Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-19
REAL TEST WILL
BEGIN TUESDAY
Games With Boston and Phil
adeIphia to Show Compare
tive Strength of Locals.
JOHNSON TO PITCH
IN NEW YORK TODAY
Chances Men Seem Slated to
Drop Entire Series to
Griff'S Team.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Special Dispatch 10 The star.
NEW YORK. April 1e.-Whie the series
here promises to be a most profitable one
for the Nationals from an artistic and
financial standpoint. their real test will
come when the games here are over
and they will have to meet Boston and
the Athletics for twelve consecutive
games. eight of which will be played on
the grounds of their opponents. But
three out of four. if not four straight,
games are assured here, and further
more. unless both Boston and Philadel-
phia take brace these teams will have
their hands full stopping Griffith's team
1t is evident by the large scores that
Boston and Philadelphia have made in
the games they have played this season
four in number, that the pitchers OF
neither team are in good form.
Neither is apt TO find scoring so easy
when they tackle the Nationals, and If
t;riff's men continue to hit as they are
now the chances are that the Nationals
will hold the lead they gained by their
victory here yesterday for some time to
come
Nothing but an accident can stop the
Nationals from making clean sweep
here. The weakness of the nance iofsus
game The former leader OF the Cups
seems to have been placed in charge OF
Il rather hopeless propos1tlOf mere. 80
Vet the local team has failed 10 sho"
ANYTHING Its infield is lamentabiy weak
its outfield nothing wonderful ana nohe
Of the pitchers appears to have more 'fiah
the law allows. >-..,s
In the two games here the NatiomAs
have played rings around them IheS
b,ve RIM bases at will and shown SUI
,eriority in every department Condi-
lions will probable be improved "neh
chance gets on first base. where ne can
h handle his f P sa wiI have team which
,'an hone 10 make a respectable show
ing in the race.
Today Walter Johnson Is slated 10 40
the pitching Griffith has decided TO
work his star SO that he will be reaoI TO
omen M against Boston Tuesday. Mess
the unexpected happens TINS saIne sIouiu
not prove hard 10 win for the Natloha's.
for il rs questionable whether any OF
chances pitchers will be able to go the
route Ford has a lame arm, taidWeii
hurt himself recently while pitchIns III
Boston and is not ready 10 pitch. war
hop cannot work and the rest are not
much on what they have shown TO date
George Mcbride was responsible for
Yesterdays victory. Not that ne ala
ANYTHING very unusual in the neld Where
his prowesS shows TO its best advantage
as a rule but it was his hitting that
made victory possible. Six OF the seven
runs which his team scored McBrloe
was responsible for. He was the real pinch
hitter In the second inning IT was MS
hit which drove in the first two runs. He
drove in another in the fourth, and
scored himself. He sacrificed prospect
i've runner in the sixth, and 1t was MS
infield out which produced the run in
the eighth when 1t seemed that 1t would
be needed.
II is questionable if Tom Hughes has
had as much in recent years, speaking
OF speed and curves, as he displayed yes
terday, but he was handicapped by the
lack of control 1t was this failing that
caused him lot of trouble. When he
did get the ball over the locals did little
with him. His six passes and four hit
batsmen kept him in trouble several
times, but for all that he allowed but
uevar have been in danger of being
scored upon.
That disaster in the seventh, when it
seemed the New Workers would tie or
win the game, was all caused by Ray
Morgan, who failed to take advantage Of
double play. With q man on first, VOL
ter hit sharp grounder at Morgan,
which seemed a set up for double play.
Morgan. however. fumbled the ball, and
then forced Daniels at second. Then
Hughes wldness asserted itself. and two
passes followed. filing the bases. Chase
set a scratch hit in front of the plate,
scoring Wolter. and after Hughes got
himself into a hole on Sterret; he singled
and the score was within an inch of be-
ing tied. He Wlked Sweeney. but got
himself out of bad mess when he
famed Caldwell. who tried to be a pinch
hitter.
Not only is Ainsnith catching the best
hall OF his career, but he is justifying
Cirifith's action in placing him higher In
the batting order, as he demonstrated
yesterday. when ne drove out four hits
which had much to do with making VIC
tory possible. Always a great thrower.