Evening star., 1913-08-08
BY j. ED GRILLO.

~
series which the Maps open here today
all chance of ever making the race for
second place interesting will have gone
glmmering.
Base ball such as the Nationals have
played ever since they came of or thelr
last trip will not win many games IN
this company, and surely will not cause
team like the Maps much concern.
Griffith has decided TO send waiter
Johnson to the slab this afternoon. John-
son has been showing splendid form OF
late. having won ten straight games.
But he has never been really eHectlVe
against the Cleveland aggregation In any
of the games he has faced them TINS year.
AS rule the team takes brace with
Johnson on the rubber, and it VIII nave
to- for even he will be unable to win with
the miserable support the other pltchers
have had Of late.
Cleveland is five games ahead OF the
Nationals. Under no circumstances Is
there chance to pass the Blrmlnshalns
in the present series. and judged py the
way the locals have been going, they Will
be decidedly fortunate If they get an even
break in the series.
Either Cullop or Falkenberg VIII 90
the slab work for the Maps today. Gull
lop came to the front the other day IN
Philadelphia, where he figured in the only
game the Maps won there. birmingham
is apt to shove him in today, though ne
may rely on Falkenberg.
Having won three out OF four from the
Maps, the Athletics have virtually cinched
their hold on first place. Up to the time
that the Maps reached Philadelphia they
looked to have chance to overcome the
lead of the Mackmen, but the three de-
feats they suffered atthe hands of the lead
ers proved a severe setback and increased
the Athletics lead to such an extent that
only the collapse Of the entire team would
endanger it's lead. Birmingham OF
course, still has hope. but he no doubt
realizes that nothing but series OF ac-
cidents to the Athletics can give him a
chance. Mack has an aggregation which
is far superior to any of its rivals in this
league. and nothing but a series of ac-
cidents would put his team out of the
running.
Macks resourcefulness was demonstrat-
ed again in yesterdays game. 1t has
been a question for some time just what
Mack would do IL any Of his infielders
should be out of the game, and he
answered this proposition yesterday when
he sent a young man named Orr into
Barrys place. where he conducted him
self like veteran 1t should have been
plain that Mack would not be caught
mapping. He always has something up
his sleeve.
Considering the support he received
young Harper made a very good show
ing in the game yesterday. He was put
into the game with the bases full and
forced a run home by walking the first
man to face him. Errors put him in
bad in the other innings that the visitors
scored. Engel, too, was the victim of
errors. of which the Nationals made more
yesterday than In any one game this
"a y,
game was needed to put the team hack
in it's stride and that it will play up to
it's standard from this out.
finger by a foul tip in the third inning
and was forced to retire, Ainsnith taking
his place. 1t will be several days before
John will be able to go behind the bat
again.
| Cashions height served him in good
stead in the second inning when he
| backed up against the fence and pulled
down Weaver's fly, which seemed des-
| tined to go over the fence. Cashion
reached high as he could and made
| the catch. No other fielder on Grifhths s
| team could have reached the ball, which
| would have been good for at least two
! bases.
Umpire Hildebrand should not be al
| lowed to work behind the bat. He is so
| small that it is impossible for him to see
the plate over the catcher's shoulder. and
for this reason he stations himself on one
| side of the catcher which puts him out
of line of the plate, consequently not
! being in q position to judge balls and
/ strikes Hildebrand gives Indications of
becoming a capable umpire. but he
should not be allowed to work behind the
| bat unless he is allowed to carry a soap
| box to stand on.
L hnU
which is holding third place in the race
| could give such an exhibition as did the
/ Nationals yesterday. The entlre asgre
cation seemed to have an of day, ana
/ have been expected from an amateur
/ team. Most of the errors were mace on
comparatively easy chances.
| Manager Callahan was decldedly
| eIated over his teams success here. nav
/ ing won three out of the four games
| played. and he is confident OF getting as
! good as an even break in the four games
| he has to play in Philadelphia. ne sassn
! Jim Scott for the Athletics and intends
/ to work. him in two of the games. "nile
! ''Reb'' Russell is apt to work Ia the
| other two.
| The Nationals and Maps will clash for
five consecutive days. the first game OF
which is played this afternoon. fouI
| of these games will be played mere, Du.
! both teams jump to Cleveland Sa.ul uas
night to play there Sunday. returning
| here for games Monday and Tuesday
| Dan Moeller has no explanation for his
| batting slump II can see the ball as
\ well as ever and l have my usual SWING,
| but for some unaccountaDle reason
| don't connect with it as ! used TO: IL
| seems to be an off season for me- Ihat
is the only explanation ! can glve'
4 says Moeller.
| 1t is not necessary to go into the de-
| tails OF Yesterdays slaughter. The Chi
cago team simply ran away with tn. the
| locals. who gave one of the worst exhl-
| bitions in the field seen in major
league in some time. Engel and Harper
were both hit hard after chances 70 re-
locals could do nothing with Cicotte They
] fell on Benz in the eighth, however. ana
| drove in four runs, all they got during
the day The score tells the rest or It.
The score:
| wAsH,N. ABR. H.sB. SO. BE. PO. A. f.
Fos.er' Fss,irs' 81. IT, -. -. ! 2 2 2