The Washington times., 1914-06-17
JOHNSON DENIES TALE
HE HAS DETERMINED TO
STAY WITH GRIFFMEN
Chick Gandi Also Quashes eged Statement That He Will
spurn All Offers From Federal League-star TwirIer
Peeyed at Reports About His Decision.
By THOMAS KIRBY.

but il two of the remaining six sched-
uled games are lost, IL will be impossi-
bic to even break even on the tour that
! extends over three weeks.
The complaint most of the time since
! reaching the West has been that the
| pitchers have not been performing
their tasks properly. but yesterday no
such an excuse could obtain. DR..
| Ayers pitched a creditable game. and
deserved a better fate. He received
the offensive support that is usually
| Johnsons need.
In four of the seven innings in which
the Virginisn performed, he retired the
| opposition in order. and five hits,
which netted two runs, was all the
weakened Clevelanders had to show in
the way of damaging what he had to
| offer.
Griffith switched his battery TO En-
gel and Ainsmith in the eighth to allow
Acosta and Williams to hit. The for
| with a healthy single, but there was
nothing materializing in the matter OF
runs.
Joe Engel pitched the eighth. A fly
and a strike-out set back two of the
Maps, and after the third had walked.
Engel picked him off first
Bill Steen. who was driven to re-
tirement on Monday before he had
completed two innings, was sent right
he had the Nationals shackled. Not
until the ninth did a Washingtonian
pass second base. and. while threat
was made to win and score was
recorded in the ninth, he came through
In as good shape as he started.
When il appeared as though the Ma
t;cnals might even ii up in the ninth.
Griffith sent johnson out to warm up,
but his services were not required.
The game yesterday was absolutely
destitute Of fielding features, A pick
up OF Olson off Mcbride, which the
runner beat out. WAS the nearest ap-
proach TO a stellar stunt
The presence of Ray Chapman adds
greatly TO the Cleveland infield In ad-
dition 10 his admitted mechanical abili-
ty Chapman is a fighter who enlivens
things no matter which way the score
is going.
games, Carl Cashion is not suffering
from lack OF work. He spends about
hall an hour day pitching to the bat
teTs.
In the first inning Milan had third
strike called on him that looked q foot
inside. The Griffithian debating society
Immediately assembled at the plate and
for several minutes tried to show Con-
molly the error Of his ways while the
crowd roared.
Griffith had FIVE couples pitching and
receiving in the 9utfield most IF the at
tsrnoon. Just a little incident that
proves the managers grim deternina-
zion {" overlook nothing that might help
to get the Nationals back into their
proper stride.
CIevelands first run came when
Steen's sharp hit Caromed off McT3ride's
shin ana bounded into short right Ee-
fore Moeller could get the ball home
Chapman had dashed in from second.
The Nationals had chance to regis
ter in the sixth when Moeller got as
far as second with two out, but Lei
bold went far TO his left and bagged
a drive from Gandil, ending the inning.
Schaefer running for Williams. caught
the Maps fat-footed in the eighth and
stole second when the base was left
uncovered.
1t developed here today that every
regular player among the Maps except
Lajoie has received offers from Fed
eral League representatives. FaIken-
berg and CuIIop we're the only ones
who leaped beyond the pale of the Ma
tionaI Commission.
After being retired in order in the
first and second. Cleveland scored In
the third on Chapman's single, O'Neilrs
out. and Steen's safe drive. Steen's
hit in the sixth was lost but N the