Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-21

Of course. largely on their showing from
this out. but there is no doubt that they
nave an excellent chance to accomplish
this feat. thus proving conclusively that
had the team been intact during the early
part of the season it would have had
very likely have beaten the Athletics.
II the Nationals finish in front of Cleve-
land it will be shown that hitting
strength alone assures nothing in a base
ball race. The Maps are a far better
h tting team than the one Grifnth pre-
sides over. but when it comes to play
ing the fine points Of the game there Is
no comparison between the two. Fur
thermore. no team has pitcher OF wal,
much to do with the Nationals showing.
and, what IL more, there is no team IN
either major league which presents as
strong defensive front as do the locals.
Joe Engel has five victories over st:
Louis to his credit, and he was not
charged with a defeat yesterday. though
he was forced to give way to Johnson.
Yesterdays victory undoubtedly will go
to johnson, for the very good reason
that but one run was scored off of him.
and that resulted only because Engei
left two men on the bases when he re-
tired. Johnson has now won thirty-Iour
games. He may increase this to thirty
while 1t Is not likely that he will De
started in either Of the remaining two
games, Griffith Is apt to use him In an
emergency, as he did yesterday.
On their showing in yesterdays game
the Browns have picked up some very
likely youngsters in Covington, the first
baseman, and Bisland, the shortstop.
They both played splendid ball yesterday
and handled themselves we'll. and SO far
as Crossin. the young catcher. Is con-
- Mo MI N
a chance to develop into mighty
handy man.
The Browns in fact displayed lot Of
good spirit in their playing. There was
not moment that they were not hust-
ling as if there was still something at
stake, and they forced the Nationals to
extend themselves to beat them. 1t
stands to reason, of course, that Hickey
and his men do not want to finish In last
place II they can help It, and they are
doing everything In their power to finish
ahead of the New Yorks.
Granting that a better hitter than Dan
Moeller might make the Nationals out
field look more formidable from an Of
fensive standpoint. but even with his
having poor year at the bat Moeiier is
proving himself a splendid man on the
team. His remarkable speed, together
with his fielding ability. classes Moeller
with the best outfielders in the league.
His hitting this year has been of, but
he has shown Improvement IN every
him to build up his batting average and.
like most players of his caliber. he may
come back next year and have a good
year with the bat.
Balenti, an infielder who is playing left
field for the Browns, made the tying
run in the sixth possible for the Ma
tionals. Gandil had hit to the score
boagd for two bases after Foster was re-
tired in this inning and then Morgan
lifted a high fly to left. Balenti mis-
judged the ball from the time 1t was hit
and it fell safe over his head. allowing
Morgan to reach second, while Gandil
scored with ease.
At the rate Clyde Milan is hitting Of
late he is pretty sure to wind UP the
season among the select class in the bat
ting average. "Zeb" got into his real
stride rather late this year. but he is
making up for lost time now and is
showing his average up with every game.
OF late Milan has been hitting as he does
when he is hitting in form, that Is,
he is getting the ball safe into left field
occasionally. one territory which he sell
dom reached while he was in his slump.
1t is a wonderful asset for a team to
have a pitcher like Johnson. Whenever
he is not working in his turn he can be
sent to the slab when the opposition
threatens and put stop to their efforts
to win a game. Johnson seldom fails to
prevent disaster when he goes in to
take up a game where one of his team
mates has been forced to quit. Further
MORE. the fact of Johnson going into
game is not encouraging to the opposi-
ton, which usually considers itself beaten
as soon as the big fellow warns up.
II Jim Austin hit as we'll everywhere as
he does on the local grounds he would be
one of the leading hitters in the league.
Jimmy seems to take kindly to the en-
vironments here. and he does most Of