The Washington herald., 1916-07-30
Five Defeats in a Row -
Injure Griffs' Chances
When Spurt Is Needed
Nationals Must Start Winning
if Club Is to Finish in Re-
spectacle Position.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
BY WILLIAM PEET.

II seems TO be impossible for the Grirr-
men TO get started on the road this trip
five games have been played the past
week, and ever one Of them snstched by
the opposing forces
The old cry Of batting slump cannot
be charged, for the Nationals have made
enough hits 10 win almost any old kind
OF a game. In Detroit poor fielding
kicked away three contests
The start OF the second long road Jour
ney is very similar TO the start Of the
first, when seven games in a row we're
lost and one tied before the Nationals
could put over victory. Thus far only
five have been dropped, but conditions are
just little bit changed AT present for
the American League clubs are entering
the home stretch in the pennsnt fight.
and every game coUnts-the Nationals
Canont afford to lose very many battles
and expect 10 finish in a respectable 20
sition.
SO much ground has been lost the "a st
week that only a sensa tionaI winning
streak can put the Grifrmcn up among
the leaders. and such a streak must be
uncorked mighty soon.
Losing games by one run after the
enemy has pulled down what looked TO
be winning lead. as was the case in De-
trOit last week, robs 4 ball club Of a WhoIs
lot OF confidence. The Nationals are prob
ably still full OF fight and all that, but
they are not winning and until z few
games are placed on the right side Of
the ledger and the old confidence restored,
there is little for which 10 hope in the
shape Of a spurt.
1t is about time that Cleveland fans
paid homage to Terry Turner. the vete--
] an little inhelder who has always given
his best efforts to the ball club No mat
ter who the nmssger, and Turner has
served under half a dozen. he has been
out there every day working hard. and
saying little
Turner'S exemplary habits. his strict at
tention TO duty and his earnestness have
endeared him to Cleveland fans. who yes
terday seized upon the opportunity TO eH-
press in a substantial way the esteem
/ In which he Is held
/ Turner is not the best innelder IN the
world. but nobody can say he ever failed
TO DO his level best and give the best
that was in him to those who pxie his
salary.
With good weather in Cleveland TO-DAY
the Nationals should draw a record
breaking crowd Walter johnson will
/ more than likely be in the box, and this
means that the Grirmen are odds on IA
vor1tes TO win.
] Ten years OF uteTOlbess as ma
Jor Lacquer and nearly six years OF utiI-
iity in q New York Yankee uniform. Roy
Hartzell is released to the Baltimore club
TO replace Elmer Miller who has been
recalled. As a Yankee Hartzell saw se-1--
ice under four managers-Ha Chase
Harry Wolverton. Frank Chance and BIZ
Donovan His going leaves only Raw
Fisher and Ray Caldwell as the veteran
corps OF the club, for the pitchers were
Yankees when Hsrtzell came 10 play
third base in the spring Of 1911.
According to the dope furnished from
a reliable but UNOFFICIAL source, Ty Cobb
in the American League, took second
place in batting. adding 4 points TO his
average over that Of last week. vhUs
Jackson fell of. Speaker still holds the
lead. Weaver, Chicago. took the lead in
sacrifice hits. with =: Cobb remained in
front in stolen bases. with IS. no gain
over last week; Bakers 3 stfU is topmost
figure in home runs, while Speaker leads
in total bases, with l7S. and in runs
scored with So. Detroit is ahead in team
hitting with IS
Leading batters: Speaker. Cleveland
81; Cobb. Detroit, 361 jackson. Chicago.
81, SEVERED, ST. Louis 3cs. Burns. De
troit -9ol: Sisler. ST. Louis 2sl Suns-
maker. New York. IS; HobIuzeII. Bos-
ton, -: Smith, Cleveland, 2S1. Shotton
st. Louis. .cs6. High. New York. eSs
The leading pitchers are: