Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-01
JOHNSON MAKING
A GREAT RECORD
Brilliant Form Now Being
Shown Places Him in
Class by Himself.
SHOULD BE CAPABLE
TEN YEARS FROM NOW
Pennant Likely to Be Decided
on Quality of Pitching Stats
of Three Teams.
BY ]. ED GRILLo.
special Dispatch to The s

bOo1ON, MASS, May l.-heep1nS up
his remarkable shut-out record. Walter
Johnson yesterday blanked the Athletics
| in a nine-inning struggle. which gives
| him the distinction of having pitched the
| last thirty-six innings without allowing
! the opposing team to score a run. But
zone tally has been charged against the
wonderful pitcher this season, and that
came in the opening of the opening game,
SO that he has really pitched thirty
seven innings and but one run has been
scored against him.
The brilliant form which Johnson has
| shown in all his games this spring was
very much in evidence again. He moved
the hard-hitting Mackmen down in every
inning with apparent ease. and, Incl
dentally. had the satisfaction Of striking
out the wonderful Baker on two occa-
sions. Only four widely scattered hits
were made off his delivery, and yet he
had one Of the hardest tasks Of his career
on his hands to land the victory. This
because Eddie Plank, the veteran south
paw. was also in his best form, and only
in the closing round did he show signs
of weakening. during which short spell
the Nationals scored enough runs to
make victory possible.
Effective as was Plank his work did
not compare with that Of Johnson. The
willy hurler relied on his knowledge OF
the batters for his effectiveness. and once
he erred in his judgment his offerings
were pounded, but he famed twelve of
Griffith's men, and in this respect had
an advantage over Johnson, who famed
| ten. 1t was a hard game for Johnson
because 1t was apparent from the outset
| that one or the other of the two teams
was sure to suffer a shut-out, so efrec-
tive was the pitching. The very pres
ence Of a runner on the paths threatened
danger and forced Johnson to his utmost
to prevent disaster, SO 1t was that he
could never take short respite. He had
to pitch at top speed all the way and he
did 1t with determination which could
not but bring victory.
To date the Nationals have played four
games with Boston and Philadelphia and
have an even break to their credit. They
have won as many games as they have
lost to the two strongest teams IN the
race and have no excuses to offer. In
these games the Nationals have shown
themselves to have some advantages over
their rivals in that they are feeter OF
foot and have better defense This was
again proved yesterday, when the game
was won because of some good work on
the bases coupled with the weakness of
the local catcher.
1t is of course, true that Johnson
stands out as a pitcher. Griffith has no
one who approaches him In ability, but
neither has any other team so far as that
is concerned. Griffith expects his pitch
ers to improve, barring Johnson, of
course, for Improvement in his case is
almost impossible. and If this come to
pass there is no reason why the Ma
tionals should not be battling for the
flag right down to the finish.
Unless there is change in the form
johnson has shown this spring 1t would
not be at all surprising If he broke all
pitching records this season. As he is now
going 1T is next to impossible to beat
him. 1t is no longer a question of wheth-
err Johnson will win but whether the OPP
posing team will be shut out or not. The
only way to beat johnson now is to shut
him out, for any time his team scores
run his chances for victory are decidedly
bright Nor is there any reason why the
great twirler should not retain the form
he is displaying. Griffith is handling him
with silk gloves. Simply because he could
probably go into games and save them.
he is not being overworked, nor will he
be IL Griffith has his way. He realizes
that in Johnson he has a great asset and
he proposes to nurse him along as long
as possible.
johnson. if nothing happens him, will
be a great pitcher ten years from now,
and yet If he were abused by being work.
ed out of turn and forced into games
MS career IHlSIl DE greatly SIlOIlcHCu
Some one or two Of Mack's inf1elders
will have a lot of explaining to do for
their part in yesterdays defeat. 1t was
the failure of either Collins or aBrry to
cover second base in the ninth which
gave the game to the Nationals. Milan
| and Gandil had singled, with one out,
when Morgan famed. On the third strike
Milan, with a good lead, started to steal
third and Gandil started for second. Lapp
second but
NEITHER Barry nor Collins covered. and the
' ball rolled to Daley, In center field. Mi
[ Ian, Of course. scored and Gandii reach
ed third on the play: whence ne scored
| left That Gandil would have been dou-
\ bled up with Morgan had one or the IN
5, felders covered the bag seems certain,
| for Lapp's throw was perfect.
Plank was as much of an enigma for
I eight innings as any pitcher could possi-
bly, be. He had the Nationals eating out
of his hand, and when they did not offer
easy chances for his supporters ne was
striking out the batsmen He Is surely
remarkable pitcher, and but for the over
| throw of second In the ninth would prob
ably have battled Johnson to stand
still for many more innings. Striking out
twelve men is some feat, but there seems
| to be some good omen about that num-
Der, for O'Brien of Boston accomplished
that feat one day last week and the Ma
| tionalS won the game In the HHal round,
| Just as they did yesterday.
Frank Laporte is showing a reverse
of form 1t was believed that his field
! ing would not be Of the best. but that
he would make up for such shortcom-
fngs with his bat. But just the opposite
4 is happening. He is not hitting at ALL
but is fielding around third as If he
had played the position all his life. His
| batting slump. of course. Is only tenn
porary, and he is sure to get going again
| ere long,"
| Chick Gandil and Eddie Plank are not
| the best Of friends. Somehow or other
these two players do not care much for
each other. and they never fall to show
their feeling when both are in game
Gandil to date has the laugh on Plank, for
| he always hits his offerings hard and
Yesterday was not an exception, Chick
/ getting three of the Nationals six hits
and playing an important part in the
rally I'm the ninth which brought victory
I, to his team
| Clever as Plank appears to be against
other members of the team. Gandil seems
able to anticipate him, and he always
1 hits the ball hard when he is pitching.
Four times up yesterday he drove out
| three clean singles and one of them came
| I'm the ninth and really put the Nationals
| in the running.