Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-30
"GETTING THE BREAKS" HAS
BEARING ON FINAL RESULT
Little Occurrences Often Turn Tide Of
Victory; Scott of Red Sox Helps Make
'Break" by Bunting With Two Strikes.

ners on first and second with only one
out. Had the play been perfectly exc
forced at second. and there is chance
that a double killing might have been
made, as Scott gets the ball away
quickly and would have been in a per-
throw to first base. Stock and Bancroft
both scored in that inning, and those
two runs were the margin by which
the Phillies won the game.
In this connection 1 recall two games
won by the New York Americans last
season In one of these games the
Yankees scored three runs on one hit:
two bases on balls. an error and a wild
pitch being largely responsible for the
three runs. In game with Detroit the
New York club managed to score four
runs, although not a hit was made.
Bases on balls and errors made it pos
sible to tally the quartet OF runs Just
to show what it means to have the
you to a game played between the Bos-
ton and Cleveland clubs. In the first
twelve innings only one hit was made
off Pitcher Morton of Cleveland. while
dozen against the Boston pitchers.
Wood and May. Although Cleveland
outhit the Boston club twelve to one.
neither team was able to score in the
first twelve innings of play. In one in
ming three successive hits filled the
bases for Cleveland. but a fast double
play retired the side In the four
teenth inning, one of the Cleveland out
fielders lost an easy fly ball in the
sun, that should have been the second
batter received credit for "a hit on a
ball that either the catcher or pitcher
should have easily thrown him out. Two
doubles followed. resulting in four runs
and the game. I seriously doubt if any
pitcher ever lost a tougher game than
did Morton Of Cleveland that afternoon.
Maranville's. Costly Error.
The prominent part the breaks play
in base ball was perhaps never better
illustrated than in the first home stay
of the world champions, the Boston
Braves. In the final game of series
with the st. Louis Cardinals Boston
enjoyed a to lead up to the start of
for Boston had held the Cardinals to
two hits, one of them a triple by
Pinch Hitter Hyatt in the eighth ses-
sion. In the ninth inning Maranville.
the crack shortstop of the Braves.
missed chance for double play
that would have kept the st. Louis
team from scoring. Failure to make
the play gave the st. Louis club a
chance, and advantage was taken of
the opportunity.
Five safe hits and three misplays
gave st. Louis five runs and the game,
which up to the final inning seemed
hopelessly lost. In the first game a
series with Pittsburgh. the Pirates
held the lead 4 to o up until the sew
hopelessly lost In the first game of
eighth innings Boston made, a total of
six runs. putting them in the lead 6
to 4. In the ninth inning Pittsburgh
started a batting rally, seven players
hit safely before a man was retired,
driving the two star Boston pitchers.
Rudolph and Tyler, from the box.
Six runs were made, giving Pittsburgh
the game 10 to 6. In that ninth in
ming Pittsburgh had made. eight hits
and six runs, two more runs and two
more hits than they had made in the
other eight innings combined.
When team is getting the breaks
it adds a wonderful amount of con-
f1dence to the players. No matter how
things stand. the athletes figure at
some time during the game they will
start a rally. in which Dame Fortune
will smile on them, and prove the
turning point in the game. 1t is really
surprising the effect on the mental at
titude of the players. caused by the
shifting of the breaks. 1t is mighty
depressing when every play tried goes
wrong, when every break favors the
opposition. 1t is equally pleasing
when every stunt pulled proves to
have been the proper play to get results
Copyright. 1915. by W. q. Evans)