The Washington herald., 1917-08-27
Ainsmith's Error Proves
Costly to Griff's Tribe
Eddie Drops Throw to the
Plate Which Gave Indi-
ans Chance to Trim Ma
tionals 2 to |.

Cleveland, Ohio. Aug. 26.-After pop
ping the. ball up in the air for seven
innings and looking like a bunch OF
cripples the Indians got busy in the
eighth today, leveled down Wash
ington's one-run lead and in the ninth
put over the Knockout. turning in a
2-to-1 triumph for the first game OF
the series.
The Nationals usually make II
fought for the Tribe. Everybody ex-
pected a battle and nobody was dis
appointed. Doc Ayers, a burly right
handler, opposed Jim Bagby. Ayers
allowed six hits and Bagby eight
Three Of the swats on Ayers appear
ed in the eighth and ninth and came
when needed. Jack Graney and Bill
Wamby furnishing the powder for
the big blow-of.
There was. OF course, the usual
breaks Of luck attached to the red
skins victory. Ainsmith dropped a
thrown ball at the plate which al
lowed the tieing ruh to score. while
Shanks and Morgan got their signals
mixed in the ninth and Elmer Smith
was allowed to steal second unmolest-
ed, leaving him in a position to come
home with the tally needed to win
1t Is doubtful IL Ayers ever pitched
better ball than this Sabbath COM
bat He seemed to know the weak
ness Of every Cleveland batsman and
shot the ball there, employing a
pretty change of pace with an un-
derhanded sinker that baffled the
home flock amazingly.
II Is worthy OF note that the play
ers most prominent in the attack
were Elmer Smith and Joe Leonard,
both OF whom have in times past
worn the Washington and Cleveland
livery. Leonard scored the Senator's
only run and Smith the tribe swing
fng marker.
Doc Ayers was so good that not a
member Of the Dunn crowd saw nrst
base until the fourth inning. when
Graney led OF with a single to right.
Jack watched Speaker and Chapman
20 out and then tried to steal second,
cnly to be cut down, retiring the side
In the fifth Harris walked with one
down, but the chapter closed In a Jiny
when wamby hit into n double play.
With Turner gone in the sixth the
crowd had a chance to do some root
ing when O'Neill and Basby uncorked
singles. Ayers quickly halted the
rally. forcing Graney and Chapman to
bounce the ball into the waiting paws
of infield pickets.
Washington decorated the score
board in the second inning. Rice was
easy. Turner to Harris. but Leonard
crashed to the right field wall for a
triple. Morgan grounded through
Chapman, the official scorer allowing
a base hit on the effort. This wallop
put Leonard over the plate.
The Nationals threatened in the
seventh, eighth and ninth, but Bagby
had their number. and the hit in a
pinch failed to materialiZe.
CleyeIand's half of the eighth was
opened by Bob Roth. pinch-hitting for
Turner. Bobby took three healthies
and sat down. O'Neill walked and
Ivan Howard was ordered to run for
him. Ray Morgan made a sensational
running catch of Bagby's drive and
the crowd sroaned.
Jack Graney banged to the right field
barrier and Howard kept right on
running. tearing madly for the plate
after he had rounded third. The relay
came. Rice to Morgan to Charity,
who was standing almost alongside
Catcher Ainsmith. Howard slid for
the plate. Charity tossed to Ainsmith
who tagged the runner. but fortunate
ly for the Tribe. dropped the ball.
Chapman's grounder to Morgan ended
the inning with both teams deadlock
ed-
Iris Speaker opened the final half
of the ninth with long drive to right
center. Sam Rice made a beautiful
catch, spelling legitimate three-baS-
ger. Smith grounded to Morgan, the
ball shooting through Rays legs and
going for a single Elmer swiped sec
ond after Harris had famed, but
wamby came across with clean sin
gle to center. scoring Smith with the
winning run. The score:
u n Al II n A