New-York tribune., 1918-06-23
Will Open Battle With Red
Sox for League Leader
ship Here Tomorrow
Bv Charles A. Taylor

Nick Altrock as a, comedian on the
coaching line can't be beaten. AS a
pitcher he has been beaten twice this
year in three starts. The Yankees
beat the serious Nick yesterday, but
they had timely assistance from Um-
pire Brick Owens, whose questionable
decision at second base in the seventh
inning set the stage for the three runs
scored by the Yanks.
A remarkable throw in the eighth
by Elmer Miller, who was subbing for
little Gilhooley in right, also put a
check on the really fine pitching Of
the man who is the life Of every game
that the Senators play.
1t would have been a shame to trans
fer Nick from the mound. where he
was working 50 cleverly, to the coach
ing box where he labors more cev-
erly, but, oh, how the fans did wish
that Nick, the fount of fun, did not
have to be serious when they needed
his comedy to enliven q sleepy game!
The final score of the conflict Of
yesterday was to in favor of the
Yanks, and the victory of the home
lads enabled them to get an even break
with the Griff men. The fact that
the Red Sox were unable to meet the
Athletics because of rain brought the
Huggins crew bit nearer the pace
makers. That series between the two
leaders which opens at the Polo
Grounds tomorrow should be hum
mer.
Senators Face Caldwell
The Senators had Ray Caldwell to
face when they marched to the plate
in the first inning. Shotton erased
Rays smile in an instant by beating
out hit to Peck in deepest short.
Eddie Foster, former Yank, doubled
against the right field wall, scoring
Shotton. But Eddie was out trying
to stretch his blow into a triple.
Judge popped to Peck and Milan got
in the way of one of Caldwell's wild
period on the proceedings by lifting
to Baker.
The lordly strut of Nick as he
marched to the box to assume the
twirling burden for the visitors
brought AN explosion Of handclaps
from the fans. But that was the last
of the comedy furnished by Nick. He
was primed to show the friendly fans
who had laughed with him and at him
SO many years that his present job
meant business.
And in that first drive at Nick only
the stolid Baker Of all Murderers' Row
regarded Altrock as a funny man.
The rest treated him as real pitcher.
But Bake, with two out, strode to the
plate with determination to put Nick
back in the coaching box, where the
Trappe farmer thought he belonged.
So Bake lifted the ball into the right
field stand for home run. The smash
tied the score, but it failed to feaze
Nick, who retired the terrible Pratt
with ease.
Yanks Get Another Run
Tho Yankees gathered another run
in the second as the result Of Bodies
single to right, after Pipp had flied to
Milan, a base on balls and Caldwell's
smite down the first base line, which
netted Ray two bases. The Yanks then
rested from their labors until the
seventh, when Brick Owens, the um-
pire, turned against Nick and paved
the way for three runs.
Marsans opened the seventh with d
single to left. Hannah tapped the ball
to Nick, who threw to second to force
Marsans, and it did seem as though
the Cuban was out. but Owens ruled
otherwise, and the storm broke over
Nick's head. Caldwell sacrificed and
Miller met one of Alrrock's slower
ones with a clout to left centre that
went for two bases and tailed Mar
sans and Hannah; Peck Aied to Shot
tan but Baker banged aingls to right