Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-03

The inexperience of Acosta, the little
Cuban who was playing in right field,
came very near to causing the Nationals
trouble in the ninth. Withs Bush on Sec
ond Bauman drove a single into right
field. Bush was certainty to score, ana
the play was to let the run go. for the
Tigers still needed one to tie, and hold
Bauman on first base, from where he
could not have scored on a single base
hit. Acosta, however, made the heave
to the plate. He made a long throw,
but the ball got away from Ainsmith and
rolled into the crowd, allowing Bauman
to reach third. thus endangering the little
lead which the Nationals held at the
time. Plays of this character are to De
expected from players who have not had
a chance to be in the game.
When 1t comes to productive hitting
Chick Gandil is to the Nationals what
Baker is to the Athletics and jackson
to Cleveland. Not in many years has
the local club been able to boast OF a
more timely hitter than the big first
baseman. Washington has never had a
1t was Gandil who made yesterdays vic
tory possible for Johnson. 1t was his
hitting which gave the team all of its
three runs. In the fourth inning he
scored the first run on his double and a
similar hit by Morgan. and in the fifth.
when he came up with second and third
occupied, he drove the first ball pitched
into left field for a hit and sent both
runners home. This performance is not
a rarity with Gandil. He has been doing
just such work all season. and II Is no
wonder that Griffith makes great claims
If he had another hitter like Gandil.
There were some clever fielding plays
in yesterdays game Ray Morgan MADE
several of them, but his best play, and
one which undoubtedly prevented the
Tigers from scoring run, came In the
eighth inning, when two Detroit men
were on the bases. Crawford was on
third and Veach on second when Mckee
hit a sharp grounder to Mcbride, VINO
fumbled the ball. and it rolled away from
him. Morgan had gone to cover second,
and reaching down he picked up the Dali
in time to have Veach declared out.
Crawford. of course, was crossing 1he
Mate at the time and would have scored
beyond question but for Morgans timely
appearance and assistance of Mcbride.
Whenever Walter Johnson is not strik-
ing out more than four men in nine m
nings he hasn't got his usual stun. That
was all he famed Yesterday. AS rule.
when Walters fast ball is sailing strike
outs are numerous. Yesterday they We're
scarce He was nothing like himself IN
fact yet pitched great game OF pan, oe-
cause he had SO many instances when
base hit would have played havoc, and ne
was forced to work himself out of the
pinches. Even when Walter is not at his
best he is better than majority Oh the
pitchers.
Chicago one of the western teams whlch
has not been showing much since 1T came
east. will be the attraction at League
Park Monday, when four-game series
will be opened. If the SoX are gong no
better when they get here than they have
in Boston and New York the chances
are that the Nationals will be able 10
gain on both Philadelphia and Cleveland
this week. for the two leaders VIII pe
hooked up in a series at Phliadeipnia ana
one or both is sure to suner. ms Seems
like a golden opportunity for the Ma
tionals to gain some of the ground they
have lost Of late, providing, OF course:
that the pitchers show good form. Engel
is apt to be selected to pitch the opening
game tomorrow.
One of the best catches seer here in
many a day was made by Ty Cobb in the
third inning yesterday, when, after a
hard forward run, he captured Walter
JOhnson's drive not more than a loot from
the ground. 1t did not seem possible for
him to reach the ball when he started
for it. BY his remarkable burst OF speed
he reached it. however. and what was
more remarkable he held on TO IL.
In the opinion of Manager Grihth, the
best young pitcher TO come In to the
American League this season. On three
occasions this young man mas scored VIC,
tories over the Nationals this season ana
he gave them a hard tussle. He was not
quite as effective yesterday as usual
principally because Gandil outgueSsed hiIl
in hitting the first ball he pitched to him
in both of the innings in which the Ma
tionals scored.
1t was not day on which Ty Cobb
could shine for the very good reason that
he reached the bases but once in the
first and then Crawford was on second
base running. Cobb did not get hit
Walter had him hitting the first ball
pitched most Of the time and after hit
ting two grounders into the infield he
sent a couple of flies to Moeller.
Moeller. by the way, had very busy
day Of II in left field. He had seven Hi e
to handle and allowed one hit to get
through him. 1t is not often. that John
su,i is hit for flies In this direction
Calvo got a hit the first time up. He
hit hard at a bail and it rolled down the
third base line and he beat Moriarty' $
throw to first. Dauss chased him back
to the bag several times and i'm Siding
in he sprained his ankle 1t was found
necessary to take him out of the game
and Acosta took his place. The little
fellow proved himself a good waiter.
walked once and offered an infield chance
after having been called out on strikes
the first time up.
Barring Eddie Collins. it is generally
agreed among PLAYERS and umpires that
Ray Morgan has developed into the best
second baseman in the league. The for
mer Danviile player is showing to better
advantage in that position With every
game. He is not only covering a lot of
ground. but ne Is displaying judgment in