The Washington times., 1918-05-29


Striding along four games behind
the leaders, the worlds champions
are well prepared TO take advantage
of any slip on the part OF the Bos-
tonians. Four games is little or moth
ing at this stage of the race, and
Manager Rowland's confidence in the
future is built on solid ground
The Griffmen themselves are but
seven games behind first place. A
short winning streak can put them
well up among the leaders. Griff's
team has always been considered a
good road club. II 1t can better It's
work Of the past three weeks, when
il played 800 per cent ball at Georgia
avenue, the makeup OF the league
race this time next month may be
Tar different from what it is now.
Giants Hold Margin.
The Giants are still holding the
lead in the National League, but by
a margin OF but one game. The first
swing through the West was disas-
trous to the McGraw clan. The ILL
ness OF Larry Doyle, with a batting
slump on the part of Zimmerman,
Kauff and Burns, has brought the
leaders right back with the others
until today the Chicago Cubs are
just one step behind first place.
The National League is not bunch
ed as much as that in Ban Johnson's
circuit For instance, where the
third place Browns are but three and
a half games behind the Red Sox, the
third place Cincinnati Reds are five
behind the Giants. with the fourth
place Pirates seven behind first
place
The coming OF warm weather has
had its effect upon the pitching. 1t
is noticeably better now than it was
a month back, and the sluggers' rec
ords are coming back to normal. I'm
less Uncle Sam steps in and breaks
up present combinations, Il will soon
be possible to dope out possible re-
suits
GrihE Gone a Month.
The GriTs will be gone about
month. Playing ive games in three
days at Boston, beginning today
with a double header, they swing all
around the West and call in at New
York before returning TO the home
lot
II is expected that New York. which
has a postponed game in the Capital,
will play il of on Sunday, June %.
On the following afternoon will open
the second long home stay. Begin
ming on June "a, they will meet every
team in the league in this order,
Philadelphia, Boston, New York, st.
Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, and Chi
cago.
The Washington club is expected to
start all games at $3.50 hereafter. The
80 experiment has not proved sue
Cessful. the fans declining to look at
only part OF 4 EAmo or - wait fD-
the enter contest at the expense Of
4 warm dinner and other evening
engagements.
Tigers Take Last One.
The Tigers took the final game Of
their first series here. a slow, tedious, |
sticky affair, with a score OF TO .. |
Walter Johnson had a chance TO tie |
up things in the ninth when he came |
to bat with two on and two gone, but |
Walter was handicapped by a play toy |
bat and ingloriOUsly whitfield.
EriCk Erickson, who battled so I
nobly last Friday for sixteen frames, |
contributed another fine exhibition |
yesterday. Until the eighth ne had |
staggered but one, the Griffs scoring |
q run on three blows in the second.
He weakened slightly in that eightn, |
issuing his first free pass in twenty |
four innings. He was suffering from
the heat in the final frames, but
gamely stuck 20 his task, closing the |
contest with two strikeoUts in success
sion.
Bert Shotton's bum peg gave the /
Tigers their first run in the second. |
Witt had singled when StanREe did |