Evening star., 1917-06-02
TENTH STRAIGHT DEFEAT
RESULTS FROM errors
Smiths Wild Throw Gives Browns
Tying Runs in Ninth-McBride
Errs in Tenth.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

L
| Here Is one team the Griffmen can
lick" remarked regular" fan who
was numbered among the seventy-f1ve
persons seated In the upper tier of the
grandstand at Georgia avenue at the
end of the eighth inning yesterday.
The score at the time was 90 in favor
OF washington. 1t appeared the Griff-
men were going to win after nine
| straight defeats. Since the first inning,
| when the Browns had unavailingly
! punched two hits with a steal on John
son. they had obtained not a semblance
| of a hit Off Walter.
Most of the thirty-seven persons in
the left field pavilion, the fifty-one in
the jury box, the $50 in the right field
pavilion and 412 in the lower grand
stand had started for the exits.
81 nnike the great majority of the
| games Plank pitches. yesterdays moved
on rapidly, and, despite the 4:30 O'Clock
\ start. 1t was not yet 6 o'clock when the
ninth opened, and the fans were anx-
lous TO get their dinners in time to see
the nrst movie show. But the old say
| ing that ball game never is over until
the last man is out was never better
than right there
Fielder Jones sent Sloan, a utility
9u,neider in to hit for Plank, and he
dld-a clean blow to left He advanced
whiie Morgan was tossing out Shotton.
Austin refused to bite at balls just out
sac the corner. and he walked Sisler
then raised little Texas Lacquer near
the right-field foul line that Smith,
Morgan and Judge all dashed for. Sloan
and Austin, thinking the ball would
| be caught, as it should have been. stuck
close to their bases. 1t was Smiths
ball. but any of them could have taken
II. None OF them did, however, it drop
ping safely between them. Smith picked
it up. Had he held the ball the bases
would have been filled. Sloan was far
from aG second however, and Smith elect
ed to force him with throw to Nc
Bride This was the proper thing to
do, as Mcbride had only to keep his
FOOT on the sack to accomplish the out
and could easily have pegsed out
sloan at the plate had he attempted to
score. Smiths theory was good. but
ms execution was rotten. his throw to
Mcbride being low and wide, the ball
rolling to the stands, permitting Sloan
and austin to tally with the tying runs
and putting Sisler on second. Jacob
son then popped foul to Ainsmith and
Milan captured Severeid's line drive.
In the latter half of the round the
Grlnmen made bid for the one run
needed to win. MiIan's foul fly was
Park. who had taken Plank's place in
the box. for a walk. Smith sent Mar
sans back into deep center to get un-
der his drive, and the chance was gone
when Morgan lifted a fly to Ernie
Johnson.
In the tenth Marsans led off with a
double to left. Mcbride could have
thrown Marsans out at third had he
picked up Pratt's easy bounder. But he
didn't pick it up. The ball went
through Mac and Marsans scored with
the run sufficient to win. Pratt reach
him to third and he counted when
Rumler, batting for Park, singled to
center. Milan let the ball trickle
through him and Rumler kept going:
He passed second and headed for
third. Milan recovered the sphere and
tossed to Mcbride, whose throw to Fos-
ter tagged Rumler sliding into third
Mcbride and Ainsmith were unable to
get the ball out of the infieId in facing
Sothoron in the latter half of the tenth,
but Menosky, batting for Johnson.
reached first safely on a Texas Lacquer
to right. Pratt tossed out Judge,
however, ending the game.
Washington's two runs, hung up in
the hrst inning, came largely as gifts.
Judge walked and was forced by Fos-
ter. who in turn was forced by Milan
Plank was signaled for fast ball, and
Ernie Johnson ran over to second to
cover for Milan's expected attempt to
steal. Plank crossed his catcher, how
ever. and delivered slow ball, which
Shanks timed perfectly and plunked
through the hole left by johnson at
short. Milan racing to third. Shanks
stole second on short throw to Plank,
and both scored when Smith drove a
single to right.
The frequency with which pop flies
lust outside the inf1eld. those that come
under the head of Texas leaguers. fall
safe among Griffith's fielders must he
distressing to Manager Griffith as well
as to the spectators This happened
three times in the second game of the
double-header Tuesday and yesterday
cost the Griffmen ball game A little
VI p y,
ball calling for it and going after it
| and the others making way for him
would eliminate most of these costly
and disgusting exhibitions.
Yesterdays game was the first of the
season sam Rice has not participated
In. In batting practice before the game
he was struck on the thumb by a line
drive from Jamieson's bat and it prob
ably will be several days before he can
get back into the game. Had he been
IN right Held yesterday it is a good bet
| that he would have caught Sisters non
| fly, which Smith. Morgan and Judge al
| lowed to fall safely between them and
which paved the way for the Browns to
tie the score. Smith called for the ball
and Morgan ducked. Judge did also
| but not SO promptly. and Smith pulled
\ up In fear of a collision with Joe. Rice
nervy player. would have gone on and
made the catch. 1t Is assured Sam will
\ -
| injured thumb will permit of his play-
| ing In the meantime Menosky proba-
bly, Will get chance to play, either
in left or right. Griff will keep Shanks
in the game when southpaws or spit
/ ball pitchers are working against his
team and may keep him in left for a
while anyhow. because Of his great
ability as sun fielder, in which case
Menosky probably will get a crack at
/ right fielding. while Smith takes a
| rest on the bench.
Yesterdays game was the first con-
test Pratt has played through for three
weeks. The broken hone In his right
wrist has healed. but the member is
none too strong yet and the second base-
man favors II at every opportunity.
| Manager Jones was expected to use
Sothoron in the box against the Grin
men today. Du Mont was Manager
Griffith's early selection for mound dutv
Score:
ST. LOUIS. AB. II. H. PO. A, E..
| shotton, II 4 q n n
Austin. 3b. b............. 3 a "
Sisler, 1b. 1b.............., 8 q Va n n
| Jacobson, RI. q n N
Severoid, c............. 4 q q q q n
| rf