Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-31
BY j. ED GRILLO.

To-, AYERS probably established a
record Yesterday in the matter of hav-
Ing his delivery popped up" There
were fourteen little flies caught by the
local iufeId and catcher. while innum-
cradle fouls fell on the roof or IN the
stands All the ma jority of the Browns
hatters seemed able to do with Ayers
delivery was TO pop the ball in the arr.
That this was caused by some peculiar
twist which Ayers put on the ball there
is not the slightest doubt.
In addition to the fourteen pop-ups
that were handled by the infield, there
were five easy flies caught by Moeller
aud Acosta in right and left fields. Ihe
pop-ups started in the very first inning,
when Sisler popped to Henry and
Prat, dropped one to Foster. Agnew
gave Henry a little fly in the second.
In the fourth Sisler flied to Foster and
Walker to Mcbride. In the fifth How
ard fouled to Henry and Weilman to
Shanks In the sixth Austin popped to
Mcbride and Sister to Foster, while in
the seventh GandiI got Shotton's little
fly and Shanks got similar one from
ACnews bat. Pratt died on a NY 10
Mcbride in the eighth, and SeNerold
pinch hitting in the ninth, gave roster
one.
Ayers WAS really hit safely but three
times. the three other hits charged
against him being the result OF ms
weak efforts to field easy hit balls,
which he DETECTED with one handed
stabs.
Bert ,iaIlia will pitch the second
game of the series with the bIo" rs
today and it is not at all unlikely
that Sister, one of the most versatile
players ever in the game, VIII be ms
opponent Sisler is a left-hander ana
has several victories to his credit.
though when he is not pitching he
plays either the outfield or first base
Galiis in his last game, held the
Cleveland Indians to single hit, ana
for seven and two-third innings dad
not allow man to reach first base
That was the best exhibition GaIila
ever gave, and he may show Just as
good form today.
The Nationals took advantage of the
Browns misplays in the second inning
and grabbed themselves three runs
which proved enough to give them an
easy victory. Weilman was not scored
on thereafter. The locals continued
to connect with his delivery in every
inning, though, but he saw to 1t that
no two hits came in the same round
Ayers was in a lot of tight places.
That underhand ball which Doc used
had the visitors guessing and few Of
the balls hit off Doc were well met.
There is not the slightest doubt that
the present makeup of the Nationals
is by far the best Griffith has had
since he has been forced to experiment
with his inield. Shanks seems to be
finished third baseman, while Acosta
seems at last to be in a position where
he can play regularly and show just
what sort of ball player he really is.
Shanks adds a lot of spirit to that
infeld He is constantly encouraging
the pitcher and is wide awake and full
of action from start to finish. 1t would
not be at all surprising if Shanks be-
came the permanent third baseman.
It would not take much to make that
St Louis team a contender in the race.
II Hickey is lucky enough to have
few more good ball players dropped in
on him he is apt to have the surprise
of the next campaign. There Is one