Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-16
By CHANDLER d. RICHTER

DAD breaks and an inclination to ease
~ up In the closing innings have deprived
Alexander the Great of at least four shut
out victories this season Perhaps II Is
best that the wonderful Philly hurler eases
up after being given a lead but the fans
who have been pulling for the monarch of
National League pitchers to hang UP new
record for shut-outs. point out that Alex
has lost three shut-out victories within the
last three weeks by the narrowest margin.
Yesterdays victory over the Reds was
the eleventh of the season for Alexander.
Six of these triumphs have been shut-outs,
and In four other victories Alexander has
been scored upon In only one inning, which
is perhaps the greatest exhibition of con-
sistent pitching In years. Even when Alex
ander was going at his best in 1915 he was
not so steady.
The control of the Phlly star has been
better than ever. In his last three games
he has passed only one man. and he walked
because Alexander tried to make him hit at
bad balls preferring to walk him rather
than allow him to hit at a good one with
runners In position to score. This was Cor
han, of the Cardinals. with Pitcher Mead
ows coming up next
ALEX" had pitched two straight shut-outs
and six innings of another when the Cubs
broke the run of scoreless innings by get
ting three runs after two men had been
retired in the fifth inning of a game In
which the Phils had six.run lead. Alex.
ander eased up with Hendrix at the bat In
this inning. or he would have blanked
Tinker's team.
Shut Out Brooklyn
He followed this up with shutout VIC
tory over the Dodgers and then lost to the
Giants. The Cardinals were Alexanders
next shutout victim and then he had the
IA
men were out when he took chance on
growing a ball for Johnston. The latter
doubled to left and came all the way homo
from second on Wagners infield single.
Yesterday Alexander had the Reds shut
out until the eighth inning and would have
completed the job II Herzog's ordinary
single had not gotten away from Cravath
and rolled to the fence for triple. This
hit almost cost the Phils the game and in
stead Of getting another well-earned shut
out Alexander had to work himself out of
a hole to save the game.
The total of nine hits made off Alexander
by the Reds yesterday would naturally lead
one to believe that the Nebraskan had
been batted hard. but such was not the
case. Six of the nine safeties made by
Herzog's team were scratches Four were
infield hits. which were beaten out on
close plays, while two were pop files over
the infield.
Alexander was not batted hard and after
the second inning was complete master un-
til the Reds got a lucky break in the eighth
and scored their lone run.
Chase Injured
Hal Chase made his frst local appear
ance In the National League and made an
excellent impression. The famous hrst
baseman appears to be quite at home In
the outfield and is still able to hit the
ball hard Chase has been troubled with
a lame knee and when he turned first after
whaling the ball to the bleacher fence In
left for a double Hal pulled up 80 lame
that Manager Herzog was forced TO send
Wade Killefer into the game.
This was one lucky break the Phils got
II Chase had been In the game IN the
eighth inning, the chances are that the
Reds would have tied the score, as the
former American Lacquer probably would
have been able to score Herzog with long
fly or some sort of hit Killefer' who re-
placed him, popped weakly to Stock, and
Alexander pulled out of tight place
Bill KIIIefer's work behind the bat Whs high
class. II was easily the best eAhlpltion lne
brilliant receiver has given since @ ms return 4, 10 20