Evening star., 1914-04-22
.bOEH[|NG WEAKENS
AND GAME IS LOST
Pitches Wonderful Ball for
Eight Innings, Then Shows
Reversal of Form.
NATIONALS SEEM TO NEED
MUCH BATTING PRACTICE
Players Have Evidenced Decided
Weakness in Hitting-0ther
Gossip Of the Contest.
BY ]. ED GRIILo.


| NEW YORK. April 22.-After pitching
F, giit-edged ball for eight innings yester-
| day. during which time the Yankees
| really never stood a chance to score, Joe
Boehling suddenly showed a reversal of
form In the ninth. was hit hard, and had
game taken from him which he ap-
| parently had clinched.
| A change in atmospherical conditions
undoubtedly caused Boealing's undoing.
| So long as tine sun was IN sight it was
| warm enough to allow his arm to work
freely, but once Old Sol started to hide
behind the tall stands of the Polo
Ground his arm grew cold, land with the
chill went his effectiveness.
Up to the ninth four widely scattered
hits had been made off Boehlings de-
livery and not run had been scored. He
seemed to be absolute master of the
struggle, and was at no time in danger.
There was no indication that he had
changed when the first man up in the
he began to falter when he walked
Walsh, the next man up. Chance substi-
tuted Reynolds for Williams. and, after
getting two strikes on him, Reynolds hit
around to third. Holden followed with
hit and Walsh scored. Boehling struck
out Keating, who was sent to bat FOR
Cook. but he walked Peckinpaugh, fill
ing the bases. Chance here substituted
himself at first. Sweeney hit the first
ball pitched to center for a base, and
Warhop, who was running for Reynolds,
scored. Chance, however, was nailed ut
the plate. trying to put over the winning
rum That ended the inning with the
score tied.
Boehling had even less in the tenth
Again he got rid of the first man to face
him-Cole, who was thrown out by Nc
5rlde. Matsel: however. dropped double
into right field and went to third when
Moeller's throw got away. Hartzell came
up next and hit the first ball pitched to
center Tor single, which won the game
Pitching such as Boehiing did should
nave won him the game in a canter.
Even the ninth-inning rally would not
have beaten him had his teammates
taken advantage of their opportunities
to get runs But twice did the Nationals
score For time that seemed sufficient
to decide the contest, but the visitors
had several opportunities to increase their
lead. but did not do so because of faulty
base running and inability to hit m fact,
both OF the runs they obtained were the
result of errors.
No bali game that the Nationals have
been in this season seemed more certain
OF being victory than did yesterdays
game up to the ninth inning Up to this
stage Joe Boehlng was absolutely in
Vincible against Chances men. and, with
two-run lead to work on when the
ninth rolled around, 1t looked like dollars
to doughnuts that the Nationals were
about to annex their fourth victory But
the ninth inning had not proceeded very
ling had lost his grip He gave a base
on balls and his arm seemed not to re-
spond to his call. He did undoubtedly
get chilled with the setting Of the sun.
and he could not produce that which had
held the locals In check up to this time.
Then came series of hits by players
who heretofore had not even been able to
FOUL his delivery, and in an instant the
score was tied Three hits and two passes
had been Boehling's performance in the
NINTH That might happen to any pitch
er, OF course. but in this instance It was
plainly seen that Boehling had lost his
stun. But he was sent back into the
tenth. and after getting rid of Cole Maisel
game was over.
1t was an awful game to lose, because
up to the ninth the Nationals seemed to
have everything their own way Boehling
never pitched a more competent game of
balr than he did for eight innings yester-
day. but the chill. which came with the
setting OF the sun. undoubtedly caused
him to lose his effectiveness
Unless there is a vast Improvement in
the hitting OF the Nationals, their pitch
ers will have to twiri shut-out ball in
order for the team to win. Any sort of
hitting would have won yesterdays game
In a walk. for there were no less than
four opportunities offered when a base
hit would have sewed up the game. But
the hitting continues weak: in fact. it
has not improved since the season open
ed, but 1t will have to If the team is to.
cut the figure In the race that is ex-
pected. The present slump. of course,
cannot longer yUh
it Is entirely up to the pitchers to make
victories possible.
Up to the ninth inning Boehling had
not given q base on balls: his control in
fact, was perfect. He also managed to
get rid of Hartzell in this inning, who hit
fly to Milan. But with Walsh facing
him. Ae showed signs Of weakening He
did not seem able to get anything on the