The Washington herald., 1918-05-16
Eighteen-Inning Battle
Captured by Nationals
c. Williams Wild Heave
Paves Way for Grifmen
to Beat White Sox.

Florida avenue stadium became the
land of the midnight SUM- yesterday
afternoon when Grinrs Nationals
handed q setback to the world cham
pion White Sox in an eighteen-inning
combat by a 1-to-O count.
II was a pitchers duel all the way.
King Pin Walter johnson working
the entire route for the Nationals.
while Claude Williams, of southpaw
in-and-out fame, did the duties for
the White Sox. Claude has no one
to blame for this overtime defeat
but his wee little SELF as his wild
heave In the eighteenth gave the
Grinmen their lonesome tally and
sent to a very late supper some 4.0oO
fans who were keyed up to high pitch.
Starting these ball games at 40 Is
all good and proper, but when they
ask local fandom to sit through two
real pitching battles II IL more than
Is desired as many ''wayouts'' jumped
into one-armed lunch rooms to over
come the starvation period caused by
Umpire-in-Chief Hildebrand, in work
ing this game through the midnight
sun period"
Outside Of Williams wild heave,
which paved the way for the locals,
Walter johnson and Eddie Ainsmith
are credited with timely clouts which
put the Nationals in the running. It
happened In the eighteenth after Fos-
ter had popped out. Ainsmith singled
to center and moved all the way to
the far corner when Johnny Collins
delayed q few seconds in recovering
Johnson's clout in the same territory.
The Nationals rooters appealed to
Bert Shotton to deliver and because
of being over-anxious this speedy out
fielder allowed q hook ball to pass
over. He fouled on the next and
things looked dreary for local fan
dom. but Claude williams made the
next issue a gift by heaving a curved
ball to the grand stand which placed
Afnsmith over the dish with the de-
Gliding tally.
Many opportunities were presented
to'both teams to push taIlies through
but emergency air-tfght pitching
clamped down the lid. Johnson's
credit for nine strikeouts Is not any
thing remarkable, as Claude Williams
fell victim on five occasions, and Ris-
berg twice. Sensational fielding by
1.avan, Judge and Shanks at different
times saved the day for. the locals,
while the champion White Sox out
field was compelled to work overtime
in tearing down twenty-three cIouts
in their directions.
Claude Williams. although wild
pitching himself out Of this over
time battle. demonstrated that he has
more in HIS southpaw slant than the
ordinary HEAVIER. as he forced the
Nationals to pop up for six straight
innings and not until the seventh did
the Grinmen ground one to the inner
works. this com.rS kOm the bat of
Johnny Lavan. Milan Immediately
followed with sineie to center.
Hopes of no-hit fame slightly ratified
the southpaw twirler, as he issued
free Iansportation to Howard
Shanks, but Joe Judges effort was
a fly to Collins.
Morgan was hit in the ribs in the
next session and moved along by Fos-
ter's blow to right, but Afnsmith's
attempt 20 sacrifice resulted in a
force-out of Ray at the far corner.
Hopes were past when johnson and
Lavan skyed the ball. The Nationals
did not have smother chance until
the twelfth, when two men were
down and Judge singled over second
and Morgan drew a free pass. but
Foster was not there with the pinch
punch.
In the first session the White Sox
proved a worry to the Kansas Cy-
clone, as hurphy's hit and Lavan's
error Of Weaver's mfeld out made
them look very much alive, but a
fast double play by Lieut. Johnny
killed on the going