The Washington times., 1915-07-04
Only Walter johnson
Keeps Steady Stride
Griffmen Realize They Have Hard Row to Hoe
, Against Boston Red Sox as Pitchers
Fail to Show Form. =.
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.


BOSTON, July 4.-Safely en-
sconsed in fifth place as result of
their contests with the Yankees, the
Griffmen arrived in the Hub today
more or less riled over things. They
had confidently looked forward to
making clean sweep of Bill Dono-
vans hard-working young men.
They didn't. Furthermore, the New
York writer's were not impressed IA
vorably with the strength of the
Capitolians, and didn't hesitate to
express their thoughts from day to
day. Those of the team who can
spare the time to read what is writ
ten about themselves are inclined
to "dig themselves in," to use
phrase common in Europe just now,
and hold on. Only the indomitable
spirit of the Venerable Reynard
flashes to the fore. He never admits
defeat.
eve bumped into our usual hard
luck with the Yankees" chirps the
Old Fox, ''but we'll begin here. The
Red Sox don't frighten us for a min
ute. Well clean them up" And he
really means it.
| Just how much cleaning the Griffmen
! will do is a question. or the eleven
games they have played thus far with
the Red Sox, only five have been VIC
tories. OF course, Griff points to tough
luck in almost all of the six defeats.
but that same old tough luck may
| continue on the Job here. The Red SoA
are filled with the winning spirit just
now. pointing to their recent successes
as evidence of what they will do from
now on to the end. The Bostonians
really believe they will catch the White
Sox on the coming swing around the
Western edge Of the circuit.
That the more experienced men on tho
team realize the difficulties ahead Is
seen in moments chat with them.
They admit that the road is rough,
particularly with the pitchers showing
in-and-out form. Johnson alone is de-
pendable day in and day out Gallia
than any Of the others Boehling does
his injury last season. He wins fire.
quently. but is usually hit hard. Shaw
New York, but came back like cham
form all year. 1t is unfair to speak of
Doc Ayers. Engel or Hopper. none OF
their best. At times Ayers has pitched
fine ball, but still he has not been used
enough to form a basis for criticism.
The success of failure of the Griffmen
pitchers show. The teams hitting
: seems timely enough to win for any
J pitcher doing his share. The fielding
. is sprightly enough. too. The running
might be improved, but on the whole Is
fair. II the team wins a majority OF
games before returning to Georgia ave-
) nue., it will be because the pitchers get
down to business and deliver the real
stun.
1t is possible that Howard Shanks
may be suspended as result of the
spirited word battle he had yesterday
umpire called bad strike on the Mona
can he threw up his bat and was inn
mediately banished from the fray; Be
} fore leaving the batter's box, Shanks in
things. and was then banished from
the ball yard altogether. Although
Johnson overrules many of O'Loughlin's S
contentious. 1t is thought possible that
Shanks will be benched for three days
or so.
. Twenty thousand fans saw the Yanks
and Griffs break even in that final pair
of mix-ups Being as most of them be-
longed around New York. they most
thoroughly enjoyed both contests. The
first one came so close to falling the
. Yankees way that 1t satisfied. and the
| second was a clean victory for Ray
Caldwell over Walter johnson. Yes, It
was clean, for even had Doug Neff moi
been stage struck, the Yanks would
have won.
long wallops. Boone. Pipp, and Peck
: scored homers for the home boys, but
, -