The Washington herald., 1919-04-25
Nationals Loose Extra
Inning Battle to Athletics
Griffs Tie Game Twice Only to Have Victory
Snatched From Their Grasp in I'm
lucky Thirteenth Inning
BY JOHN A DUGAN.

pilot showed his trump card yester-
day. presenting a wrecking crew OF
Roth. Burns and Witt company that
cannot be denied. as the swatting
powers Of this trio OF gentlemen not
only kept the Sunderland Crew in
the running. but materialized in CIV
ing Maurice Shannon a chance TO
play the hero act which resulted in
the Nationals taking defeat at the
hands of the Athletics after thirteen
innings Of battle by a count OF to o.
Sailor Boy Maurice, from the ma
tive soil Of the Jersey skeeters, de-
liyered the punch that made victory
possible for the visiting tribe. while
little Cy Perkins, from the five-cor-
ners section Of Atlanta, led the way
and Tailed the winning counter. but
il was this new wrecking crew com
bination that jumped into the limelight
that made possible Shannon and Per-
kins doing the last-trench stand
Had our old friend. Secretary Dan
ieIs, lust kept Whitley Witt kicking
around a few months longer in that
Charleston L. S. n. League. then
maybe the Grifimen would have been
able TO annex another overtime bat
lie but somehow Whitley" slipped
through the strings that hold neces-
sary athletes in the navy, Just IN
time to make life miserable for Harry
Harper and some 5000 fans who were
CONTAGIOUS enough to brave the WIN
try winds to witness the game.
This 'chaIky' Little COB Just went
wild in the base hit column. and like
all "Jackies" when out for a GOOD
time. could not make his batting eye
behave. Witt busted the old apple
for a fare-you-well and accounted Tor
u quartet of the Mackmen's counters,
while Bobby Roth. famed for his craO-
bin=. and Benedict George Burns
waited on the pathways for assistance
Witt figured all pitching alike and on
two occasions had TIE old ball same
packed away on the right side OF the
LEDGER. only to see his team mates
boot it away or have Clark Grlthth
null something IN the unexpected l'ne
that netted counters that forced the
chilling. freezing fandUm to MRS per-
fectly good hot suppers.
Witt was not the only athlete work
ing overtime. as Zeb Milan did every
thing possible to land the verdict foT
the locals. even to placing his bean IN
front If AndcrsOu's curved ball that
forced in the tying counter, but the
necessary punch was lacking that an
nsNes ball games. II was n hard pill
for the Nationals to swallow, as the
Nackmeu started an assault in the
sixth frame on Harper's offerings that
evened the battle. and in the seventh,
when Craft appeared % he off to =
flying start. this slugGinE combina-
tion Of Roth. Burns aud Witt went 10
work on him and gathered in tally
that forced Clark Griffith TO almost
change his lineup upside downward.
Johnnie Watson. from the lowlands
OF Louisiana, started the mound duties
for Mack's tribe, and. although nc
pitched fair ball. Connie relieved him
OF the burden in the seventh. and sub
stituted a southpaw from the navy
Anderson's slants had the locals pUZ-
Zled throughout. as but three hits
were obtained off his flinging. but his
wiIdness. coupled with wild heaving
by Thomas. gave the Nationals the
opportunity to tie up the count in the
ninth.
Harper got away to a flying start
for the locals. but in the sixth frame.
after Ike Davis erred and George
Burns crashed the bull sign with n
double. he weakened to such an ex-
tent that the Old Fox called in Mollie
Craft as A relief hurler. The Ports
mouth younEster Jared better than
was expected during such a cold after
noon. but he was hustled to the show
ars in the Nationals ninth when
Eddie Charity was used as a pinch
hitter.
Little Harry Thompson's southpaw
slants then puzzled the Mackmen un-
ii the twelfth when the ROth-Burns-
Witt combination again took the
cad only to he tied up. And in the
welfth Cy Perkins and Morris Shan
ION did the trick that gave the Mack
non tally that could not be over
,Ome by the locals.
Griff's tribe jumped off to a flying
start when Judge drew a pass and
'oster advanced him with a sacrifice.
Milan scratched through Shannon, but
Judge was over the pan when Me-
losky was retired. Burns to Shannon.
Two more We're added for the Nation
ais in the fifth when Val Picinich
irew "A pass and Harper sacrificed
aim along. Judge tripled to the ''Vel-
Ect Kind sign in right center, but
Sas forced down at the plate when
Foster grounded to Dugan. ''Fatima"
managed to get to the midway sack
IN Int play ana counted Ine NatlOn-
ais third score when Milan hit to
center.
The Mackmen obtained three in the
sixth when Roth hit to Davis who al
owed the ball to carOm through his
,eEs. Burns doubled. placing Roth at
bird. and both runners counted when
Witt singled 10 right, whitley
moving up a peg on the throw-in.
Thomas sacrificed and Whitley
crossed the pan when Dugan hit to
eft. The Macks grabbed of the lead
-or the first time in the seventh after
.wo were down when Roth hammered
blow to left of Crafts slants.
George Burns was hit by a pitched
nall and Witt made possible the coun-
Ter with his second blow to right field.
The Nationals evened the issue in
he ninth when Picinich obtained life
On Thomas error. The former Boston
player threw wild for the second time
IN Gharrity's grounder, the latter
pinch hitting for Craft. Judge fouled
out. but Foster drew free transporta-
ion. loading the bases. and the run
y hich forced the athletics into an