Evening star., 1914-07-14
FIRST PLACE NOT
FAR AWAY NOW
Champion Athletics Have But
.O33 Points Advantage
Over the Nationals.
AYERS AND COVEL6SKIE
WILL HOOK UP TODAY
Connie Mack Avoids Double Headers
in Violation of League Rules.
Base Ball Gossip.
BY j. ED GRILLo.

First place is but two and half games
away. The Athletics advantage over the
Nationals is but .O33 in the percentage
table. The St. Louis Browns still have
three games to play with the leaders in
the present series. One Of these games Is
scheduled for today and two for tomor-
row. Rickey's men may win couple OF
these, and if the Nationals keep up their
present stride there is a chance for them
! to be at the top of the heap before the
week is over.
| Two more games remain to be played
with the Tigers here. The worst to be ex-
pected is an, even break In these. ana
then Cleveland and Chicago follow before
| the Nationals start on their second west
ern trip.
Either Doc Ayers or Jim Shaw will op-
nose the Tigers in the game today, while
it is as good as settled that Harry Cover
eske will be on the mound for the VISIT
ors. Coveleskie has proved himself tne
most consistent of any of Jennings WITT
ers. He faced the Nationals once ourihs
the first western trip and on that occasion
scored 1 to victory over Ayers
Despite the fact that the rules or tne
American League plainly state that
when a game Is postponed by ram OF
other causes it must be played as
double-header the following day.
after the first trip of the club. CONNIE
Mack seldom lives up to this reguia-
ton. He manipulates his double-head-
ers to suit himself and his convenience
and there has never been any call from
Headquarters recorded as result.
Yesterday the game with the Browns
was prevented in Ph1ladelph1a, put Con-
ME, instead of playing two games to-
day. announces that he Will play d
ing that he won't have to play it at
ali at this stage of the campaign When
his pitching staff Is none too strong.
Though Walter johnson has already
lost one game more this season than he
did during the entire last campaign. ne
is on fair way to again lead the Amer
lean Leasue pitchers pitchers ,na+ IN eveFysn hvt sexen
games. He is charged with eight defeats
to date, but at the rate he Is going 1t
is apt to be some time before another
defeat is charged against him. ,
johnson has won sixteen and lost
eight to date. He has won his last four
games. his last defeat being in Philadel-
phia, when the Mackmen made four runs
in the opening inning. but did not score
thereafter. Since then he has been
scored on but once. and that was in
game with st. Louis few days ago
When ne ndQ SeVeISTuI1 i0du III tuS
first two innings and was not letting |
himself out
1t required more time this year to get |
johnson in his best form. He did not |
reach it, in fact. until about month |
ago. and since that time he has pitched |
most remarkable ball. |
Johnson took part in forty-seven games |
Of ball last season. Barring accidents. he |
Is sure to be in more than that number |
this season. Last season Johnson was |
seldom worked with less than three days
rest but there has been a change in this |
method of late and Walter is now taking |
his regular turn on the rubber after two |
days of idleness and he does not seem !
any the worse for 1t.
Those who remember Johnson when
he made his first appearance here in
1907 will recall what fielder he was. 1t |
was his inability to protect himself
against bunts in the first game here !
which caused his defeat. Today there is
not a better fielding pitcher in either |
league than johnson.
He demonstrated this yesterday by two
really brilliant plays. Once he went over
to the third-base line and picked up a
swinging bunt. throwing out his man
with ease, and on another occasion he
picked a bunt off the first base foul