Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-14
FINALLY Wins A
GAME FROM MAPS
Johnson Lands Victory in
Cleveland After GrueIinq
Struggle.
HARPER IS NOT TO
PLAY SUNDAY BALL
Has Clause in His Contract
Exempting Him From Work.
ing on the Sabbath.
BY J. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

BY j. ED GRILLo.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
CLEVELAND. Ohio. July 14.-Walter
Johnson has finally succeeded in winning
a game from the Maps. but it was not
without struggle. In fact, johnson was
again hit hard by the Maps, and it was
only because his teammates hit the op-
posing pitchers still harder that he was
able to come out on the long end Of a
5-toi4 score.
For some unaccOuntable reason John
son has not been effective against the To-
cal team in any of the three games that
he has pitched against it this season
Though he apparently had everything
yesterday, he was hit hard, yet would
have had much easier time winning his
game had he received the support he was
entitled to. An error by Shanks. who let
Jackson's single get through his hands.
allowed the Maps to score two runs and
tie the score In the fourth inning. The
liberal scorers here, who are always CIV
ing jackson the benefit Of every doubt
scored it a home run. but 1t was really a
single. Twice the Maps tied the score
after being apparently beaten, and on
both occasions the bats Of Turner and
jackson dealt telling blows to bring this
about.
Il don't understand it, but don't seem
able to pitch my game against Cleveland
any more" said johnson after the game.
1T used to be that Cleveland was one of
my easiest teams, but this year | have
been hit hard by them. They go at me
have nothing. and yet had plenty on all
occasions that / have pitched. My prin-
cipal trouble appears to be that am too
true for them. They stand up there with
every confidence and hit my speed"
Harry Harper has a clause In his
contract which eXempts him from TAX
ing part in any Sunday games. The
young southpaw failed to put in an ap-
pearance at the grounds yesterday, and
search by Griffith. who wanted to
pitch him in practice. SO as to accustom
his batters to left-handed de-
livery, failed to bring Harper to the
front. When Griffith met the young
an explanation for his absence from
the ball field and was politely told
that his contract exempted him from
DOMINIC a uniform on the Sabbath.
Griffith admits that the contract con-
tAins this clause, but he. had forgotten
IT, and 50 Harper's services will not
be available on Sundays during his
stay with the Nationals. The fact that
Griffith exempted him is causing con-
siderable growing among the players.
who do not believe that such privileges
should be given to any one player.
But il was only after the insertion of
this clause that Harpers mother would
consent TO his Joining the team.
The inability Of Grifiths outfielders
to handle ground balls has proved one
of the severest handicaps for the team
this season. 1t will be recalled that
several games were lost in a row be-
cause Milan allowed hits to get through
him. and Moeller also messed up few
which proved costly. At that time
Shanks had an enviable reputation as
a fielder Of ground balls, but he, too.
appears to be slipping in this respect
and yesterday came very near throw
ing the game away when he allowed
Jacksons hit to go through his legs,
allowing both Turner and Jackson to
score.
Griffith proposes to devote some Of
the fielding practice to hitting ground
balls to the outfield in the hope that
his trio will improve in the handling
of them.
The hitting of the Nationals was
much improved yesterday over previous
days, but there were two or three in
stances when runs were thrown away
by carelessness on the bases. In the
second inning. for instance, Ainsmith
Johnson hit grounder to Lajoie. who
picked the ball up clean. When Aim
smith saw this he took 1t for granted
.hat the side was out and ran over
third toward the bench. Lajoie, how
ever. threw low to Johnston, the ball
pounding away from him. Ainsmith
should have scored easily but as 1t
was ne mad to hustle at top speed
from In front of the bench to third
base to keep from being doubled up.
The Maps made four double plays
against the Nationals and all Of them
were Two plays. In the first In
h M with Moeller on first and the
TO Johnston and Moeller was doubled.
In the fourth Mcbride flied to Cullop
and Shanks was doubled or first, and
In the NTH Gandil was caught stealing
Morgan. In the ninth. with second and
third occupied. Foster lined to Chap
man. who tossed to third in time to
catch Johnson Off
johnson was hit hardest and vet had
she toughest luck in the eighth when.
Tor the second time, the Maps tied the
score After Carisch had fouied. Lelivelt
was sent to bat for Mitchell. He drove a
single TO center. the ball going right
through the box Chapman followed with
tne same sort of hit, as did jackson.
Which Melted couple Of runs and put
tne Two teams on an even basis. These hits
would ordinarily have been feIded by
Johnson, but they all bounded just out
of his reach
The first three innings were played be-
tween showers. On four different occa-
sions crew of men covered the infield
win immense tarpaulins, only to have to
remove them moment later when the
sun again appeared. While the tar
pauiins were spread Nick Altrock amused
the crowd by diving in the puddles Of
water which gathered on the covering.
Take Joe Jackson out of the Maps line
up and that team would not be any where
near as formidable. He is the one in
dividual whom the National pitchers can
not stop. He hit Groom hard Saturday,
getting three hits. and duplicated the per-
iormance against Johnson today All Of
tnem, strange to say, have been pro-
ductive. excepting the one he made in
the second inning yesterday. after which
ne was doubled up with Lajoie when the
oatter hit bounder to Johnson. His
nit In the fourth tied the score because
IT got away from Shanks, and he again
tied the score in the eighth when he
nit safely. sending Johnston home.
Three Of the first four men to face
Cuuop In the third inning made base
hits. yet the Nationals failed to score a
run. Shanks opened the inning with a
hit, but died when Mcbride hit q little
liner to the pitcher. who started double
play. Ainsmith and johnson then follow
co with singles. but on the attempted