Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-22
BETTER TIMES ARE
AT HAND GRIFFITH
Nationals Manager Feels
That His Team Is Ready to
Win Steadily Again.
COBB'S ABSENCE SURE TO
HURT DETR0IT'S CHANCES
Star 0utfelder Will Not Be Able to
Play for at Least
Ten Days.
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

DETROIT, Mich, June 22.-The break
ing of the losing streak by the victory
over the Tigers yesterday is pointed out
by Griffith as meaning that better results
will now be had from the Nationals.
Griffith is optimistic about his team, now
that it has shown that it can win a ball
game. He contends that even during
the losing period the team played a
high grade of ball, and that the breaks
of the game more than anything else
were responsible for the avalanche of
defeats encountered.
He is now figuring on winning the final
game here today. and it is more than
likely that he will choose Jim Shaw to
do the pitching. The victory of yester-
day Is sure to have an exhilarating effect
on Griffith's players. They have been
much discouraged because of their in
ability to win. and new confidence will
be instilled by the turn of affairs. There
will, Of course. have to be improved hit
ting before winning streak can be made
possible, but. though the Nationals are
not a smuggling team. they have been
hitting far below their true standard of
late; and there is sure to be a revival
of their stick work in due time.
Barring the early innings, johnson was
in good form yesterday. though he was
given but two days rest since his last
game. There is more strenuous work
ahead of Johnson, however He is to
pitch the first game against the Athletics
in Washington Wednesday, and he is to
wind up the series in Philadelphia Satur-
day. This will make him pitch three
games in a week, an unusual strain for
him. but ever since he has been falling
to win his usual number of games he
has been anxious to work out of turn.
Griffith naturally wants to give the
Athletics the best argument he can, for
he realizes that his only chance now is
to put the champions as far back as
possible. If Walter can win his two
games from the Mackmen. it may be pos
sible to take a majority of the four con-
tests from them, which would do much
to put the Nationals in the running.
But for Boehlers wildness in the fifth
he might have won his game from John
son. The youngster had lot of stuff
and did not allow any more hits than
Johnson. but he evidently has lot to
learn about the pitching art before he
will be of much service to his team.
That fifth inning furnished. some real
sensations. Boehler's wildness gave
Shanks. Morgan and Williams their bases,
and between these gifts Mcbride sand
wiched A safe bunt down the third-base
line, which helped materially. Then
came Johnson. Boehler had two strikes
on him when he dished up low fast one
johnson took one of his characteristic
swings and the ball began to rise. 1t
was a remarkably high hit ball, but it
must have had considerable force behind
it, for when 1t fell it was beyond the
wall In left field. Four runs resulted
from this drive. and it virtually was re-
sponsble for the victory. Heretofore the
Nationals have had Just as good chances.
but the hits which would have brought
victory have been missing.
McBrides work at short continues to be
brilliant. 1t makes no difference what
his teammates may be doing in the mat
ter of winning games the teams captain
is always on the job pulling off sensa-
tional fielding stunts Yesterday he also
took a hand in the teams offensive work,
getting two hits in four trips to the
plate. McBrides value to the Nationals
is greater than that of any other indi-
viduaI on the team. This becomes appar-
ent only on days he is not in the line
up. when the infield usually becomes de-
moralized and weak.
Ty Cobb. who hurt his finger in the
brawl in which he engaged Saturday
night. is out of the game, and it is sure
to be ten days or two weeks before he
will be able to resume his position. One
of the small bones in his hand is frac.
tured. and in the meantime the Tigers
chances of winning the pennant will be
greatly impaired. The club. however,
does not propose to take any action
against Cobb, for 1t seems to be the gen.
eral opinion that he was in the right in
demanding an apology for the insult his
wife is alleged to have received from
the meat merchant involved in the fracas.
After today's game the Nationals
start for Washington. arriving there
at 4:40 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. For
the next month they will play all their
games at home. barring two, which are
scheduled for Philadelphia Friday and
Saturday of this week.
Griffith made two changes in his line
up during the game yesterday. He
started out with Acosta in right field.
but in the third inning, when he realized
that Johnson would have a fight on his
hands. he shifted Moeller to right field.
and the move proved a good one, for
lfoeller got two hits and stole a base.
His muff of Stanage's long fly was ex-
cusable, as it was a very hard chance.
the third inning. Then Williams took
his place. and "Rippy'. handled the speed
merchants delivery In a most salts
factory manner At the bat he was hit
by a pitched ball in that fifth inning.
which helped considerably. forcing
Shanks over the plate, and in the ninth
he moved Mcbride up with sacrifice.
making it possible for Moeller's single
to score him.
1t is questionable If DOME Bush ever
played better ball than he has in the
present series. He is covering a world
of ground and his throwing from most
any position has featured the Nationals
stay here. Bush is undoubtedly one of
the greatest shortstops the game has
ever produced and this season he is
starting as if he intended to break all
previous records.
There is now a chance for the Ma
tionals to make 1t two out of five from
Detroit but to do this they must win
the final game of the series. which is
to be played today. Jim Shaw, who,
because of his lack of experience, has
been showing poor form on this trip
may have one of his good days, but it
will not be at all surprising If Griffith
against the locals. Bentley pitched one
inning against them Saturday and
seemed to have a lot of stuff. while it
is the opinion Of all the members Of
the Washington team that Harper
stands chance to be a very success
full pitcher.
Though it rained and drizzled nearly
all morning yesterday and did not
were filled to capacity by the time play
was called. More than $4,000 were in
attendance. which brings the total in
the four games played SO far to more
than $4,000, figure that is sure to
make the Nationals stay here very
profitable. So far as attendance is
concerned the present trip has come
ways draws well in the west, and.
while the low1y noSjffou NJ the ans