Evening star., 1919-08-15
SPEAKER SEES AL.
FLAG FOR INDIANS
Other Experts Believe Race
Will Narrow to White Sox,
Tigers and Browns.
TRIBE BEATS GRIFFS, 4-3
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

D =
CLEVELAND. Ohio, August 15.-
There is a feeling among those who
are watching the race in the Ameri-
can League that the field of five con-
tenders shortly will be narrowed to
three. Cleveland and New York elm
mated. and Chicago, Detroit and St
Louis left to fight it out. Quite nat
urally. this view is not shared by
iris Speaker, the Indian chieftain.
who has the rather novel notion that
the drive of the tribe down the home
stretch on foreign fields next month
will land it on top.
THE Indians always have been
great September team" Spoke argues.
They reach their best in the final
finish as the race nears it's close Our
two greatest rivals, the White Sox
and Tigers, also will be on the road
in September, which is the month OF
the eastern clubs to spend at home
We are better road team than either
the White Sox or Tigers.
I'VE are all expecting to make up
some ground during this stay at home
and we will be set for the final dash
as we leave for that long September
trip. Just let our pitchers get to go
ing with any consistency, as they bid
fair to do at any time. and they can't
stop us. Right now Coveleskie is the
only hurler delivering with regular
ity, but Bagby, Myers, Jasper and
Morton are likely to get started most
any day, and the reserves-Klepfer
Uhle and Faeth-ought to help out,
too.
Il don't concede that any other team
has an edge on US as ball club. The
White Sox have a fair lead on US in
games won, but we ought to beat
them. The Tigers have better pitch
ing and hitting right now than the
White Sox. but they, too, have their
ins and outs. Don't lose sight of the
Indians. They still are very much in
this race"
1t was a heart-breaker the Griffs
lost yesterday to the Indians in their
opening contest of the invasion of the
west. The score was to 3, the Tribe
showing over the winning counter in
the ninth on a walk to Thomas. Uhle's
sacrifice and a clean smash to left by
Harris. Erickson outpitched Jasper,
and but for the same old weakness,
weak support. would have been re-
turned the winner. The first sieve
like exhibition cropped up in the
opener, when the Tribe loaded the
bases with a walk to Graney and
bunts by Chapman and Speaker.
Shanks backed up for Smiths fly and
the first out. Gardner then pounded
Graney forced at the plate, but Char
rity muffed the ball, and run No. 1
was over. Erickson forced in another
tally by failure to locate the plate for
Wamby, then famed Johnston and
got out of the hole with only two
tallies charged against him, when
O'Neil smashed to Leonard. who tag
ged Gardner on the line
The Griffs got one back in the third.
when Shanks hit safely, took third
on Janvrin's single to center and
scored on Erickson's out. Leonard's
bingle placed fanny on third, Joe stole
sacks with only one out, and Milan
and Rice coming up. However. fanny
died at the plate on Zeb's roller to
Wamby and Rice forced Milan. An
other chance to stow the game away
was offered in the fourth when Me-
a pitched ball and Shanks singled, to
crowd the corners with none out. The
run scored by Menosky when Janvrin
hit into a double play was all that ac-
crued. as Erickson proved easy.
When the Nationals took the lead
in the seventh it was with the aid OF
an alien error. Shanks poked out his
third straight hit, stole second as
Janvrin famed and continued on to
third on ONeilrs poor throw. Again
an infield out on Erickson scored him.
And it was due to a miscue by Leonard
that the tribe tied IT up in this round.
One out, ONeill doubled to left and
Pinch Hitter Harris walked. Eric fam
ned Graney, but Leonard, after stop
ping Chapman's hard rap. threw wild
TO Judge. and Evans. running for
ONeill. scored. Janvrin then backed
int vic Aol m or
Judge opened the eighth against
Chle who succeeded Jasper. by
humping a double to right. and MI
where Rice and Menosky left him
the former giving Chapman chance
to shine with a fine catch of his foul
fly and the latter tanning for the
third time during the matinee
shortstop Jimmy O'Neill of the
Shreveport (Texas League) team, has
been purchased by the Nationals
ONeill is a brother of Steve O'Nein
Cleveland catcher.
Another young pitcher also has
been added in the person of George
Golden. He Is a husky right-handeI
of fve feet eleven inches and 17t
before the manager left Washington
Golden has been sent to Norfolk tC
work until the Nationals return tc
Washington early in September. He /:
twenty-one years old and has had nc
experience except that gained ir
semi-professional ranks in the vicin.
ity of Boston.
Charity was hit over the heart BY
a wild heave by Jasper in the fourth
round. and it appeared for time hi
would have to quit work. but game.
stuck to his task until the seventh
when a foul tip struck him on the
left knee and made 1t necessary fol
Picinich to relieve him.
Jim Shaw Is listed to hurl for tn,
Griffs in the second of the SCI
against the Indians today. His boz
rival may be Bagby. Myers or Morton
Morton.
Leonard will continue at third ant
Janvrin at second base until Foste
rejoins the team. probably within tn,
a next week.
HA