Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-01
Nationals Play Brilliantly First Boston Game -Eng May Pitch Tod

Wood does not seem to be the pitcher
this year that he was last. He is good
In spots only. and on the whole was
really hit hard This was demonstrated
by the fact that the Nationals gathered
ten safe drives and most of them came
during the close of the game, when Wood
was beginning to show signs of weak
ness.
John Henry seems to have come to life
again. For the first time in weeks his
throwing was perfect yesterday. and in
cidentally his hitting was far above nor
NAL. He not only made a single In the
fifth, but after Mcbride had been thrown
out at first in the eighth he hit a clean
two-bagger to right center. which made
it possible for Williams pinch drive to
tie the score. Two attempts We're made TO
steal on Henry and on both occasions he
turned the runners back by yards.
1t was Griffith's original intention to
work Walter Johnson today. and there
is no doubt that Stahl showed Wood into
yesterdays game because he saw
chance to avoid Johnson with his star.
but conditions came up which brought
Walter into the game. and as he had to
go four innings he will not be asked TO
work again today.
Griffith has, therefore. decided to give
Joe Engel another chance. Engel has
always been effective against Boston,
though he has beaten them but once
Griffith believes that one of these days
Engel will get into his stride and from
that out will be winner. so he has de-
cded tC give him another chance here.
BY pitching Engel today he Will nave
Boehi.ngs ready for "Wednesday, and then
can finish the series with Johnson.
which means that if Engel happens to
come through he will have four well
pitched games, all he needs to win here.
Eddie Ainsmth joined the team just
before noon. He missed the train which
brought the team from Washington sun
day afternoon. because he OVERSIGHT hlm-
self. But he took another train as soon
as he could get one and came by way
of New York Griffith reprimanded the
young catcher. but forgave him after
caught beautifully behind Johnson.
Harry Harper, the Hackensack south
paw, got his mothers consent to play
ball with the Nationals, and reported
here yesterday afternoon with his con-
tract bearing his mothers signature
Harper being but eighteen years of age,
had to have his mother syn his contract
to make it legal. The youngster Is
tickled with his mothers decision to al
low him to play. Harper has been
placed in charge of Nick Altrock, who
Griffith believes can teach young
southpaw more tricks of the game than
any one else on the team, and 1t is not
unlikely that Harper will be worked in
it is not found necessary to shove him
in against thine Red Sox in the present
series.
notwithstanding the fact that Dan
Moeiler is not credited with a hit for his
three-bagger crack because he techni-
cally never reached first, he hit the ball
much better today than he has in some
time Barring once, when he struck out,
Moeller hit the ball hard every time up.
and nothing but marvellous playing by
Gardner and Lewis prevented him from
adding a couple of extra base drives to
his record. Moeller believes that he will
get into his stride again now that he
IS away from home, and If he does it is
sure to make a big difference in the
teams showing.
But for carelessness on Shanks part
the Nationals should have had run in
the second inning. After Morgan had
struck out Shanks hit to center for
wandered off the bag, however and
Yerkes sneaked up behind him, got
throw from Wood, and had Shanks sound
asleep. Mcbride followed with long
single over third which would have scored
Shanks easily, and then Henry flew out.
There was another good chance for
run in the third when Moeller tr!pled
only to be called out because he had
failed to touch first base, and Cady had
q passed ball on the first one pitched to
Foster. Moeller could have walked home
The Red Sox got to Groom in the
second round, which Lewis opened
with a single. Gardner followed with
one to center, and when Milan let the
ball get through him Lewis came all
the way home and Gardner went to
third. Good pitching by Groom kept
him there however. and then the two
teams struggled along, inning after in
ming, without either scoring. But the
break came in the eighth. Mcbride had
Henry got one to his liking and nit
it to right center for a couple of bases.
Griffith here yanked Groom and sent
Williams to bat. Williams made good,
hitting to right for two bases. sending
Henry home. Williams could not score,
however and the Red SoX chances
ended when Johnson took up Groom's
task.
him. and Cady sacrificed him to sec
ond. WOOD. however, hit line drive
to center which Milan caught, and he
got the ball to second before Ball could
return there. making double play.
The ninth was uneventful. aside from
the fact that Gandil hit safely, only
to die trying to steal.
In the tenth Mcbride walked with
one out. but when Johnson struck'out
Mcbride was caught stealing.
In the eleventh the game was won.
Moeller drew a pass. and after reach
ing first began to worry Wood Foster
flew TO Lewis, W GOD made repeated
throws to first to catch Moeler mapping,
and finally got the ball out of Engle's
reach. Moeller going to third.
Milan hit to Ball. who fumbled. an'l
yet Moeller could not score. Gandil.
however. came through with a hit to
right. sending Moeller home and Milan
to third. Morgan dropped a Texas
Lacquer over second and Milan came
home. Shanks hit to center and Gandil
was held on third. but when Speaker
threw past Cady he tried to score but
was thrown out at the plate. Mcbride
ended the inning with a grounder to
Ball. Johnson let himself out to the
fullest extent in the eleventh. He
struck out Carrigan, who was sent up
to hit for Cady. He had Henri ksen
struck out, too. but McGreevy missed
the third strike. Henriksen finally
singing to right. Then Johnson pitched
as he seldom does. putting every thing
at his command on the ball The result I
was that he struck out Hooper and !
Yerkes, and the game was over. The !
score: |
wASH'N All. II. HBB. SB. sc. PO A. F. |
Fastar a r. 49,. " O.
Milan; cf -.-..... o =