Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-13
lack OF HITTING
WITH RUNNERS ON
Nationals Chief Weakness In
ability to Bat Safely at 0p-
perfume Moments.
ANOTHER NO-RUN INNING
WILL GIVE JOHNSON LEAD
Pitching Marvel in His Next
Game Is Expected to Estab-
IiSh a Worlds Record.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

BY j. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
| ST. LOUIS. No. May 13.-As Griffith's
/ men are not hitting, il requires just such
| a game Groom pitched yesterday to
make victory possible. There has not been
| a time in recent years when the stick
\ work of the Nationals has been as weak
| and untimely as the present. In every
| game the opportunity for runs presents
| itself, but is seldom accepted, for the very
good reason that with men on the bases
the opposing pitchers appear to be abso-
lutte masters of the situation.
But for Groom there would have been
no chance for victory yesterday. 1t was
his three-base hit. with two out. in the
second round. which paved the way for
the only runs the visitors scored, though
they had innumerable chances for batch
of tallies on several occasions. In all, ten
men were left on the bases by Mitchell, a
rather mediocre pitcher. In the first in
ming three were on the sacks-and no
runs were sent over the pan-when the
side was retired.
In the third inning. second and third
were occupied. with but one out. yet no
runs were scored. In the fifth a similar
situation confronted Mitchell, and again
the visitors were retired without any dam
age having been done. In the sixth Groom
got as far as second on his double. with
one out, and he, too. was left. Somehow
or other. none Of Griff1th's batters seems
to be equal to the occasion for runs
when it arises. Sometimes the best bat
tiers on the team are W and have the
chance to distinguish themselves, but of
late they have a failed. This. of course,
necessitates sonl@ high-class pitching to
offset the batting weakness, and Groom
delivered yesterday.
Form such as Bob showed yesterday
is such as to bring ABOUT desired results
1t was the best game he has pitched this
spring, and Furthermore he was of con-
siderable help with the stick, getting a
triple and a double in four times up-al-
Defensively the team still stars. 1t
gives a pitcher everything he could pos
sibly ask for in the way of support but
not every pitcher who can stand UP under
these discouraging conditions. for he
feels that he can never afford to make a
wobble without endangering his game.
This to a certain extent, Is due to the
absence Of Gandil and Foster, two bat
tiers who are always best when the pinch
is highest During their absence Griffith
needs pitching of the highest caliber. and
until he gets 1t there Is but little chance
for his team to continue its forward
mdrCn. IL SIFOOIQ WOTk yesterday Is iii
indication that he has at last gained his
best form he will be Of material help to
the team, but il it was nothing more than
a Hash in the pan the remainder of the
western trip is not apt to be bowling
success.
Groom pitched yesterday like the fin
ed twirler He was steady as a rock.
| used good Judgment and had plenty on
his ball. Only four hits and one walk
CT h irr nd
] was really never a situation presented
| by the opposition which called for
alarm The hits were widely scattered
and came after men had been retired.
great strain. His work was smooth
| and well calculated, and there was
( never an instance when the Browns
looked to have q chance to score un-
slashes should drop in. 1t was a warm.
clear day, and this may have had an
invigorating effect on Groom. as 1t does
on most pitchers. In fact. II the
weather really has started to remain
Summertime there is chance for sew
eral of Griff1th's twirlers suddenly
| finding their best form-something
which would be most encouraging.
These are rather hard days on Chick
Gandil Though he feels like a two
! year-Old. he Is forced to spend all his
| time in his room with his injured foot
| oleVdIe0 SeVerdl IeoI ABOVE MS mead.
| 1t is a lonesome existence. and the only
pleasure Chick appears to have is to
| satisfy his appetite. which is by no
means a side issue with him. But the
| doctors orders are being obeyed, and
| there is chance Of his breaking into
! the game in Understanding for
which he is yearning, as he hates idle
ness when his health is perfect.
| More than likely Joe Engel will be
| sent against the Browns today and II
| his teammates can get him a few runs
| he will stand a good chance of winning
| But Joe is not experienced enough yet
| to be expected to shut out the teams he
meets. which would have been the only
/ way that he could have scored any vic
] tories, for he has had but one run scored
| for him in each game he has worked.
For the Browns. one of the lefthanders
| either Weilman or Hamilton. will proba
| bly, he worked To date. no lefthander
barring Plank. has lasted long against
the Nationals. and there is hope.
i Frank I4apOrte broke into the base hit
column yesterday with couple of singles
| but neither OF them figured in the scor-
| ing. If Laporte could get to hitting II
! would be fairly easy sailing for the team
for when the third batter in the lineup
] comes through. there are sure to be
| some runs scored for Moeller and Schaef-
]! er are getting on the bases quite a little
While other members of the team found
! Mitchell rather troublesome. Groom
found him a mark and hit the ball hard
| every time he faced him. Two of his
! drives went safe and netted him a triple
| and a double. 1t was that triple which
| was responsible for the two runs the
/ Nationals scored. There were two out
| i'm the second when Groom dropped a lone
| fly between left and center which netted 4
| couple OF runs. Pratt. the young man
| who was believed to be real star last
| season. had the easiest kind of chance
| offered him by Moeiler, but he not only
fumbled the ball. but kicked it severa
| Moeller reached first while Groom scored
| To help matters along. Mitchell made a
balk and then Schaefer came through
| with ripping single to left which sen,
| Moeller scampering over the plate with
| the last run of the afternoon.
| If Walter Johnson can shut out tn,
| Browns in the first inning OF the game
| he pitches here. which will likely be Wed
1 nesday. he will break the worlds RECORD
| for consecutive scOreless innings pitched
| The record. which is now held by Jacl
Coombs. is fifty-three innings. and Wal
ter has pitched fifty-two and two thirds
| Statistican George Moreland OF Pitts
| burgh has knocked out the yarn thai
| Doc White held the record with fifty-sil
scoreless innings. He finds that Doc
| went forty-six without letting any tailie.
come home. and Johnson has long since
| passed that mark. Nothing but an &C.
cident can prevent Johnson from beat.
| here. and Griffith and the other membess
Of the team are Of the opinion that Wal.