Evening star., 1915-03-30
BY J. ED GRILLo.

and this fact was once more demonstrated
yesterday, when Jack Dunn's Inter-
national League team played the Ma
tionals an eleven-inning tie game. A
combination of bad breaks, bad de-
cisions, and the fact that the GriHmen
could not see to hit, for the reason
that the pitchers have a large adver-
tising sign behind them which obseures
the ball in its course to the plate, were
primarily responsible for the fact that
the visitors were able only to score
twice in the long-drawn-out struggle
True, the home team did no better,
but then it did not play as good ball
as its opponent. and did not deserve
to get away with an even break On
several occasions it looked as il the
Griffmen were going to get the run
necessary to win, but in such instances
hard hit balls went right at the field
ers, and the chances for runs went
glimmering. Twice the locals pulled
double plays when an inning was
started in a promising manner.
Walter Johnson worked in the first
five innings, and he very wisely did
not exert himself until the NTH m
nlng, when he cut loose and struck
out two of the three men who faced
him. 1t was n cold day, and further
more. it is not in keeping with john
sons plans to do anything strenuous
just yet. He promises to be on edge
by the time the season opens, but he
is not going to hurry through the re-
naming exhibition games, because he
thinks it will be best for him to pro-
ceed slowly in his training, so that he
Will be at his best when games count
for something.
Jim Shaw pitched brilliantly during
the six innings he ofticiated on the
rubber. He allowed but two widely
scattered hits, was not scored on and,
IN addition, struck out seven men,
Shaw displayed by far the best form
he has shown at any time this spring
and had he started the game he prob
ably would have had the honor of shut
ting out the locals.
For six innings the Griffmen were
blanked. Try Is they would, they could
not hit Morrisette at the right time,
and it was after he retired that the
score was tied at the expense OF Rus
SELL who succeeded him on the rubber.
This happened in the seventh, when
Morgan. the first man UP, was walked
and took second on Shanks' out. Nc
Bride brought the first run home with
blow to center, and after Henry had
been called out on strikes Jim Shaw
came through with single which sent
Mcbride, who had advanced to second
on a throw to nail Morgan, across the
plate.
The locals made their runs in the
third and fourth innings. and scratch
hits helped them materially. Walter
was a trifie wild in the third, and he
tired. but Long also was walked, and
then Berger came through with a base
hit, which sent Hasson home.
In the next round Ball started off
with a hit. Fosters error saved kei-
logg A sacrifice by McInnis moved
both hands up, and then IIasson came
through with blow to left which
scored Ball. From that on the Ma
tionals had the most opportunities to
score, but they could not get the nee
essary safe blow.
There is no getting away from the
fact that the Griffmen still need a
siege of warm weather before they
will be in first-class shape. 1t is true
that the players show physical i'm
prevailed. but they are not yet ready
to do themselves justice, and will not
until they have been benefited by some
real warm weather, such as will make
their muscles supple and give them the
speed they need.
The Richmond playing field is in a
very bad state and it will require many
days of hard work to get it anything
like it ought to be by the time the sea
and though steam roller was worked
on it all day Sunday, there is still muct
room for Improvement. 1t is impos-
sible to judge how ball will bounce
in the inield, and this caused severa
of the scratch hits which were charged
against Johnson and helped to do much
of the damage. The outfield is ever
worse than the infield. and Bates, in
stopping a ball, cut his knee on a
piece of broken bottle which he kneel
ed on.
George Mcbride led his team in hit
ting yesterday, getting two of the
seven with which the Nationals are
credited. 1t is to be earnestly hoped
that both Mcbride and Henry viii con
tinue their improved stick work after
the season gets under way. for with
this pair hitting as they have it viii
give the Nationals a muHh better
chance to be prominent in the race than
they have ever had. There seems to
be nothing fuky about the stick work
of either, for they seem TO have better
ed their swing at the ball and Henry
has grown particularly efficient in the
art of hitting into right field.
Just how Jack Dunn can figure on
being successful here with the small
plant he has is not clear. Richmond
because of its advance to the lnterna-
tional League, is ripe right now. There
is sure to be a large attendance, and
particularly so if the team makes a
good showing. AS Dunn is situated he
can seat about 1000. and the greater
part of this capacity Is of the kind
which brings only % cents. What
should have been done here was to put
up a modern plant which could ac-
commodate about 10000. Then there
would be chance to make some
money. AS matters now stand this is
virtually eliminated, for the reason
that even capacity crowds will not
bring the returns necessary to make
the venture financial success.
Today Hopper, and probably Harper.
will do the pitching for the Nationals
in the wind-up game Both have been
working out every day since they have