkey and Brown. McGrsw
has two in Tesreau and Demarce
where both are about OF equal valu,
Tomorrow We get Bender again. but
today is now the main spot I'm the
program az the two teams start al
most exactly whore they bega ON
! Tuesday. So why not wait for the
ncAt box score?