The Washington times., 1914-05-15

tions to divert the attention Of the
! crowd.
Yesterday. however. this usual order
| of things was upset. and when the
| White SoX were compelled to bow be-
| fore the Nationals in ten innings. the
unterrified fanatics had seen one of the
| most brilliantly played contests ever
| staged on a diamond. The Chicago
1 men, led by Jim Scott, went down in
noble defeat before superior. but only
after they had forced the Griffs to play
| al the ball they knew. 1t was a battle
of the might and the survival OF the
fittest, with Doc Ayers playing the lead
ing part in the diamond drama.
To say Ayers exceeded the eXpecta-
tions OF even his most ardent admirers
| is not stretching the truth. The Nir-
ginia-bred Washington pitcher never
showed to better advantage. While he
went along in grand shape through the
opening innings. it was toward the close
| of the day that he demonstrated his
real class. 1t was not until the regu-
| lation innings had been played that
Ayers drew up on even terms with
] Scott in the quality Of ball the two men
were pitching.
Scott was away better, and for seven
innings had the Nationals unqualifiedly
stopped. Not hit was made until
within two sessions of the close of
Then came Foster with a liner toward
second. Blackburn made great try
and succeeded in partially stopping the
ball, but he could not recover II and
first This was the only hit made off
Scott until the tenth. which ended so
gloricusly for the Nationals, but so dis
mally for the Sox.
Washington had two on in the eighth
with two out, but the necessary hit was
not forthcoming, Ayers being unable to
avail himself of a great opportunity to
win his own game with single. Thls
was the greatest threat the Grifs made
until the extra round.
The opening half Of the tenth looked
anything but propit!ous for the team
for which the crowd was so loyalty
pulling. with one gone, Foster made a
wide throw on Collins bounder. Bodie,
the alleged fence-smasher. leaned
against one that left the bat with a
speed that made it appear as though it
would clear the right field wall, but its
fight was somewhat short and Danny
MOeller, backing almost against the
bricks, made a circus catch. Collins
stole and when Alcock was walked
every one was enueasy.
Ayers was at this time confronted
with the most trying situation but he
proved himself master by striking out
Blackburn.
that some hardly realized that the game
was over when the Nationals won.
Gandil banged a single into center.
Shanks tried to bunt but failed. He
protested violently when Dineen called
the next one a strike. The umpire did
not intend TO favor Washington, but he
did, for Shanks was now compelled to
forget attempts to sacrifice and swing.
He got a toe hold and when Scott shot
one over Shanks smashed II over first
and past the rightfielder while Gandn
tore home with the only run of the day.
It's getting to be one OF Mr.. Shanks'
regular assignments-thls business of
breaking up games-and he is proving
himself the most valuable timely hitter
in the clan.
The foundation stone of scoring Is
honesty. Incompetency may be at times
pardoned and poor judgment condoned,
but II failure to consciously mark
the plays as they appear ever creeps
in records should be scattered to the
winds as useless.
Yesterdays game demonstrated the
roint that is being brought out For six
innings, Jim Scott had pitched mar
yeloUs ball and not Z National had
succeeded in batting the ball into safe
territory. A hitless game was a Eossi- |
bil!ty.
Then came the try by Foster that
went to the right of Blackburn. Jmme- |
diGtely there was a bUzzing as to