Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-18
ENGEL HAS PROVED WORTHY
OF GRIFFITHS CONFIDENCE
Performance of Yesterday Shows That the
''Old Fox Recognized the Lads Latent
Abiity-Nationals Expect to Win
All Four St. Louis Games.


drive to right which proved good TOR
three bases. There was no one out, ana
most any kind of a play meant run.
Agnews grounder to Mcbride was spien-
didly handled. and Lavan held at third:
Then Engel struck out Weilman, ana
/ when Shotten hit to Foster, the danger
was over. The Browns did not threaten
again until the sixth, when, after Two
were out, Engel walked Shotten. He trled
to catch him mapping. and. in fact, did,
but the umpires decided he had balAed
and Shotten was allowed to take second
There he stayed. however. for Brief sent
| a short fly to right, which Moeller gop-
! blcd up.
| There were two occasions when the ef-
| fort to stretch singles into doubles proved
| costly to the Nationals and yet TINS IS
| the system of play which Griffith en-
| courages and which. to an extent: at
least. is responsible for the teams high
standing in the race. Moeller was the
first victim. In the fifth his hit went
along the third base line and he was
caught trying to reach second on it.
Gandil did similar trick in the seventh,
when he sent a liner to right center
Williams made a good stop OF the paii
and whipped it to second in time TO cut
off Gandil. In a game like the one OF yes
terday run meant a lot and the play
ers were taking long chances to get one.
Nothing that has been achieved lately
brilliant pitching of Engel. The players
realized that unless some of the young
pitchers came through there was little
chance for them to cut much of a hsure
in the pennant race, and the sudden de-
velopment of Engel. following on the
heels of Boehling's remarkable perform
ance, gives the players the hope that
they have a chance. Engel was con-
graduated for his good work and Walter
Johnson seemed to be more pleased than
q r,nnl
to have some effective helpers among the
pitchers, for it makes his own work
easier.
Weilman pitched a good game of ball,
but for. Shottens error he and Engel
would have gone along for many more IN
nings perhaps without being scored upon.
But his. pitching did not compare with
that of EngeIS because he was hit safe
~ six times, but did not give base on
balls. But for the muff by Shotten there
is no telling when he would have been
scored on, for though he frequently had
men on the bases. he was invincible in the
pinches. and was not yielding to his op-
ponents.
1t is question if any infield in either
major league is doing the brilliant work
that are the four men covering these posi-
tions for the Nationals. Foster is not
yet hitting as he will later, but he is field
ing like a fiend. In yesterdays game
with Lavan at third and two out, Shotten
hit slow bounder down the third base
line. Had Foster tried to handle it with
two hands he would have lost his man.
But ne came in on hard run, snatched
the ball with one hand and, without ever
waiting to steady himself. whipped it to
Gandil just in time to make the play.
McBride'S brilliant work on this trip has
already been mentioned in these columns,
while Morgan is playing second better
than ever AS for Gandil. there is not a
first baseman in either league that COM
pares with him. He makes the most diff
ficult stops with ease and grace. There
seems TO be no hard plays for him, and
with the bat he is the best man on the
team by far. He is constantly driving in
runs or esta blishing the means of getting
them. The Outfield is not going as we'll
as it might. Shanks is suffering from a
batting slump, Milan is not quite up to
his gait and while Moeller is improving,
he is sure to go better as the season
progresses.
John Henry is proving himself the right
man behind the bat when the young fell
lows are pitching. He handles them with
rare Judgment, and knows more about
working the batters than do the other
backstops. Henry's knee is not giving
him the slightest trouble, and as for his
arm, 1t was never stronger. For time
Henry did not throw up to his standard
but that spell has left him. and he is now
whipping the ball around as never before
incidentally John has his eye on the ball
and he is now one of the dangerous hit
tiers in the lineup.
Engel has very deceptive motion to-
ward first base. He had the base run
ners baffled in the game yesterday, but
finally overreached himself and after
catching Shotten mapping had a balk de-
clared against him. But when Engel
gets this motion perfected it is going to
be hard matter to get any lead off first
base on him. and nothing helps pitcher
more than to be able to hold runners on.
thus cutting down the chances for ad-
vancing by means of stealing.
Joe Engel went through the nine innings
without showing the slightest sign of
weakening. The weather bureau report
gave 1t as being 1O1 in the shade, but
downtown thermometers showed 1t to be
no. 1t was one of the hottest days
on which game has ever been played.
1t is not at all unlikely that Walter
Johnson will appear in another game
here unless it is to finish as he did on
Wednesday. If Groom goes through to-
day and wins his game. Johnson will not
be worked in the game Saturday which
Hamilton is slated to pitch. Instead he
will be kept for the opening game in
Chicago Sunday and worked right back in
the final game of the series there. Grif,
fifth is particularly anxious to shake the
White Sox from his trail. : The SoX are
just a few points behind the Nationals
and if they should win a majority of
the games from the Nationals it would
be possible for them to pass them in the
race. This. Griffith wants to prevent, and