Evening star., 1918-04-20
VERDICT FOR AYERS
IN DUEL WITH GREGG
Shanks' Single Produces Lone
Run-Smart Play by Lavan
Stops Mackmen.
BY .DENMAN THOMPSON.

4 %
semi-arctic weather and subtropical
base ball was the program provided for a
rather lean crowd on hand to see the 1918
bow of the Athletics yesterday, and the
Enthusiasts were well rewarded for brav-
ling the chilly zephyrs by seeing the
Nationals register 1-to-0 victory in
the best game thus far witnessed at
1.-THE Georgia avenue plant.
A pitching duel of high order was
Supplied by Sylvanus A. Gregg. the vet
Ieran portsider. and Yancey Wyatt
Ayers After a year in the sticks-with
Providence of the International League
Gregg is attempting a comeback.
and, judged by his performance yester-
lday the former Cleveland and Boston
hurler is destined to get away with 1t
in great shape. He permitted the
IGriffmen only three hits and issued but
one pass, and with good support the
decision would have been deferred till
beyond rhe regulation nine innings
Doc Ayers also delivered highly cred
liable mound performance. the eight
bingles registered off him being appor-
toned one to an inning. His backing
also was far superior to that accorded
the Mackian box artist. and therein lies
| the answer to the fact that the Attn.
iletics remain unmarked in the won
column, while Griffmen have drawn up
| to the point where their victories bal
ance their defeats at two each.
Visitors Threatened in Opener.
It appeared for a time the Nationals
were going to continue their aggravat-
( ing habit of spotting the enemy one or
more runs in the opening round when
Charley Jameson walked and took
third on George Burns double which
struck the bag Eddie Foster guards.
Judge came to the rescue with nne
stop that retired Clarence Walker and
hope was supplemented with spec
tacular double play that stopped
menacing rally in the eighth inning
little doubt remained as to which camp
possessed the horseshoe that meant
ultimate victory. The sacks were load
ed with enemy runners at the time,
with none out, as a result OF Morgan,s
boot on Gregg's bounder, Kopp's bunt
that Ainsmith fired too late to first, ana
pass to Jameson. Larry Gardner.
dangerous hitter, lifted long fly that
Shanks had to back up for, and with
the catch Gregg started for the plate.
Hank heaved homeward. The peg had
sufficient carry, but was ticketed to
land some six feet wide of the platter.
Doc Lavan ran in, took the throw. then
whirled and shot the ball to Afnsmith
in time to snuff the lanky moundsman
sliding into the block. Kopp reached
third on it, but Milan took care OF
Burns and the threat died.
Until the ninth only three Griffmen
faced Gregg each inning. except In the
fourth, when Shotton got the first hit of
Vean and was forced by Foster. who. in
turn. was forced by Milan. Zeb pilfered
second, but Shanks was not ready then.
Howard deferred his one offensive effort
until the ninth, and then produced it just
in time to prevent the battle from going
into extra innings. With Ainsmith out
Of the way, Ayers drew the only walk
Gregg issued and hotfooted it to second
on Shotton's second hit. a liner to right.
Foster lifted to Jameson, but Shannon
booted Milan's Offering, filling the bases
and putting 1t up to Shanks. The crowd
had confidence in the Monacan and he
justified it by dropping a Texas Lacquer
near the foul line In right that neither
Jameson, Shannon nor Burns could reach,
and Ayers crossed the plate with the only
tally of the contest.
Mcbride First to Get the Gate.
Mcbride drew the distinction of being
the first Griffman chased of the field
gate in the sixth for protesting too
vehemently when Umpire Nallin call
ed Aimsmith's drive over third q foul
ball. The ball hit in fair territory, but
Nallin contended 1t was outside when
it passed over the sack
Eddie Foster made a nervy catch of
foul ball OF Burns bat in the sixth.
picking the ball off the roof of the
visitors dugout. and Joe Judge put up
a viewer exhibition at the initial sack.
Jamiesons drive in the sixth struck
Ayers on his pitching hand. Harry
Harper was rushed out to warm up.
but the doctor gamely stuck to his
task and was well repaid by having a
victory credited to him. Score: