Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-17
BY j. ED GRILLo.

| Having been convinced that winning
games from the Maps requires something
besides the mere claiming of victories,
Manager Griffith has decided to work
Walter Johnson against the Birmingham
| crew this afternoon. Conditions IN 'he
| pennant race are such that the Nationals
| will have to win a few games II they are
| to have any hope of holding their pres
ent position in the race. Another defeat
| today would surely drop them down the
| ladder A few pegs. and while that would
not necessarily put them out of the run
ming Griffith wants to keep them as nigh
up as possible.
johnson has displayed his best form of
late and in the last four games has been
scored on but once. He undoubtedly will
give a good account of himself. and II
his teammates can get him lew runs
he should score another victory.
Just which one of the Nap tWlrlers Will
be used will not be decided until rev
minutes before the game is called, but II
will likely be Mitchell. Birmingham has
some mighty good pitchers, but 1t is not
likely that all of them will display the
form which Hagerman did yesterday.
Manager Griffith never had a more
strenuous afternoon than yesterday. He
was on the coaching lines in every inning
of encouragement to his batters, which,
however did not affect Hagerman, who
was pitching. Griffith tried and tried in
vain to get some sort of rally started,
and in the third it looked as if he had
succeeded in this. but when Morgan was
doubled up at third after Schaefer had
been declared out on strikes the only
chance the team really had went glim-
mering.
Just because a team is down in the
race does not necessarily mean that 1t is
going to prove easy picking. The league
leaders could not have put up a better
article of ball than did the Maps yester-
day, and it would not be at all surpris-
ing if they continued to be decidedly
troublesome during the remainder OF their
stay here. Some one picked the Maps to
act as stepping stone for the Nationals
during their sojourn, but there is apt to
be lot of disappointment.
Birmingham made numerous changes in
his lineup before he finally arranged the
one which played Yesterday. and 1t is
likely that this same arrangement will
be seen in all the games here. Inc
Maps certainly looked formidable as the
team was arranged yesterday. Turner at
third. Chapman at short. Olsen at sec
ond and Johnston at first made a very
good-ooking infield. and there was con-
siderable batting strength in the outheld
though big jay Iirke was unable to con-
meet with anything that went safe yes
terday.
Joe jackson robbed Eddie otster of !
triple. when he made spectacular run
ming catch in right center oil his me
drive in the first inning. 1t was one OF
the features of the game. and the Maps !
slugger was applauded for the feat.
Notwithstanding the defeat OF yester-
Irl via
the defeat of the White Sox at the hands
of the Athletics making this possible. |
Incidentally. Boston was beaten. ana the
teams which have been pushing the Ma
tionals hard all went down. st. Louis
being downed by the Chance team.
Hildebrand's decision on Foster in the
sixth inning was absolutely in error. Fos- |
ter had Chapman's throw beaten by |
bile reason Hildebrand called him out. |
Foster was the first man up that inning.
Milan followed by striking out and Gandil |
hit fly to left.
Graney's drive in the first was re-
markably long one for a left-handed bat |
ter to hit into left field. The ball was
hit far beyond Shanks and rolled to he |
extreme corner in left. Mcbride, on |
relax. made a perfect throw to Williams !
but Graney beat the ball to the plate pS |
a short length. |
Hagerman pitched a cracking good !
game of ball. He was a bit wild at times, !
but he pitched himself out Of holes on |
many occasions when he was in danger |
of walking a batter. 1t was at these |
stages that he seemed able to get the |
bali over and he did not let up in doing |
so. a fact which to an extent accounts i
for his effectiveness.
Though Schalk of the White Sox and
Schang of the Athletics are always