The Washington times., 1914-05-06

in the face of the most narrowing OF
conditions resulted in Capital fandom
getting the most encouraging news thus
far.
There were hundreds Of baseball fol-
lowers here who for weeks had been
in mortal fear that something rodical
mad happened to Walter Johnson. Some
thought he was i'll, others believed he
was secretly nursing some injury;
while others were detected over the
general suspicion that he was in for
a bad year.
But when that "Cotfeyville Express"
pulled out yesterday he gave the lie
to every story of his poor condition
True II was not the first time that he
had finished with the long end of the
score. still the form which he showed
against those Highlanders had not been
approached by him since last fall.
Every attribute that placed him at the
apex of the pitchers was working over
determination that it was not until the
seventh inning that a visitor survived
the trip to the first corner.
Often the expression "invincible'' Is
used when pitchers are going along in
good shape, but 1t could never be
moro fittinGly applied than yesterday
when Swift" not only stopped the
Yanks, but in two-thirds of the after
moons pastime exactly two balls were
hit with sufficient force to pass the
1uIlcIa. JScIH VI lHSSS was q lily anu
found Judgement in the anxious hands
Of the Monaco Mercury, Mr.. Shanks.
II may be heaping a little excessive
criticism on Ray Morgan when it is
said that had he handled Hartzelrs
sTounder in the seventh in orthodox
style, Johnson would have gone
through without allowing a man To
get on the paths still 1t is a fact
that as soon as this error was COM
nitted. the big pitcher yanked him
self up and simply breezed through
the remainder of the day.
Up to the time of the boot all was
well; but subsequently Johnson prac-
dcally gave the New Workers four hits.
ana twice they reached third before
Johnson got back on the job and
turned them back runless
While the Highlanders were walking
up to the plate. listing to the song of
the swift and returning to the bench
thankful that they were still in the
pounding Marty McHale in every direc-
ton. dozen times they whaled the
ball into unguarded territory. but half Of
these would have been sufficient to
win.
In the bombardment of McHale. How
ard Shanks was way out there getting
three including a two-spot. while Ed
Foster and Chick Gandil were there
WIN d Couple apiece.
In discussing johnson. II might be
well to repeat Harry VOTERS criticism
Of the pitcher. According to Wolter,
the only difference between johnson and
a cannon was that you could hear a
cannon when 1t shot
For a long time the press box at Ma
tional Park was one Of the jokes OF
the league: now 1t is one of the sights
Of the circuit.
ence 10 playing on water-soaked plains
yesterday was that he might get his
moundsmen in the proper working
order.
He wanted to get Johnson primed be
fore the Athletics reached our fair city.
As matters now stand, he can hand the
Yankees Shaw today. open against the
Athletics tomorrow with Joe Boehling.
use Doc. Ayers on Friday. and then
come night back with johnson on SalUr-
day.
With Walter, the Mighty. facing
the champions of the universe nn Sat
urday the last afternoon of the week
should be big one around Georgia
avenue Incidentally the Saturday
game begins at 3 o'clock.
The total receipts for yesterdays
game Just about paid for the oil
burned on the paths and the cleaners
bill for putting the white unes back
into presentable condition, still il was
well worth the while
That triple play that the Highland
ere put over yesterday was aided and
abetted by Ed Ainsmith. through some
sort of an understanding. There
were three on meaning a force play
at every corner When the ball was
hit to the pitcher he shot il home and
Sweeney got II over TO first in time
10 complete double. Ainsmith's only
move was TO dig for third. but he
hesitated and before he could finally
get to the next base Williams had
hurled the ball across the diamond
and three were out before the few
spectators fully realized that they
were seeing one Of the scarcest things
in major league baseball triple
play.
Thus far there have been three
triple plays in the big leagues-Wash-
ington and New York have made them
in the American and the New York
and Chicago clubs have been credited
with them in the National.
The standings today show that the
Nationals are right on the heels of
those famed Mackmen.
Ar, z. Foster. OF third base. is to-