Evening star., 1915-04-10
Nationals Star Pitcher May
Make 1t Two Straight From
the Champions.
DICK RUDOLPH OR STRAND
TO OPPOSE THE GRaFFMEN
Harper Gives Remarkable Exhibi-'
tion and Receives Brilliant Sup
port-Morgan Shines in Field.
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

part of the game against the Braves
today. and il conditions warrant Man
ager Griffith may allow him to go the
entire route, which would be a suitable
workout to AT him for the opening
game next Wednesday. But Ayers may
finish the game today. for it may not
be thought advisable to let Walter go
the entire route.
Just which one of Stallings' twirlers
will be worked against the locals has
not been decided. Rudolph may be the
starter if he warns up well, but if not
Strand is the most likely selection.
The final game with the Braves is
sure to be as hard fought as was the
one of yesterday. The champions nat
urally will try hard to get an even
break in the series here, and they will
hustle all the harder to bring this
about. Griffith on the other hand is
anxious to make a clean sweep from
the world champions. believing that to
have his team accomplish such feat
would put it on edge for the opening
of the season.
Because of the injury to his leg Henri
Rondeau may not be able to take his
position in left field today, and it is
be given chance there.
Harry Harper pitched a remarkable
six innings against the Boston Braves
yesterday. He went through this pc
riod without allowing the world cham
pions hit. walked twelve men and
forced In the only run the visitors
scored during the afternoon. Harper's S
delivery was not hit hard at any time.
There was not an inning that he did
mo
bases as the result of wildness, and in
the fourth. when he forced in a run.
he walked four in a row. There was
one out at the time, and after the run
had been scored a double play lifted
him out of his dilemma.
Joe Boehling pitched the last three
innings. The Braves one hit was made
off his delivery, Gathers hitting for two
a couple of men, but he was not scor-
ed on.
Stallings' aggregation always hus-
ties. and it was the spirit that they
displayed right from the outset of
the game that also forced the Nation
ais to get down to real business and
hustle. The result was that the best
game of the spring period was pre-
sented, both teams fighting hard for
every inch of ground and a brilliant
contest being staged.
In the games with the Phillies and
Brooklyn there was absolutely no life.
The players went through the motions
of playing ball. but that spirit which
makes the game a real entertainment
was lacking.
Yesterday it was different The
Braves are hustling team. and realiz-
ing that they were up against the real
thing the Nationals also let out link
and played as Ii there was really
something at stake
Ray Morgan played a brilliant game
at second base. In fact, he figured in
two plays which required sensational
fielding. In the second inning, with a
man on and two out, MaranTlle sent a
sharp grounder which had all the ear
marks of base hit, toward right field.
II looked like a certain safety, but
Morgan, with remarkable speed, cut
over. intercepted the ball. and Whlle
off his balance made perfect throw
to first in time to retire the side.
In the fourth inning Hughes hit past
Gandil, and Morgan got the ball in
short right field and got it to first base
in time to get his man. Harper covered
the bag. and the play was loudly ap-
plauded
Harper is improving with every
game His control is lacking, of course,
but il is a good wager that the next
time out he will show to better ad-
proved himself game to the core.
He was under a constant strain, yet
never lost his head. What Is more, he
has acquired deceptive motion to first
base. to which Sherwood Magee fell a
victim in the second inning, when he
had walked. Harper caught him off
and he was thrown out at second. Har-
per also showed ability In covering first
base.
Clever support did much to save Har-
per In the third inning. for instance
with two out Moran and Evers were
walked a balk moved them to second
and third. While pitching to Gathers
Mcbride and Henry caught Evers of
of second base. Mcbride gave Henry
,he signal for this play. Henry gave
Harper the waste sign and then whip
ped the ball to second and caught the
unsuspecting Evers.
Henri Rondeau broke into the game
Yesterday. playing left field for six in
nings. He had nothing to do in the
feId, but he performed very well at the
bat His first trip up he drove long
fly TO left. The next time up he hit fol
two bases into left. line drive along
the foul line. 1t was IS result of thi:
sprint to second that the charley horse
again developed and Rondeau had tt
retire, Pick taking his place after Ron.
deau had drawn pass in the sixth.
Tom Hughes one of Staliings new
pitchers, got a poor start In the game
being hit rather freely in the opening
inning. when the Nationals scored tive
runs. But after that Hughes, who wen
tho entire route. displayed a lot of abil
ity, being scored on but once thereaft