Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-19
WORK OF GR|FFMEN
IS BEST OF SEASON
Team Is 0uthitting Its Rivals
and Has Won Five Con-
secutive Games.
IMPROVED SHOWING MADE
DURING THE WESTERN TRIP
Fourteen Contests Played, of Which
Nine Have Been Victories.
Other Gossip.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

BY j. ED GRILLO.
CLEN ELAND, July 19.-For the first
time in nearly a month the Nationals
are at the 500 mark in the standing,
and they are tied with the New York
Yankees. incidentally, this is the first
time this season the Griffmen have
won five consecutive games. and they
established record by winning two
consecutive double-headers. There is
no discredit, in the fact that these
victories have been scored at the ex-
pense of the weak Cleveland team, for
the fact must not be overlooked that
other teams also have played here.
Chicago. for instance. owed its one
time strong lead to the fact that 1t
won seven out of eight games from the
local aggregation. The playing of the
Grffmen of late has been their best
of the season. The team is hitting
better than it's rivals. having out
hit them in every struggle for the past
eight days or more. The western trip
has been success to date. Fourteen
games have been played and nine of
them have been victories. Six more
games remain to be played, two here
and four in Detroit, after which the
team will have long stay at home.
One cannot refrain from admring
the 'never-say-die" spirit which seems
to have been instilled into the Nation
ais recently. The team is fighting ev-
cry inch of the way these days. Grif-
fifth has been their leader: all during
the losing period Griffith has been on
the coaching lines. constantly urging
his players and encouraging them. He
has insisted that the athletes must not
II IA
position in store for the team il the
men would continue to hustle. This talk
and a persistent insistence on hustle
seems to have had it's effect, for there
tionals have shown to better advan-
tage than they have during the present
western tour.
Eddie Foster was one of the fighters
in both games. Early in the first game
he had corralled two hits and a walk,
but this was not productive. Then in
the thirteenth inning it was he who
set the table for the victory when he
put Moeller on third with a hit to left
and moved to second on Graney's FUN
BILE. In that ninth inning. when Walter
Johnson tied the score. Foster opened
up the round by walking, and it was
his single in the ninth Of the second
game which drove in the runs which
tied the score. All Of his hits were
clean-cut. and several Of them. as de-
time.
Doug Neff played third in the second
game, and the boy once more showed
he had ability to play that place. He
hit in bad luck. but his fielding was
nothing short of excellent. Neff is in
time going to make a valuable utility
infelder. He has lot of ability, and
the experience he is gaining this year
is going to make him valuable man.
son was out here yesterday. 1t was the
banner day Of the year, and while the
Indians were beaten in both games the
stands were loud in their praise Of the
Nationals gameness. The Grifmen
have many admirers here because Of
the fact that they have always been
one team which has been a stumbling
block for the locals and they are con-
sdered mighty strong aggregation by
the fans of this town.
There now is no reason, unless the
unexpected happens, why the Nationals
should not make a clean sweep here.
Walter Johnson is slated to work today
and Jim Shaw will be sent right back
Tuesday. 1t is the intention to open
with Boehling in Detroit and by that
time Johnson will have had three days
rest and be ready for the second game.
Gallia, who also is effective against the
Tigers, is slated for the third game
works well. may make his second ap-
pearance in the final game.
BY a peculiar coincidence the Nation
ais made eleven hits in each of the
games The team has been hitting UP
in the double figures in most OF the
games of late. This Is because most OF
the players have gradually come into
rate they should have been all sea-
son. and that is not necessarily at
800 clip either.
1t is generally believed that Harry
Harper will be of much help to the
Griffmen. He won his game against
Columbus by to Saturday. and now
seems to be a much improved twirler:
The stay at Minneapolis has been wen
utilized by Harper. who was under inc
personal care of Billy Sullivan. the Tor
mer White Sox star. Sullivan caugnt
Harper in every game he pitched Tor
the Millers, and he has taught the
youngster lot of tricks of the trade.
The fact should not be overlooked
that one Zeb Milan Is hitting the pail
with a vengeance these days, ana II 10
only a question of a little time "neh
the Linden wonder" will be over the
200 mark, where he rightfully belongs.
An idea of the terrific speed which
Johnson had can be gained from tne
following: When johnson went on tne
rubber in the ninth inning of the sec
ond game. with Ainsmith in position
and Umpire Billy Evans behind him. the
pitcher wound up and let fast one 70
for Ainsmith. Ainsmith and Evans oIo
not see the ball, and as a result Evans
was hit in the breast protector WIN
such terrific force that he sank TO DIE
knees He revived Immediately. ana
admitted that he did not see the ball
Ainsmith said he got only a nash OF
the ball as it passed by him.