Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-23
GR|FFS, ONCE four
RUNS AHEAD, LOSE
Errors Back of Johnson Late
in Game Allow Browns to
Win, 5 to 4.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

! ST. LOUIS, May 23.-The Nationals
are running true to their st. Louis
! form. Losing a well-pitched game by
! Jim Shaw Wednesday by the smallest
! possible margin because of f1uke
Texas league double, they offset an
! other good hurting effort yesterday
| by failure to support Walter johnson.
After acquiring lead of four runs
| and chasing the former Washington
| ian, Bert Gallia, to the showers, whlle
Johnson was holding the enemy to a
brace of scattered infield hits, they
wabbled in the seventh and elghth
rounds and permitted the Browns to
compile victory which carried them
into the first division, the Red Sox
again having been humbled in Tiger
town.
Manager Griffith switched his pitch
ing dope because of the wet field and
held Harper out of the fray. There is
no assurance Doc Ayers will not be
asked to do hill duty this afternoon,
but if not Harry. undoubtedly. Will be
called on. 1t appears Washlngton's
best chance of anne&inG a victory in
the Mound city is with the big south
paw toeing the slab against the left
handed hitters the Burkemen depend
upon largely for their offensive
strength.
Foster and Shanks were the culprlts
who's, misdeeds contributed so much
to the undoing Of the Griffs yester-
day. Prior to the seventh it seemed
likely the Nationals were going TO
continue their fiashy gilt-edge fielding
of the day before. Foster. Judge and
Janvrin turning in some particularis
meritorious work. But the bloY of
came in the seventh, which Tobin
started with an infield hit. The Griffs
had plenty of warning that ne IN
tended to lay it down, but the bunt
was so we'll placed Tobin beat Az
news peg to first SisIer drilled hot
crack straight through Judge that
sent Tobin to third. and Jacobson
walked Three on and nobody out.
The situation was eased somewhat
when Janvrin made nice catch of
Sloan's pop fly in short right, and it
seemed the Browns rally was due to
die when Gerber rolled to Foster. but
the midget muffed the ball, Tobin
scoring. and two more waltzed home
when Demmitt. hitting for Mayer.
head that Shanks could not quite
reach. The Browns still were run
to the bad. however, as Pinch Hitter
SEVERED hit into double play, start
ed by Janvrin.
Pilot Griffith was Influenced to
switch back to Janvrin as his second
baseman by the fact that Leonard's
batting eye is woefully beclouded.
fanny got no hits. but got on the
bases twice through the medium of
watchful waiting and appeared more
like his old self in the field. In the
five games since week ago yester-
day, when Leonard was installed at
the keystone sack. he was officially
at bat fifteen times and connected
for only one hit. He scored on this
lone occasion and on one of the two
times he walked in that period. He
felded fairly we'll, making but two
errors. One of these cost a run, but
cropped up in game which the Ma
tionalS won by an overwhelming
score.
Threatening. chilly weather again
held down the attendance, only about
$50 fans visiting the ball park They
displayed plenty of enthusiasm. how
ever, and it is believed that with one
fair day here this trip the Washing
ton club may more than make its ex-
penses. 1t has fallen far short of the
mark thus far.
Pitcher Wilkerson. whom Nick Alt
rock went to Columbus to look over.
needs only to develop change OF
pace to stand good chance of max
ing good in the American League, ac-
cording to the coach. Wilkerson is
and is built along the lines of Molly
Craft, being six feet tall but thin.
Nick reported that the prospect has
a lot of speed. "a good curve bail ana
fair control. Griff has communicated
with Manager Tinker, and If salts
factory arrangements can be made,
will give Wilkerson trial.