The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-17
GR|FF MAKES FIGHT
FOR PLAYER SMITH,
OF ST. PAUL TEAM
Believes Third Stacker Sold
| After Draft Was Made and
I WIN Appeal.
JOHNSON works TODAY
BY LOUIS BOUCHER.

BY LOUIS DOUGHER.
BT. LOUIS, Sept. H.-Manager Grif-
nth Ia making a fight for Third Base
man Smith. the star of the St. Paul in
field. The Washington club obtains in
the annual draft first choice OF the St.
Paul club. Griff wants Smith,. He be-
lisves the player was sold after the
drafting season opened and has asked
Ban johnson to make all necessary In
yestigations. II II is found that Smith
was illegally sold. Griffith will claim
him. II Smith was sold before the draft.
the Washington club will get no players
In the 1916 draft.
Holke, now playing first base for the
Giants, was wanted by Griffith. The
Washington club won in the draft first
choice Of the Rochester club and might
have taken Holke. except that he was
sold to the Giants a day or so before
the drafting season began. No other
players will be taken from Rochester.
Today Walter johnson will be sent to
the slab and he will have for an oppon-
ent George Sisler, the local hero. This
duel has been widely advertised I'm the
hope OF drawing a crowd. Johnson was
to have pitched yesterday, but Griffith
was prevailed upon 10 hold him over
day to meet Sisler. last year they bat
tied and the Browns won. Today john
SON hopes to even the count.
Ray Morgan will hardly I'LL the bill MS
o shortstop. Compared with Mcbride in
the last two games, he Is far and away
weaker than his captain. On making
double pays, Mcbride has IL all over his
understudy. while Morgan Is grievously
slow on long Founders that get by the
pitcher.
1t is doubtful. however, IL Mcbride will
be used again this season. He may be
excused after the Detroit series and al
lowed to 20 home. Shanks will be given
q trial at short when Menoskey reports
in Cleveland, according to the Old Fox.
Claude Thomas. the Des Moines south
paw. probably will start tomorrow's get
away game here. Manager Griffith has
been favorably impressed by the young
ster. and now wants to see how he looks
as a starter. Thomas would hardly get
such an opportunity but for the weakness
OF Harper. the regular southpaw. Har-
per is not likely to be used again this
season. though he has not yet been ex-
cused. His arm Is stin weak and he
cannot use curve ball.
Doc Ayers clever pitching and three
punched hits in the opening frame gave
2 to l. in the first game OF the series,
Ayers allowed nine hits, but only In the
fourth inning we're any punched on him.
and a neat double play, Williams 10
Judge, killed a run in that inning.
Weilman got away TO poor start, but
thereafter was invincible. After the
FIRST inning, when the Grtffmen made
their two runs, they could DO nothing
with the long left-hander: though Leon
nrd did manage to reach third IN the
third inning before being stranded.
Ayers look good at all times, although
he weakened 9 little In the ninth: All
in all. he gave an excellent exhibition,
and deserved his victory.
Leonard opened the pastime with
rweet single to center. Foster flied, and
Milan forced Leonard before the fun
scoring Milan, who had pilfered second.
and Shanks' drive down the left field
line brought Smith across.
When Leonard opened the third with a
lne double to left and reached third on
FOSTERS sacrifice, the Griffs seemed on
their way once more, but Milan rolled
10 weilman and Smith famed, ending
It ali.
The Browns, aided by a couple of
Sucky hits, filled the bases with one
down. but failed to score because Will
yiams and Judge were wide awake. Sis
Ter dragged slow one to Morgan for r.. g
at the ball and Texas Lacquer TO left
resulted. Marsans showed a fly to CEN
ter, getting safety because Milan and
Smith played the Alphonse and CASTOR.
When Hartley famed. Williams shot
the ball to Judge, getting Marsans of
hrst by ten feet for double play.
Morgan's slow thinking put Ayers
in trouble in the seventh. With one
out of the way. Lavan walked. We'll
man grounded to Morgan close to
second base. Instead of running to
the bag to get Lavan and doubling up
weilman. Morgan undetermined the
was then too late TO get the slow
with a double and Ayers was in bad
hole until Miller raised high fly
to Smith.
The Hillsville physician wavered n
bit In the ninth, walking couple and
getting him self into a bad hole. How
ever, when the pinch came, he was on
the job. After tanning Billy Lee,
once a Griffman, he passed Rumler
and Tobin. Morgan was slow coming
in for Shottons hop and the bases
were filled. Miller rolled to Foster
and II looked like an easy double
play, but Morgan, after taking the
throw at second, made no effort to
get Miller at first and so Rumler's
run counted. Slsler had II in his
power to tie the score with n hit. but
he showed up foul fly to Williams
and we all went home.