New-York tribune., 1918-05-04
Coombs Better
Than Mayer if
Phils DoScore
Moran's Groggy Crew Ends
Runlessness After 80 In
nings-Count Is 81
By Charles A. TAYLOR

A0 oio PlCcAeiS, IKE ola VINE, I'M
prove with age. Jack Coombs has been
a pitcher who has gone to the we'll so
often that it was high time he was
broken. But the Phillies yesterday
lacked the necessary punch to break
Pitcher Coombs. Old Colby Jack had
a hunch that team that was unable
to score run in twenty-seven innings
would be easy picking for him, and he
was right. The score in Coombs's favor
was 5 to 2.
The sterling box work Of this aged
veteran proved to Uncle Robbie that
he had, in addition to Larry Cheney,
who performed the great feat of beat
ing the Giants, in his possession a.rec-
ord twirler who could deliver the goods.
Mamauxs may come and Mamauxs may
go, but with Jack Coombs and
Larry Cheney on his pitching staff
Squire Ebbets should not despair. The
Squlre's team is bound to win some
games.
Strange, is it not, that of all the
pitching phenoms that appear on the
back lots and win the acclaim of the
seml-pro fans practically none has ap-
peared on the big league diamonds thus
far to fill the breach caused by the
call to the greater game abroad? It is
oecomlng more and more apparent that
baseball this year is going to be
battle of the dyed-in-the he-wools.
There must be some promising youths
outside the draft who would fit in very
nicely under present conditions, but
Uncle Robbie, Miller Higgins and all
the rest of the big league managers
have searched in vain for just such
boys. The big league season gives
promise of being series of games be-
tween veterans and for the edifcation
CT veteran fans alone. No new blood
on the field OR in the stands is the
outlook.
Loyal 600 Are Still
Six hundred Flatbush fans. for in
stance, saw the game at Ebbets Field
yesterday. They naturally rejoiced in
the cunning displayed by old Jack
Coombs and the victory which finally
came to the Dodgers as result Of
Colby Jacks efficiency. But the ardor
OF youth was sadly missing in their
behavior. Brooklyn fans of yore used
to make their presence felt in far more
vigorous fashion, as many National
League umpire can testify. But the
old game must go on. So here it goes:
The Phillies were unable to get the
semblance OF hit off Old Jack in
their half of the first inning, but the
Dodgers had no such respect for
Mayer, the Quaker pitcher. Ivan Olson.
the first man up, doubled to right field.
Molly O'Mara then perpetrated his
third sacrifice hit in two games, Ivan
gong to third, whence he scored on
Jake Daubert's fly to Cactus Cravath.
Ill Myers urew base on balls. but
was caught in an attempted steal of
second.
The Dodgers added two more runs in
the second frame. Whitted dropped
Johnston's skyscraper, end Jimmy raced
70 thlrd when Hickman doubled over
Cravaths head in right. Schmandt
singled sing through short and Johnston
tailed. Hickman advancing to third.
Pearce, who succeeded McGaffiigan at
second when the latter had his thumb
spiked In the first inning, fumbled a
grounder by Mack Wheat and Hick-
man counted. Coombs went out on a
sacrifice. Mayer to Pearce. But Mayer
pulled himself together and famed
both Olson and O'Mara.
Phillies Finally Score
The Phillies scored their first run in
thirty-threc innings in the seventh
Whltted doubled to left and crossed the
plate on Meusel's single to centre field.
Every one seemed glad to see the
fhlllles garner run after their ter
rible experience with the McGraw men.
Even Jack Coombs broadened his usual
smlle by an extra inch or two as Whit
ted dashed over the rubber.
FIatbuSh got into action ara;n - ~ j.
eighth and made things most obnoxious
to Mr.. lineup, who had relieved avaS Mavar
on the mound for the isitors. Win
one man gone Jake Daubert SINGLED to
centre and shot to second on Meusel,s
poor return to the infeld. Hi Myers
struck another safe blow to RIGHT ana
Jake Tailed. Myers went out stea1ine
put Johnston walked and stole seconi
Mr.. lineup filled to the brim his howl
OF woe by throwing to centre field in
an endeavor to nab Johnston off sec
ond; The Brooklyn athlete took third
OF on the bungle. Jimmy Hickman smote
the pail to right centre for three bags
and Johnston strolled home. Schmandt
s Mas tossed out by the Phillie pitcher
and Jimmy was left stranded
o1,l une rhiilles made most surprising
rally IN the ninth after Whitted had
flied to centre. Meusel made his sac. nao
ond consecutive single and scored IN
,Llncup's double to centre after Burns
had popped out to Olson. Bancroft
met the ball weakly and gave Mvars ~ on :,
easy fly. The Phillies were t6roneh
ana seemingly perfectly content With
their first runs in four games. 'A'
rat Moran's men will not be con-
tenders for the next world chamn;on-
snip. There is more hope for Brook