The Washington herald., 1919-04-13
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

Charlotte, N. c.. April l2-Charlotte
fans and fannettes saw the mighty"
fall today. Yes, .he mighty Walter
Johnson's inability to field a slow
batted grounder directly at him cost
the Nationals the opening game Of
the exhibition series at Wearn Fietd
with the Philadelphia Nationals by a
5-to-4 count. The mighty smoke-bafl
artist had been highly advertised to
perform on the mound, and in order
TO please these Tarheel fans Griff senr
Barney" to the firing line for one
frame. -f%- .s
The bombardment that the Quaker
City tribe presented the Kansas Cy-
clone in this one session proved enough
to give them the edge after nine slow
lifeless innings, as both .Hovlik and
Matteson allowed Coomb's slusging
outfit but one run while the Griffmen
were gathering in quartet of coun-
ters off a trio of Quaker slabmen.
Only one run would have been scored
off Johnson's smoke If he had fielded
his position like he is capable of do
ing, but as the score card now stands.
old man Matteson is credited with de-
feat as the Phillies settled the issue
for good and for all in their final
half OF the ninth.
Davy Bancroft upset the beans for
Barney in the opening frame. when
he smashed the. horse hide over the
right field garden wall. after Callahan
had proved easy picking on a foul
fly to Shanks. Baird pushed the ball
slowly at Walter. but the big train
got tangled up in solving its course
and Baird arrived safe. Meusel hoist
ed out, but hits by Luderus and Cy
Williams, coupled with a stolen base
and an error by Shanks helped the
Sunderland tribe to two more count
ers. which proved just enough handi-
cap for Coomb's hired men to land
the verdict
Eddie Hovlik went like a house
on fire during his four rounds stay
in the center of the diamond, as a
scratch bingle by Callahan was the
best the Brotherly Love club could
gather off his sIants, although d
base on balls and an error by Fos-
ter gave the National Leaguers
their lone tally off the lanky Ohioan
in the third. In this frame Ban
croft again started the trouble by
drawing free transportation and
was sacrificed along by Baird. Meu-
sci grounded to Hovlik, who at
tempted to cut down Bsnny at the
hot corner but Foster dropped the
pill. giving both runners life. Lu-
derus then sent long fly to Shanks
on which Bancroft rushed over the
pan but there was no more scoring.
as williams grounded to Judge.
frankie Callahan's bouncing
bounder caused Old Man Matteson
to make few remarks, that
would not look good in type. as
the Dallas 'youngster" had pulled
himself through three holes only
to see the game go up in smoke.
Cady popped out to start the ses-
sion but Cravath. batting for
Oeschger. sarted the rally with a
single to right. Matty advanced
him a peg with a wild heave and
little Callahan did the trip with a
lucky bounder that hoped past
Judge.
Pirate" Jacobs faced the Nationals
in the first three innings and outside
of a two-base whack by Foster and
a blow by Milan he proved invinCible
but young Woodward. from the Asso-
citation. who took up the burden. got
into hot water by wildness, as the
Grifith tribe went TO work on him
in the fourth for two markers. Davis
and Agnew both looked over wide
ones, but Hovlik whitfield the air.
Judge filled the sacks. when Wood
ward granted him pass, but Foster
failed to help matters any. as he
famed.
The Nationals were not to he de
MED. as Milan crashed TO center field
and both Davis and AEnew raced
across the dish, but Judge was cut
down sliding into third.
Rec tripled off Woodward in the
fourth, and Shanks walked. Davis
then made possible another run with
long fly to Williams, but Picinich
ended the run getting by grounding
out. The Nationals evened the count
in the sixth when Joe shannon, pinch
hitting for Hovlik, scratched blow
to left field and tailed on Foster 5
double in the same direction.
II there were any breaks in the ma