Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-23
BOSTON OUTPLAYED
IN FIRST VICTORY
1npire's Oversight Response
BILE for Big Lead Red Sox
Secured.
Johnson TO OPPOSE
RAY COLLINS TODAY
Griffith'S Crack TWirIer Ex-
peCted to Show His Usual
Brilliant Form.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

II L u. LIZ 04s44AS.
Even in defeat the Nationals made a
good impression yesterday. Griff s team
actually outplayed the Red Sox, if the
figures are to be believed but lost be-
they did not get the breaks. Had
Umpire Hart remembered that it is an
umpire's duty to keep his eye on the
ball there might have been a different
story TO tell Ainsmith caught Engel
mapping off first base In the sixth inning,
but Hart was looking for play at sec
ond and declared Engei safe. Four runs
were scored as a result when there
should not have been any. This would
have left the score to and there
were numerous opportunities when if
the locals had been but oi,e. run behind
they could have at least tied the score.
Boston was outhit. outfielded, outrun
but was fortunate in making hits when
they did the most damage. The hits were
II TO 10 in the Nationals favor, they
had but one error against four by Bos-
ton and they stole four bases where the
visitors have but one to their credit
Even with the handicap which the inef-
fcctivcness OF Groom during the first
two innings placed on his team, it would
have had an excellent chance to win had
it received its just dues.
When Groom started to pitch he seemed
10 have exceptional speed, yet everything
the opposition hit went safe and in the
second inning he lost control of the ball
and had to retire. The chances are that
Bob will be given another trial against
the Red SoX during their stay here, and
lie is very apt to reverse the result.
Gallia. who took Groom'S place. all things
considered. did splendid work He should
not have been scored on.
Walter Johnson. who few days ago
gave one of his best performances in
New York. is slated to do the pitching
today. Ray Collins. the champions left
handler. is to work against him. and it
should prove a real pitchers battle.
Leonard was hit much harder than the
score would indicate. but he deserves
credit for being particularly effective
when base hit would have jeopardized
his teams lead. There was not single
inning that the Nationals did not reach
the bases. and yet they scored on only
two occasions. Thirteen of the locals
were left on the bags because Leonard
prevented hits when they would have
done damage.
That Boston team will have to show
much improved form If 1t expects to
repeat it's performance of last season
and win another pennant. To date 1T
has WOU ~Uut Three SdliSS oio HOS AuAcN
TO play up to the standard 1t set last
season, principally because it's pitch
ers have not shown to good advan-
tage Even SO strong a hitting team
as the Red Sox will not stand cnance
at least three of it's pitchers
show tiptop form-something none OF
them has done to date. There is al
ways danger of a team becoming badly
disrupted if after winning a pennant
it happens to get a poor start 1t
makes lot of difference in a team
whether it is leading by healthy mar
gin or floundering around In the second
division.
Clyde Engle has proved himself a
most valuable man for the Boston
team He is undoubtedly one of the
best utility players in the league and
can play either the out or in field
and make good. Just now he Is play
ing first base. and he gave very
satisfactory exhibition yesterday. jan
win. the youngster who was assigned
TO that position, has been given lay
off and il is decidedly doubtful II Jake
Stahl will be able to play the position
for some time yet so that Engle again
comes in very handy.
II was generally understood that a
special effort was to be made this sea-
son to run off games as quickly as pos
sible in the American League, and yet
excepting one or two that the Nationals
have played this spring. all have lasted
over two hours. The time which has
been saved by replacing every ball that
is fouled with a new one does not ap-
pear to have brought about the desired
results for the very good reason that
some of the umpires seem to forget
that ii is up to them to hurry things
along. When President Johnson gets
the report of these games and notices
the enormous amount of time that it
requires TO play them he is very apt
st hi ,fH tnI
Eddie Ainsmith will do all the catch
ing for while. Not only is it policy
b allow both Henry and Williams to
get themselves in shape. but Ainsmith
is going so we'll that it would be mis-
take to have him the bench. His
hitting and base running have been
among the features of the Nationals
playing this spring, and he is catching in
his very best form.
Iris Speaker did not take kindly to
Gallia's delivery. He singled off Groom
in the opening inning. but after that was
retired by Gsllia every time he faced him
on rather easy chances. Gallia has all
the earmarss of being successful pitch
or. He has a remarkable curve ball and
plenty of speed. and when worked regu-
larly his control ought to improve.
With Gardner and E,ngIe on second and
first, respectively. Ainsmith made mo-
ton to throw to second to catch Gardner
off. AS he did so Umpire Hart turned to
get the play. failing to wait. however.
until the ball was on it's way Ainsmith
instead of throwing to second whipped
the ball to first and caught Engle nap
ping. Hart had his back turned toward
first and could not see the play yet de-
clared Engle safe. Under such circum-
stances II would seem only fair IL the
umpire would let the official who could
see the play make the decision. That one
mistake cost the Nationals the game for
the side would have been retired with
ont any scores had Hart been on the Job
To date Walter Johnson has been
scored on but once and that tally, which
came in the opening game here, was the
result of an error. In his games previous
to the one in New York last Saturday he
did not show at his hest. but on that &C.
casion he gave marvellous exhibition
which if he can repeat today Is sure to
mean defeat of the Red SoA.
Howard Shanks seems to have struck
his batting stride The crack left
fielder has been meeting the ball
well In the last two games and gives
promise of hitting much better this
season than he did last. Shanks Is the
same brilliant fielder this year that he
was last. His quick and accurate throw
TO second on Engles hit along the left