Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-28
BY j. ED GRILLo.
Special Dispatch to The Star,

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, Mass, August 2S.-Johnson,
Groom and Engel are slated to pitch the
three games the Nationals are scheduled
to play here. The former will work in
the opener here today, Groom will follow
in the second game, and it will be up to
Engel to pitch Saturday. The selection of
Engel is made because the Washington
boy has always been more or less success
full against the worlds champions and
furthermore it is Griffith's desire to pre-
sent a strong front against the Athletics.
II he does not work Boehling here he will
have both Johnson and BoehIing ready to
work in the two games on Labor day in
Philadelphia. and he figures that Boehling
will be at his best because he will have
had five days rest. Incidentally, he pro-
poses to have Tom Hughes rest UP for
one of these games against the leaders.
Hughes has pitched some splendid ball
against the leaders. and he stands a
chance to win. There will be four games
played in Philadelphia, two on Labor day,
one regularly scheduled on Tuesday and
postponed game. Now it is up to Mack
to decide whether the postponed game
shall be worked in as a double-header on
Tuesday or the Nationals be asked to stay
over for game on Wednesday. The
chances, of course, are that Mack will. in
sist on a double-header on Tuesday, for
with johnson working on Monday he will
not be In a position to work on Tuesday,
while he might be able to go the route on
Wednesday with days rest.
Griffith, of course, does not concede the
Athletics the pennarlt. He argues that
the Nationals still have seven games to
play with the leaders. and that 1t is not
out Of the question for them to win every
one of these games. OF course, the dope
Is decidedly against such a performance,
because whatever breaks therefare in the
game are always with the Mackmen, or,
at least, have been in the past, and 1t is
not at all likely that luck will forsake
them at this stage Of the race. But, if
Griffith would confide the truth, his am
bition Is to beat out Cleveland, and 1t is
essential that he win majority Of the
games before his team returns home il
he hopes to accomplish this feat.
The fact that Johnson is to make an
effort to win his fifteenth straight victory
here today is not being overlooked by the
local management. That he is slated to
work today has been widely advertised
in the hope Of drawing large crowd to
Fenway Park. The attendance here this
year has been far below the mark, and
1t Is hoped that Johnson will prove as
much Of an attraction here as he is else
where. Walter is more popular here
than anywhere else. Early in the sea-
son there was demonstration on the
local grounds the day he went out to
warm UP preliminary to going into
game. which the Nationals had tied, and
It is on the strength of this that 1t is
believed that the announcement that he
Is to work today will bring q large at
tendance to the game.
There Is much speculation among the
players as to how Griffith will proceed In
his effort to sign Johnson to q new con-
tract. his present one expiring at the end
Of the present season. Griffith was asked