Evening star., 1914-05-24
NATIONALS HAVE WON
NINE OF ELEVEN GAMES
FROM WESTERNERs


hickey has been given credit for having
strong pitching staff and there is no
denying the fact that the Browns were
feared upon their arrival here But all
of the visitors twirlers were hit fairly
hard, and not one of them was able to
stay through any Of the games played
here. two twirlers being used by Rickey
In every one of them. This record shows
that the Nationals are showing consider
able Improvement in their hitting. The
players who are expected to do the bulk
Of the batting, but who were in poor form
earlier in the season, seem to have found
their batting eyes.
''Tillie'' Walker had a very peculiar ex-
penence in the seventh inning, when,
after driving the ball to the extreme left
field corner. he collided with Chick Can
base with his back turned to the run
ner. Walker was SO intent on watching
Shanks chase his hit that he could not
have seen Gandil. for he ran into him and
was sent sprawling into the dust Walk
er complained to Umpire Hildebrand and
though that official did not see the incl
dent he allowed Walker to go as far as
third on his hit But for his humping
into Gandil it might have been a home
run.
That tie work Of Johnson. Ayers Shaw
and Boehling is very satisfactory is
proven ky the fact that Griffith has not
been forced to change pitchers in any
Of the last eight games which have been
played here. Every man who has start
ed has finished. and such has not been the
case with the opposing teams, who have
been forced to use two OF more pitchers
in every one Of the last three Chicago,
all Cleveland and St. Louis games. which
is complimentary to the locals attack.
Bert Gala. who was yesterday released
to the Kansas City club on an optional
agreement. left last night in company
with Owner George Tebeau for the Mis-
souri, town. In the opinion of many of
the players on the local team Gallia will
in time develop into winning ma jor
league pitcher He is credited with
having lot Of natural ability, but is in
need Of experience.
When Dan .Moeller is hitting as he has
of late. 1t would be no easy matter to find
a player who can replace him in right
field. Moeller Is not only a good fielder
and thrower. but he gets on the bases
a good deal, and next to Milan is one
of the best base runners in the league.
His daring on the bases has helped the
Nationals to win many a ball game dur
ing the three seasons he has played
here, and II he should be fortunate
enough to have a good season with the
bat he will prove invaluable to his team
Some quick relaying of the ball cheat
ed Howard Shanks out Of another three
bagger in the fifth inning of yesterdays 8
game Shanks opened the fifth with a
sharp liner to right field. The ball was
travelling so fast that Williams, the
Browne right fielder, could not inter
cept 1t, but it came back nicely to him,
after bounding against the fence, and he
made a perfect throw to Pratt. who in
turn got 1t to Austin in time to touch
Shanks as he was sliding. Shanks, how
ever, got credit for a two-bagger.
Manager Griffith was much aroused
when he read the Associated Press dis
patch from Chicago to the effect that
Tinker was coming here today to have a
next season. That is nothing but a
cheap advertising scheme on the part
of the Feds said Griffith. Walter is
not going to see Tinker or talk business.
and II any Of my players are to be an
n0yod In this manner I shall apply to
the courts and enJoin these Federal
leaguers from having anything to do with
my players"
There was some splendid hitting on
the part Of Foster, Milan and Gandil in
the third inning, but Roy Mitchell was
clever enough to prevent any runs from
scoring. though the three hits came in
succession. Foster started the attack
and Gandil followed with clean singles.
Gandirs hit was SO quickly returned
to the infleld that Foster could not take
q chance Of scoring. and 6hanks and
Morgan failed to solve Mitchelrs de-
'liyerX. leaYiue tho bases 3ull