The Washington herald., 1914-04-13
Providence Fans Surge on
Field to See Great Pitcher
In Action.
NATIONALS WIN BY I TO S
BY WILLIAM PEET.

Special to Ths Washington Heah-
Rocky Point, R. L April 2--Walte:
johnson, the Nationals great pitcheI
broke up to days exhibition game against
the Providence Grays when he started
to warm up in front of the grand stand as
the eighth inning opened.
The score at that time stood to In
favor OF the Griffmen. but the appear
ance of Walter johnson caused a mighty
stampede. The Rocky Point diamoHd was
fringed ten rows deep with spectators
standing up who completely surrounded
the outfield.
johnson is going to pitch" shout>S-a
kid in the first base bleachers. Tat was
enough, for in twinkling tro thousand
fans swarmed across thu diamond to
catch a glimpse of tie "smokeball
twirler'
There was no police protectNSp. for the
reason that Rocky Point is outside the
city limits, and after striving desperately
to push back the crowd which overfiowsd
onto the diamond as far as second base.
there remained nothing more for Umpire
Lannigan to do than to call the game.
Grin Is Satisfied.
Today's preliminary workout was en-
tirely satisfactory to Old Fox Griffith.
There was never any doubt as to the
ultimate result of the combat from the
start, and had the game gone the full
route Washington would probably have
rolled up a handsome run total.
Jack Bentley, the Sandy Spring south
paw, worked four innings He was nicked
safely five times, and the Grays scored
a couple Of runs. Engel. who finished,
had fine speed but as usual lacked con-
troll His two passes in a row during the
Fifth, together with Fosters poor throw
gave the home club three runs.
Oldham, a left-hander, and Roy Bentley,
a right-hand slabman, worked against the
Nationals. Both were hit hard.
Howard Shanks' home-run smash in The
second was the longest hit ever made on
the Rocky Point ball park. Howard met
one of Oldhams speedy shoots on the
point of the jaw. and the ball went
shrieking over Matty McIntyre's head in
1eep left field, clearing the crowd by
twenty feet.
4 southwest gale swept the field. which
is surrounded on three sides by Nara
gansett Bay, but the sun came out
bright and strong and a crowd estimated
at 5000 fans viewed the struggle.
The Nationals drew first blood, scoring
in the opening chapter. Moeller walked.
Fosters infield tap sent him 10 second,
and he came home when Milan drove the
ball to deep right field for a single. The
Grays got to Bentley for a run in the
second. when the southpaw walked Eddie
Onslow. who swiped second. Kocher's
single sent him in.
With Morgan on the midstation. the
result Of being hit by a pitched ball and
passed ball contributedI by Catcher
kocher, Shanks uncorked his vicious
home run wslfop in. the second inning
chalking up two more runs McIntyre's $
double in the Providence fourth. follow
ed by FabTique's single to right added
another Providence tally. but the Griffith
crowd got this back in the fifth. Nc
Brides single. a fieIders choice. and an
error by O'Connell. turning the trick.
With Joe Engel in the box when PrOvi-
dence came to bat in the fifth inning,
Fosters poor throw of O'ConneIr $
grounder and two successive walks. iiIIcd
the bases. Onslow's double to deep left
cleared the sacks, placing the figures,
Providence 5, Washington 4.
This lead was of short duration. for in
the seventh. the Griffmen came back
strong. Two clean blows, contributed by
Foster and Shanks. a walk to Morgan
and mum of fly ball by Powell, dong
the business.
After Providence had retired Mcbride
in the eighth, the crowd surged the play
ing field to watcb-Johnson warm up with
Ainsmith, and the game was halted right
here, as further play was out Of the
question.