Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-19
BENTLEY OR SHAW
W|LLP|TCH TODAY
Griffith May Send Young
SouthpaW Against Nap Slug
gers in Third Game.
SUNDAY GAMES LIKELY
TO BE SCHEDULED HERE
Nationals Showing Splendid Form
Now and Are Expected to Con-
tinue Their Winning Streak.
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

decision until the time for warming-up
the pitchers rolls around Bentley has
shown lot of stuff in his recent work.
outs and Griffith figures that he stands
a chance to beat the Clevelanders On
the other hand. there is little doubt as to
Shau's ability. He has shown I'm well
i'll all his games though he has lost some
of them. But Griffith is anxious to get
one more of his left-handers in working
order. He figures that if he can get
either Bentley or Harper to show form
his pitching staff will be materially aid
cd, for left-handed pitchers are proving
very effective in the present race.
If Bentley can make a good showing
against the Maps his being placed on the
pitching staff as regular is assured
Manager Birmingham had not decided
upon his pitcher this morning 1t is
Very apt to be Mitchell. however. though
Hagerman may get another chance.
Baldomero Acosta was eighteen ye.rs
Old yesterday. The little Cuban celebrated
the event by donning a uniform and TAX
ing a lot OF practice. His injured ankle in
almost mended.
In the event of the local courts giving
favorable decision on the Sunday base
ball question. brought to its attention by
the promoters of the Andrews team.
which played the Baltimore Feds here
last Sunday, the Nationals will in all
probability play the Detroit Tigers here
next Sunday
Manager Griffith is in favor of Sunday
ball. and he has reasons to believe that a
majority OF the public of Washington also
favors 1t. If the court decides that
games can be played on the Sabbath, and
the public shows an inclination to have
such games scheduled, Griffith saws that
ne VIII arrange for game here every
Sunday while the team is at home or in
the east.
Billy Lee. the Semi-pro outfielder, who
has been with the Nationals ever since
the team went into training, was given
MS unconditional release this morning
Lee is not experienced enough for this
company, and as Griffith found it i'm
possible to place him with some minor
league club, he turned him loose SO that
ne can play wherever he sees fit.
Doc Ayers is proving himself one of
the 4host valuable pitchers the local club
has had in years. He gives every indica-
ton of more than filing Bob Groom 8
| shoes and if he continues through the
season in the form he has shown to
date. ne is sure to be named among the
leading pitchers of the league.
Following his splendid performance
against the White Sox last Thursday,
when he won by l to 0 in ten innings
terday with every bit as clever an ex-
hibition of pitching, and with better
break would have scored his second
shut-out.
Ayers control is nothing short of re
markable. He seems able to put the ball
just where he wants to-a fact which
adds much to his effectiveness. Any
team which beats Ayers must earn its
runs. for he does not contribute any
by means of wi!dness.
According to Ayers it was the first
time in his career that he ever won
game on Monday. He actually con-
sidered it a mistake to put him in yes
terday, and told Griffith so, but the Ma
tionals' boss concluded that it was time
to break the jinX if it existed. and SO
Ayers worked and pitched a winner.
The Nationals are playing up to their
real form now. 1t may be only a coin
cidence but the fact remains that the
teams winning streak did not start until
after the regular morning practice had
been abolished. There is more dash to
the playing now than there was. and
that speed for which the team was noted
in the past two campaigns is again in
evidence.
With most Of the pitchers showing good
form and Joe Boehling likely TO be
ready for work within a few days. there
is good chance for the Nationals to
continue to be real contenders in the
present race. The Tigers. as result OF
their second defeat at Boston yesterday.
are now but three and half games
AWAY while the Athletics have not in
creased their lead of a game and a half.
The present stay at home gives promise
of being much more successful than have
previous periods of home games. In for
mer seasons the Nationals have found it
a hard matter to get an even break in
the games which We're scheduled here,
but now they have comfortable lead
in this respect and there Is every rea-
son for believing that it will be main
tanned.
Eddie Foster is hitting in hard luck.
The first time up yesterday he drove
what looked to be certain base hit
near to second base but Olsen got
both hands on the bal! and threw him
out His next time UP, with two on
the bases, he drove liner to the out
field. which looked good for three bases.
seemed to have another hit started. when
| he bounded one through the box. but
| James leaped into the. air and pulled
| it down. Foster has but to continue
| to hit the ball as he has and the wal
| Tops are sure to begin to land safely.
| Howard Shanks' development has been
! such that he must now be classed with
the smart ball players of the league
| Aside from his remarkable ability as a
| fielder. Shanks is demonstrating nearly
every day that he also is thinker.
There is never play on the infield
which Shanks does not back up. and
he is a very clever man on the bases
His daring in the sixth inning yester-
day gave the Nationals the run they
needed to win. With Shanks on second
and Morgan on first and one out. Nc
Bride did the unexpected and laid the
ball down the third base line. Turner
made a good play on the ball and nailed
Mcbride at first on very close deci-
sion. Shanks overran third base and
off the bag. Shanks made dash
for the plate with the throw, and by a
clever slide avoided Carisch. who, in
stead of touching him, came down on
the ground with the ball
Shanks' hitting. too is much improved
and he ought to be a really great ball
player this season.
Manager Birmingham evidently was
not satisfied with the way Lefttielder
Wood went after Morgan's two-base hit
| well of his throw to the plate on Nc
| Brides single when there was no chance
| to make a play. AS a result Birming-
ham took Wood out of the game after
| this inning and substituted Jack Graney,
who rejoined the team yesterday morn
! ing.
! Ray Morgan was really responsible for
| the two runs the Maps made in the
| fourth when they tied the score, though
his misplays were. perhaps. eXcusable.
| I.eibold. who started the inning. drove a
shr-n grornder nj Morgan which the lat