Evening star., 1915-04-22
NATIONALS PLAY BEST BALL
GAME OF SPRING YESTERDAY
Change in Batting Order Benefits Where
Most Needed - Williams Proves
Himself Versatile Player.

though not weak it is hardly enectiva
enough to win a pennant
Joe Boehing pitched in improved
1ective the next time out He also re-
ceived beautiful support especia1ly
from his nfield
Umpire Evans called a balk on Joe
Boehling. and no doubt rightly so. for
there was not the slightest objection
to the decision. Hooper had reached
first on balls, and Boehling caught him
mapping, Mullaney calling Hooper out
But Evans reversed the decision, called
# balk, and sent Hooper to second,
where he died in a double play mo-
ment later.
George Mcbride has not gone back in
the least. His playing yesterday proved
this, for he made one pickup with one
hand over Second base and then went
nearly in back Of third and intercepted
Janvrin,s hit, holding Scott on third
His fielding was easily the best seen
at short this spring, not even being
worsted by that excellent exhibition which
Pecklnpaugh gave here during the New
much more ground than did the Yankees
shortstop
Just how valuable a player Rippv viii
lIams is to the team was proved YESTERDAY
when he gave Joe Boehling splendid sup
port behind the bat. Williams had no
opportunity to stop any runners from
stealing. for the SoX made no attempts.
but ne did everything else in A finished
manner and was particularly strong on
nigh foul flies which came down very
close to the stands Williams caupht ono
OF his best games and he also got himself
couple of base hits. the first one fje,Ir
ing largely in that five-run rally in the
third inning. "
Ray Morgan helped a great deal In
preventing the visitors from scoring.
he covered lot of ground, and his
stop of Carrigan's grounder In short
right and rapid recovery in throwing
to first was real circus play. for
which he as,arplauded for some min
utes.
The Nationals fielding was perfect.
nothing that resembIed an error being
charged against them. Now that bat
ting practice In the morning has been
discontinued. 1t is n sgood guess that
tho team will show to better edyan-
tage In every department The play
erH have been weak as n result Of too
! much work. and there is sure to be
| much Improvement all along the Iine.
Jack Bentley, who has just recovered
| from severe attack of tonsilitis, will
not make the trip with the Nationals
10 New York, remaining here to get
| hlinselr In shape after a weeks lay-ofr
! After 1t was plain that the game was
lost to Boston Carrigan made a num-
Dor OF changes in his lineup. McNally
| was sent to second in Wagner's place
ana Rehg went to right for Hooper,
| whlie Gainor took Hobiitzelps place at
nrst ana Haley went behind the bat for
Carflsan. Carrigan left the field after
tho seventh inning, probably to make
sure TO get out Of his uniform to get
the Federal Express for Bosten but his
leaving the field was taken as an ac-
encouragement of defeat for his team
ana made bad Impression with tho
-ahs, VINO always like to sec a man
ager stick to the finish, even when
there is no hope for victory.
Ray Collins has been q tharn n; tho
side or the Nationals for several yaars
put there have been several oceasions
| when the Nationals hava fallen an him
as they did yesterday Those are The
| occasions when Ray lacks control Hs
Is a pitcher who relies entirely uron
working batters. and of course he Ia
not able to do that when he cannot mt
| tho ball whore he wants to- 1t was sa
yesterday, and between his wildnass
| ana some good hitting he was hast
before the third inning was over tmt
That exhibition does not reflect on his
ability az pitcher In the siightest for
he 1s ono Of the most effective I.rt
handers In tho American League.