New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-25
Merkle Makes
Debut i'm Box
For Champions
Fred Would Have Beaten
Dodger Regulars but for
Red Smyth's Misplay
BY CHARLES A. TAYLOR

Hot Springs, Ark, March 24.-Fred
Merkle was promoted to-day by Jack
CoombS, manager of the Brooklyn
Cubs, from first base TO the pitchers
box. and acquitted himself well. lie
held the hard hitting Regulars to six
safe blows in six innings, and had 1t
not been for an error by Red Smyth
in the last frame, Fred would have
won his game As it was, the best
the Regulars could do was to get
tie, the score being 3 to 3.
The Regulars made their first run
in the fourth inning. Daubert, the
first man up. emerged from his bat
ting slump and sent line drive to
right centre which was good for two
bases Zach Wheat followed with a
single over second, Jake crossing the
plate. Myers. Cutshaw and Olson
were unable TO connect properly with
Merkles underhand fadeaway and
Zach was left stranded on the paths.
Jack Coombs Leads Attack
The Cubs got busy in their half Of
the same inning and took the lead.
Jack Coombs singled to right, and adj
vanced 10 second while Olson was
throwing out Gus Getz. Jimmy Hick-
man hit to Mails in the pitchers box.
Buster thought he had chance to
catch Coombs between second and
third, and waited just long enough
before he threw the ball to lose both
men. Leon Galore fouled TO Chief
Meyers for the second out, and IT
appeared as though Mails was going
to escape without being scored upon.
jeff Pfeffer, however, spoiled Buster 5
afternoon BY doubling 10 right held,
tallying Coombs and Hickman. shy
der hit to Olson. who threw the ball
far over Daubert's head, and Prefer
counted. Merkle hunted down the
first base line TO Daubert. who beat
Fred in a close race to the bag.
The Regulars tied the score in the
sixth. Myers was thrown at first by
Getz. but Cutshaw was safe when
Smyth made a bad tumble OF George
grounder. Cutshaw stole second ana
scored on Olson's single TO left field.
CLEARWATER, local catcher who had
replaced Chief Meyers, shot fast
grounder through Smyth and Olson
tailed. Appleton hit into double
play, Getz to Malone to Coombs.
Strength Equally Distributed
The batting order was: Regulars
Johnston. IF: Fabrique, SIS; Daubert,
III; Wheat, If; Myers, CT; Cutshaw,
%; Olson. Sd; Meyers and Gillen-
water, c; Mails and Appleton, p.
Cubs - Smyth, SIS; Malone, 2b;
Coombs and Miller, 1b; Getz, 3b; Hick-
man, CT; Smith and Galore, If; Pfef-
fer, IF; Snyder. c; Merkle, p.
The score by innings:
Regulars ........O OO1O % 6 l
Cubs ............O 10
The lineup of the Regulars for the
game with the Boston Red SoX To-
morrow will be the same as IN to-
days practice contest. Robbie Will use
three pitchers, Cheney, Smith and Dell.
The Boston boxmen are expected TO be
Tyson. a newcomer from Buffalo, and
Wyckof, who was once under the wing
Of Connie Mack.
BROOKLYN has the hardest hitting
pitchers of any club in either of the
big leagues. jeff Pfeffer, Sherrod
Smith. Leon Galore and the veteran
Jack Coombs are all dangerous when
welding the big stick.
Robbie had a little batting practice
himself to-day. Coombs, who was pitch
ing. took it upon himself to warn the
manager as to whether he was going to
throw fast ball or a slow one. Rob
bic watched both species pass over the
plate and then to Jacks chagrin shout
ed: "Never mind telling me which
YOU are going to throw. | can't for the
life of me see any difference IN them.
In Justice to Coombs, however, it should
he said that Uncle Wiibert failed to
drive that ball beyond the inield.