The Washington times., 1913-09-23
DOC AYRES CURSED
BY POOR SUPPORT
Richmond Giant Beaten First Essay in Big League But
Teammates Are Much to BIame-Grffmen Fall to Pieces
in Field in Seventh Inning, Blowing Game
By SENATOR

Doc Ayres was beate on his first es-
say In the big league, but 1t wasn't all
his fault. He performed for six and
two-thirds innings. allowing Ave hits.
tanning four and walking three. While
he was given excellent support at times
In the early innings. saving him from
several bad holes, 1t was Joe Gedeon's
nun OF Austin's fly that gave the
Brownies their, first run and combina-
ton Of rotten pegs presented them with
two more in the fateful seventh.
The Richmond finger was roundly ap-
plauded when he marched from the
mound to The shower bath. The fans
appreciated his good work and the poor
support he was given in the seventh
The fans are frequently wrong about
scme things In game. but the great
general scheme doesn't get by them and
they knew right well that the young
pitcher was unlucky.
Ayres cut out his underhand delivery
until In aole I'm the seventh. He had
been showing tremendous speed with
an overland delivery. working the corn
ers admirably. getting Shotton and Will
iiams on strikes. He was working q
bit too hard, perhaps. for after he dis
posed of Bisland in the seventh he
seemed suddenly to lose strength Every
ball hit in that inning was hit hard. It
wasn't wholly through poor support
that. the Richmond lad was scored on
He lost control and also lost much Of
his steam.
However, there is a rosy future for
Doc Ayres. He showed plenty Of skill
a. a twirler. He gave every indication
Of knowing how to pitch After his
winters rest he should report IN the
spring stronger than he is now and II
Is not far-fetched to say that he will
yet be a good pitcher for the Griffmen.
He adds his name to those Of ''Slim"
Love and Jim Shaw. both Of whom have
made sterling dehuts in the big show.
Perhaps 1t was the cold westher. who
knows? There must be some reason Tor
yesterday. They fell all over them
selves on easy plays. Chick Gandil and
Danny Moeller alone maintaining their
standard OF high class play. Henry
had an on day. His work behind the
bat was ragged to an extreme. his
throws to second generally yards out Of
line His only good throw was seen In
the ninth when he nailed Gus Williams
trying to steal second The others
painful.
Foster, Mcbride. and Morgan each
contributed a bad throw In q pinch. Joe
failed to make a fancy catch over his
shoulder, letting a run go over. Ayres
pulled a wild throw to first and Joe
Boehling failed 10 hold a toss from Gan
dill when he tried to cover first on
Wares in the eighth. All in all It was
one of the poorest fielding exhibitions
ever put up by the Griffmen.
So poor was the work Of the home
team that the small crowd began guy
ing the players. calling upon Griffith
to warm up a new team" One wag.
peeved at the slowness Of the game,
shouted for morning practice to be-
GIN" Members of the Midnight Krewe
in the upper tier became thirsty and
left in the eighth frame. They had seen
enough. The fans bawled Mcbride and
Henry more than any of the others.
though both these players were not any
more to blame for the poor work than
the rest.
The days work was wholly in line
with other games played by the Grin-
men when they had something at stake.
Three times this season they have been
in positions when good playing would
have showed them up in the standing.
Every time they have fallen to pieces
at the critical moment. They did yes
terday no more than they have done at
other times this season. The strain
seems too much for them, that's all
Let's be merciful.