Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-08
ERICKSON PROVES
WISDOM Of DEAL
Outpitches Ayers, Although
Charged With Defeat by
Tigers in Ten Innings.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
When the ninth inning of the third
and final clash with the Tigers ended
yesterday with the count 3-all 1t was
a foregone conclusion the Nationals
would lose. 1t was the eleventh ex-
ira inning game the Griffs have con-
tested this season. They won the
first of these, on opening day, but
have been able to get no better than
a draw in two of the ten subsequent
marathons. Lose they did by a count
of to in ten rounds, Detroit making
a clean sweep of the series of three
tits and gaining half a game on Cnl-
cago to advance to within five games
of the league leaders. who were held
to an even break in a double-header
at Philadelphia.
But it was only after the most eX-
citing contest staged at american
League Park this season that the
Nationals took the count, and but
for a miserable decision on Bush,
when he was caught off first in the
final session, might have continued
indefinitely 1t was rendered by Um-
pire Chill and gave the spectators
a genuine case Of shivers. BUSH had
coaxed a pass to start the round. and
a snap throw by Erickson to Judge
caught him Ave feet off the sack.
Howls Of disgust greeted the safe
verdict, but Ollie would not feel at
home II a pastime lack such DEM
onstrations, and stood his GROUND.
Young sacrificed Bush to second
Erickson had plenty of time to head
him OF there with a peg to shanks.
but ignored the opportunity and re-
GREETED 1t when Cobb shot single
to left that registered Bush with the
deciding tally.
Dineen Keeps Chill Company.
Chill was not alone in erring
Dineen kept him company, and his
mistake was even more fragrant. 1t
occurred in the third session. in
three tallies. two more than they
were entitled to. Ainsmith opened
with a triple down the right-held line
and scored on Ehmke's single. The
latter was sacrificed to second by
Bush, and after Young famed Cobb
drilled a single to right. Rice fielded
the ball on the run and whipped 1t to
Charity, who tagged Ehmke on the
shoulder with such force as to send
him sprawling his full length away
from the plate. That was as close as
the pitcher ever got to the counting
pan, but Dineen ruled he had reached
ii safely. Cobb took second on the
throw, and scored on a single by
veach. who was left on second.
The combat had as many thrills as
Ban johnson has enemies. The first
of these was produced in the initial
chapter, after Milan had doubled to
right with two gone. The ball struck
close to the foul line, and Ehmke and
Heilmann wanted to. show Dineen the
hole to prove 1t was foul. Judged by
that verdict Of Dineen's at the plate
it probably was, but the arbiter re-
fused to inspect any of the several
dozen depressions along the foul line
and Rice came to bat. Sam belted one
of Howard Ehmke's choice shoots on
line to within few feet of the
scoreboard. The blow looked to be
good for at least three sacks, and
would have but for the fact that Chic
and made a back-handed stab of the
ball. He was given a regular ovation
on his return to the bench.
Eric Shines Against Ayers.
The one big and outstanding fea-
ture Of the fracas, however. was the
belated duel that ensued between
Erickson and Ayers. It was the first
time Eric had faced his former team
ington fans have had to see Ayers
since he was sent to Detroit in ex-
change for the Swede. They were
fguratively on their toes with ex-
pectancy.
Ayers was the first to appear. re-
lieving Ehmke in the fifth after
Leonard had opened with a two-base
blow to right and scored on similar
whack by Pinch Hitter Menosky, who
was subbing for Shaw. Honors went
to Erickson. The new National
finally was charged with defeat, but
"old DR.. Cox had faded from the
pastime before the end came after the
Griffs had knotted the count at his
expense. Judge was the first Of Ayers
former team mates to face him and
lined to Shorten, but Foster plunked
q single to left that registered Menos-
ky, and in the next inning, the sixth,
Murphy, Shanks and Leonard pro-
duced singles that cashed the former
and tied the score. Judge walked to
NIL the bases and Foster had a grand
right there, but his best was a hoist
that Cobb got under.
Sam Rice had an even better chance
in the ninth, when successive singles
by Judge, Foster and Milan filled the
bases, with one out. 1t seemed an
odds-on bet in such a situation, with
Sam up and Charity following him,
that Dauss would be charged with a
defeat for his one inning of toll, but
the latter speared Rice's hot bounder,
forced Judge at the plate with a
mann doubled up Rice at first Muir
ply got no farther than first on his
single. with one out, in the tenth, as
Shanks hoisted to Dyer in right and
Leonard forced Murphy at second