Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-20
BY ]. ED GRILLO.


CLEVELAND. Ohio. August 2o.-Pitch-
ing in his best form, and backed by sup
port that was brilliant, Walter Johnson
won his thirteenth consecutive game by
defeating the Cleveland Maps yesterday.
1t was the second victory the Nationals
have scored over the second-place holders
in two days, causing them a severe set
back and eliminating almost every chance
they had to be contenders for the pen
nant.
1t was the first time this season that
Johnson has been in form when facing
the Maps. and but for a passed ball In
the opening inning he would have had
the satisfaction of scoring a shut -out
against his old rivals.
Johnson has worked in five games
against the Maps this season. In two of
them lie suffered defeat. and was hit
hard. while he was none too effective In
the games he won But yesterday 1T was
different. Johnson was absolute master
of the situation, though luck favored the
locals in that they managed to get IN
many scratch hits, which forced him to
go at top speed the entire route.
The great pitcher has had few better
days. His speed was so terrific that
Ainsmith. who has grown accustomed to
handling his delivery, found it hard
matter to get the quick shoots the ball
took on its course across the plate. IL
was his failure to handle one OF these in
the opening round which gave the Maps
the only run they scored, and which in
cidentaliy made it a one-to-one struggle
for nine innings. Then came the tenth,
which on the day previous had proved a
lucky round for the Nationals. and tour
runs were chased over the plate. thus
giving the visitors their second victory
in two days.
The soreness i'm Johnson's pitching arm.
which handicapped him in his games re-
Gently has entirely disappeared. The
great pitcher was in form yesterday and
the difference in his work was clearly
visible. He had that terrific speed for
which he is noted. and when he got
down to real business it was impossible
for any of the sluggers on the local team
to do anything much with his delivery.
Once or twice his control failed him. but
he recovered quickly from these spells
and moved the opposition down with
encouraging regularity.
Griffith is of the opinion that Johnson
will not lose another game during the
remainder of the season. He argues
that il Johnson can win when his arm
is lame, which he did for many weeks.
he ought to have walkOver when his
pitching tools are in trim. johnson will
not be used in the st. Louis series, I'M
less it Is absolutely necessary to win
game there, but he will make his next
appearance Sunday in Chicago, in all
probability
For the first time in quite while
johnson appears to be taking an interest
in the record Of consecutive wins which
he is establishing. He has now but three
games to win to equal his own record of
sixteen last season, and he is particu-
larry anxious to beat that mark. SO the
prospect is he will not take any chances
in any game in which he may be used.
According to Cleveland critics, Falken-
berg pitched the best game of his career
for nine innings yesterday during which
time he famed ten of the Nationals and
allowed but a few scattered hits. But
he weakened perceptibly in the final
round and was hit safely five times,
which. together with an error, gave the
Nationals four runs. Those. of course,
proved enough to win the game hands
down.
The surprising part Of Falkenbergs
performance during the early innings
was the splendid speed he developed
while his control also was perfect But
his first base on balls, which came to
Ainsmith in the tenth. proved the enter
ing wedge to his undoing, for after that
he was hit hard.
Johnson undoubtedly saved his own
game with his hitting. 1t was his three
base hit in the fifth which drove Nc
Bride home with the tying run, and but
for this Falkenberg would have been de-
clared the winner at the end of the
ninth. Once after that Walter started
a rally by hitting the screen in right
field for two bases. but this drive did
not result in any scoring. In the tenth
he showed a safe bunt through Falken-
berg after the latter had walked Ain
smith. and, of course, that placed Falk-
enberg in precarious position, from
which he failed to extricate himself.
The Nationals failure to sacrifice sue
cessfully proved a great handicap and
saved Falkenberg from earlier defeat.
There were two occasions when 1t was
up TO Moeller to advance runners, but
he failed on each occasion.
After Johnson had doubled with none
out in the eighth. Moelier tried to ad-
vance him, but popped up little fly to
Turner. In the tenth he was up to move
up Johnson and Ainsmith. but Johnson
tried twice to bunt, and but for these
run would have been scored before the
tenth inning rolled around.
Eddie Foster continues 10 play remark
able bali now that ne has recovered his
real form. He has had much to do with
both victories here not only by reason
of his great defensive work. but by
means OF his timely hitting. Foster did
his share To win the game in the eighth,
but no runs resulted; in the tenth he
gave a perfect exhibition OF pinch hit
ting. He was up with Ainsmith and
Moeiler on. Twice he drove liners to