The Washington times., 1916-06-12
Radical Shift Necessary to In
crease Strength in Lineup
Before Wins Can Come.
TEAM HAS BEEN LUCKY
Contenders Despite Many Road
Losses In Past Two Weeks
of Battling.
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

~ 49, S&'C @As - SNAaeS@ss
CHICAGO. June 12.-Unless a radical
shift comes. the Griffmen are going to
lose many more ball games for want
OF bingles. The present lineup. at
least since leaving home on this trip,
has demonstrated a batting weakness
fatal to any pennant hope.
The Griffmen are apparently contend
ers today because they have been in
formally lucky. They led the league by
two games on May q. yet they have
lost but little ground since, though but
one victory has come to them. Rain in
other cities has kept their closest foes
idle and only on this account have the
Griffmen been able to stay in the rum
ming.
The Griffmen depend upon alright
pitching and fielding. with lapses by the
enemy to win games. II their pitching
Is weak, they lose. II their fielding has
holes, they lose. Now that their spring
hitters have come back to earth 1t
seems practically impossible for them
to manufacture runs when most needed.
1t seems impossible for them to get
even one run necessary to come from
behind or rush ahead.
Only one player, Milan Is in the 800
Morgan, Is down at 262. The team as
a whole is dropping fast as an agrees
sive organization. This does not mean
that the players are not trying. for they
are working their heads of to win.
All is harmony in the ranks. But the
moment the enemy gets a lead OF a
couple Of runs. the Griffmen seem to
collapse as a fighting band and just go
through the motions.
Just what Manager Griffith can do
to improve the team is a problem he
alone faces, the reserve strength Is no
better than the regulars. II as good.
Griffith is worrying considerably over
the immediate future, for he can see
the possible ending OF his pennant
dream.
Seventeen games remain to be play
ed on this trip. The Griffs' have now
won one. tied one; and lost t nine:
thirteen must be triumphs. II the team
is to win half their contests OF the
road. It is next to impossible to achieve
such a string OF victories ,,st he w nrepared
to see the Griffmen return home rath-
err lower in the standings than they are
now.
Three more games remain to be play
ed here. Wednesday night the Griffs
drop down to st. Louis for four con-
tests with the Browns. ending their
get t the edge here in the West it will
be necessary for the Griffmen to win
six OF their next seven games. Some
task Just now.
Walter johnson is expected to face
the White-Six tomorrow. with Harry
Harper coming back Wednesday.
For the ninth time since leaving
Washington the Griffs went down to
defeat yesterday, the White Sox shut
ting them out 6 to 0. before some
20 900 fans. And the same old excuse
must he given. lack Of the old base
blows.
Just four hits were rung UP by the
invaders, one by Jameson being huky.
have taken the victory. anyway. had
Boehling and Ayers shown alright
twirling. On the other hand, Boehling
was neatly trounced while he perform
men in the short time he decorated
the mound.
Jim Scott was not so very formid.
S G'e removal nSs w He save BUT three Sits
one scratch. but after walking two
in the sixth with but one gone. he was
summarlly dismissed: Rebel Russell re.
placing him. The White Sox had but
taking no chances.
Russell not only choked off the in
vaders in that session. but he kept up
his good work to the end. Only one
hit was made off him. Rippy Williams
driving a single to center In the eighth:
Joe Jackson, n left-hand hitter, brought
about the downfall of Boehling. Sock
less" Joe slammed out three doubles
The first was wasted. The second scored
ILL., "a I'D
brought in Weaver in the sixth and
drove Boehling from the mound.
Jack Ness. the big first sacker col
lected three hits one healthy triple to
right center. "Shano" Collins and Buck
Weaver each got pair of bingles.
Happy Felsch. besides playing a
neat fielding game. cracked out the first
hit off Ayers, scoring two runs and TAX
ing all the enthusiasm out OF the Grtff.
men. After his WALTON the visitors
bench became tomb on a gloomy
night
Although Judge walked and Foster
cracked a single in the opener, no real
chance TO score came till the second
when Jameson and Henry walked. With
one gone Mcbride drove a long ny to
Shane Collins, and Boehling took third
strike without blinking, the Grinmen't
attempt failing.
Joe Jackson's first double in the sec
ond did no damage because Shanks
made two fine runnin1 catches of
Felsch and Schalk. But the balloon
went up in the fourth.
After Eddie Collins had persisted, jack
Ness slapped triple to right center
jackson delivered the goods with an
other healthy double. this time to left
center, and Ness tailed. Jackson never
passed third. though. for the next two
batsmen could do nothing.
with one down in the sixth Foster
and Milan drew passes. After Scott had
three balls and one strike on Jameson