Evening star., 1914-07-07
AYERS WILL FACE
BROWNS IN OPENER
Rickey's HustIing Crew Will
Force Nationals to Play
Their Best Ball.
ROY MITCHELL APT TO
OPPOSE LOCAL BATSMEN
Browns Highlander Has Been
Stumbling Block for Griff-
men in Past.
BY J. ED GRuLo.

Branch Rickey's St. Louis Browns open
four-game series here today. Doc
Ayers will do the twirling for the Ma
tionals. while it is more than likely that
Mitchell. who has always been a STUN
bling block for the locals, will be pitted
against him.
The Browns undoubtedly are the most
improved team in the circuit this year,
and it will require the Nationals best
effort to win a majority Of the games
from them during their stay here. Rick
ey's team has not only been blessed with
excellent pitching. but it has played fast.
intelligent base ball all season and Is
one of the contenders in the present race
Incidentally it has one of the best hitters
in the league in '"Tillie'' Walker. a for
mer National. who has proved himself
the most valuable batsman on the St.
Louis outfit.
Ayers has not pitched a full game
against the Browns this season. He fin
ished one for Boehling during the Ma
tionals' trip to St. Louis recently and
was used in another game which Shaw
Ayers has not pitched lately because he
was under the weather. but he is be-
lieved to have recovered and is expected
to show good form today. The game is
slated Tor $50 o CLOCK.
Some most important series will be
started today which are apt to have an
effect on the interesting race now in
progress. With the Browns playing the
Nationals Detroit the Athletics. and Chi
cago the Boston Red Sox, there may be
some material changes in the standing
within the next few days Cleveland and
New York, the two tailenders. also are
clashing. but the result of these games
are the only ones which will not cut a
figure in the present race.
The present schedule brings together
all the contending teams, and is apt to
have an effect on the race before the
four games which these teams are slated
to play are over. If the Nationals can
win from st. Louis the teams chances
for advancing in the race OF at least
cutting down the lead which Detroit and
Philadelphia now hold is bright. for one
or the other of the teams which are
battling in Philadelphia is bound to lose.
1t was Judgment more than speed which
made the stealing of home by George Nc
Bride possible. Rankin johnson was
taking a long wind up preliminary to
pitching and Mcbride noticed this. In
order to test his chances Of stealing home
he made bluff start for the plate. salts
fled himself that he could make it with
good lead and waited until Johnson
started to wind up again and then made
the dash. He reached there safely. his
foot touching the place several seconds
before Thomas put the ball on him. Nc
Bride deserves lot Of credit for making
the play. 1t shows once more that he Is
a thinker and took chance when he
realized the opening.
Yesterday was the third time this sea-
son that Walter Johnson and Rankin
Johnson have hooked up in a to game.
Rankin Johnson seems to be particularly
lucky and effective against the Nationals
Yesterday he issued six passes. yet none
o fthese figured nthe scoring. and had II
not been for the Mcbride steal of home.
which gave the Nationals the run which
won the game. Rankin would have gone
into extra innings with Walter without
either side scoring.
1t has been some time since Walter
Johnson looked as formidable as he did
yesterday. 1t was the first time this
season that he displayed that remarkable
reserve force which has made him one
Of the hardest twirlers in the game to
score on. There were several instances
,, yesterday when a pitcher of less ability
might have been scored on. but johnson
had something up his sleeve on such oc-
casions. and moved down the opposition
when its chances for runs seemed bright
est. That speed for which Walter has
become famous was very much in evil
denoe yesterday when it was necessary
to use it.
| Chill and Sheridan have departed. and
Evans and Egan will be here today and
| for several series at least. The change
| will have a good effect on the attendance
| for it is a known fact that any number
of fans refused to attend the games SO
long as Chill and Sheridan were off,
| ciating.
Chill. by the way. seems to have nc
| knowledge Of the infield fly rule. The
other day he failed to call one on a ball