Evening star., 1914-07-15
BY j. ED GRILLO.

In a race that is as close as the pres
ent one a victory or defeat is apt to
change a teams position very materially.
Yesterdays defeat dropped the Nationals
down to third place, and it is possible for
them to be fourth after today's game.
though if they win they return to second
position again. 1t is a remarkable pen
nant race Six of the teams are SO
closely punched that all have a chance.
and net one OF them has secure po-
sition. Today's game may make big
difference in the standing of the clubs.
Chicago will play a couple of games in
New York. and st. Louis and the Ath-
letics are expected to hook up in dou-
b!e-header. There are three contenders
mixed up and the outcome of their dual
meeting may have material effect on
the standing.
1t is more than likely that Griffith will
send Joe Boehling to the slab against the
Tigers II. the final game of the series this
afternoon. Jennings has held Coveleskie
for the final game. and the two south
paws are sure to have a real battle. TO
wiz today's game would not only give
tne Nationals three out of four, but would
replace them in second position.
Ordinarily the Nationals would have
started yesterdays game by scoring at
least three runs in the very opening
inning. but not a tally was brought
across the pan. Moeller who started the
game with single, was caught off first
moment later. and Fosters triple,
which followed would have scored him.
Foster would not have attempted tn
score on the drive had a run been sent
in ahead of him. and MiIan's drive to
Kavanaugh would have been base hit
with the infield playing in. Of course.
if Moeller had not been caught mapping
all these things might not have hap
, pened for Dubuc might have pitched
different sorts of balls to Foster and
,, Milan, and their batting might have been
entirely different.
history of base ball ever made two such
! remarkable catches as did Howard Shanks
in the seventh inning yesterday With
two on, Burns hit long drive to left
center shanks was playing close for u
play at the plate, but he turned and
after hard run pulled down the hall.
Stanage. the next man up. hit IA sharp
liner to left close TO the foul line. and 1t
did not seem possible that Shanks would
be able to reach it. But he set sail and
pulled the bah down. The two drives
were in opposite directions. and were
hard hit. Few 1ielders would have reached
them.
the fourth with man on first not only
robbed Veach of probable triple or
home run. but was one of the best catches
Milan has ever made. The ball was hit
like rife shot into right center, and
Milan covered Il lot of ground and made
the catch While on d hard run and not
more than a foot from the ground
Doe Ayers has not had his share of luck
against the Tigers this season. He has
faced them twice and his teammates have
yet to get him run. In Detroit about a
month ago Cuveleskie shut Ayers out and
the Tigers Wen. to @, and yesterday
Dubuc prevented the locals from scoring.
Ayers pitched a splendid game of ball.
1t would have been a victory nine times
out Of ten. but it seems to be his luck
to be working on days when the locals
are a bit shy with timely base hits. There
have been mighty few games this sea-
son in which Ayers has worked where
his teammates have given him a comfort
able lead. yet Ayers has a good pitching
! record and is undoubtedly one of the
most capable of the young pitchers who
have broken into fast company this sea-
son.
The lay-off which Cobb was forced to
take has had its effect on the great play
er and he showed signs of needing a lot
of work to get him back in FORM In the
game yesterday Cobb did not get hit.
but he got on the bases twice neyerthe-