The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-08
YANKEES ARE
NOW LEADING
GRIFF'S LADS
By WILLIAM H. sLOCUM.


NEW YORK, July S.-The partner
ship Of the Griffmen and Yankees
which extended through one entire
week, has, been dissolved and the
clubs will not meet again until late
next month. Their nine-game series
productive of numerous thrills, LOT
of heavy hitting and several close
battles, went down to the last inning
of the last game before a winner was
decided. Then the honor fell to the
Ysnks at time when it appeared
that the Griffmen had a shutout all
arranged for themselves.
., The uncertainty of the pastirne was
never demonstrated more forcibly
than I'm the final tilt of the long series,
played yesterday afternoon at the
Polo Grounds. For eight innings Eric
Erickson had toyed with the heavy
hitters of the Higgins troupe. They
had collected a total of four singles
I'D to the ninth, only one Yankee get
ting to third base and only one other
10 second. The two-run lead which
the Griffs picked up at the expense
of Ernie Shore seemed as big as two
hundred when the Yankees took up
their clubs to finish the ninth inning.
Hundreds of fans were on their way
10 the, exits.
Then tht, storm broke. Peck open
ed with a clean single to center, and
Baker promptly tied up the game by
hitting far away into the end of the
upper right field stand for home
run. whereupon the hundreds on
their way out turned back to see the
finish. They did not have long to
iinEer.' Duffy Lewis planted a single
TO right field. and Griffith called in
Harry Harper to replace Erickson.
Pipp hunted the first ball pitched to
him and got to first base when
Leonard fell in his attempt to field the
slow roller. That put Lewis on sec
.ond. and wien Pratt followed with a
single of the right field wall Lewis
raced in with the run that settled
the game and made the long series
I'VE games 10 four in favor of the
Yanks.
Enigma to the Ninth.
AS mentioned above, Erickson was
an enigma up to the ninth. In the
fourth inning, with two down. Baker
singled to center, and when Lewis
followed with q single to the same
section Baker hurried along to third.
He was. the only Yankee to get that
far until his roller sent Peck jogging
by the final turn in the ninth.
= Peck singled to center in the sixth
inning. and Hannah hit to left with
two out in the seventh. That was the
extent Of the New York stick work
for eight innings, so the big rally in
4, the ninth was as unexpected as a bolt
from the blue
The Griffs led from the second
= frame until the Yanks put on the big
smash in the anal inning. In the sec
ond Val Picinich got the home-run
fever that has been affecting both
clubs and pushed one of Shores
shoots into the left-field bleachers for
the circuit. This drive was the only
score up to the seventh. when Erick-
son hit to center. got two extra bases
on Bodies tumble, and scored on
Leonard's rap to Pratt
Foster Il Brilliant.
Foster again gave a brilliant ex-
: hibition of third-base play, just as
she had been doing in the earlier
games OF the series. His catch of
Bodies foul in the fifth was one of
the real high lights of the game.
4
the second inning to make a circus
catch OF Pratt's long smash. The
catch robbed the Yankees Of double
Al least.
Nick AItrock was the target for a
shower OF coins from some fans be- 1
hind the Washington bench. They |
pulled the same stunt on the Wash I
ington comedian here last year. Nick /
old not announce the official fig 4
ures of his collection.
Erickson was reached by Peckin- |
psugh for two singles. one in the
sixth and the other in the ninth, so /
Pcekl's hitting streak now has been /
carried through tW enty eight consec-
utive games
After Erickson had pitched three |
consecutive balls to Baker in the /
ninth Picinich walked TO the box and |
held a conference with his battery l
mate. The next was a strike and /
then Baker took his swing. driving !
, the ball into the upper stand for a I
home run. which tied up the game.
Erickson followed the course OF Bak-
ers smash with the same enthusiasm /
that fellow would watch his bank
roll fall from a Bridge and into the /
river. disappointment was written /
all over his face. II was a sad blow /
TO Eric. who seemed safely on ais !
way TO shutout victory.
WILL PLAY SATURDAY.
Home plays Holmead. Racquet /