New-York tribune., 1919-05-14

Brooklyn was fighting for more than
the league lead. Long before the pas
time at Ebbets Field was concluded
the scoreboard showed the hated (in
Rrooklyn) Giants victorious over the
champion Cubs. A slip by the Flat
bush Fusiliers would not only have
precipitated Brooklyn out of it's high
and lofty seat, but into tie for sec
ond place with the Polo Grounders as
we'll. The history of the metropolis
is rich in the tradition that the
Dodgers seldom have the stamina to
measure the journey stride for stride
with McGraw's wrecking crew
Aside from prestige of the cold
standings moral principle was at
stake. This particular fray-one
might almost call it the start of a
wallops the rival miracle managers
could deliver in an effort to get the
Jump. Ray Fisher. the Yankee dis
card, who had carried the Reds % four
consecutive victories, was opposed to
the undefeated Big Jeff Pfeffer, archi-
tect of four straight Brooklyn wins.
Both Pitchers Wabbly
To man up a tree it looked very
much as if both pitchers and PLAYERS
let their minds linger too deeply on
the particular Importance of this head
on collision. Neither tosser was hit
particularly hard, save in segregated
spots. But both were inclined to be
wabbly at times. Fisher weakened
perceptibly toward the end. Just why
Pat Moran didn't hoist him is some
what puzzling. Maybe he wished to
play Fishers luck to the limit
Pfeffer, who seemed to have great
dlfficulty in getting the ball up to the
plate now and then and who was
wild as the March hare most OF the
of the fact thai he had been ailing
several days. 1t was against Robbie's
better judgment that Big Jeff forced
himself into the rife-pit once he
OWNED that Moran intended to start
the undefeated Fisher. jeff thought
declination of the issue might be in
terpreted wrongly by the rabid Flat
bush fans.
Pfeffer deserved the victory over
Fisher He showed by far the more
nerve and resource in the pinches.
Errors paved the way to Cincinnati's
first brace of runs. Pfeffer forced in
the other with a hit batsman. The
boys on both sides seemed worried at
the plate in the pinches, though they
rose to the heights on defense. Field
ing both pro and con was brilliant, at
times even superb
Why, Cd Sherry Magee, who was sup
posed to be pAsse seasons ago, made a
running catch Of Krueger's bid FOR a
triple in The third inning that Georgia
Burns himself could not have bettered
The play Of the rival infeids was
thrillingiy satisfactory; superb, on The
whole, indeed. Groh especially distin-
guished around the near corner and it
was mainly due to his reliability that
Fishers chances were carried into
overtime Malone, who had fewer hard
chances, evened it by breaking up the
game at the psychological moment.
True, the Reds did considerable pop
ping up in the pinches yesterday after
noon, but they had little on our Dod-
gers in that respect. Both sides had
plenty of chances to put on the old
crusher. After stealing second in the
first inning Neale was smothered for
the third out on an attempt to nego-
tate third on pitch that. passed
Sherry Magee. Double plays ruined
two good chances for Cincinnati. Hi
Myers wasted a double when he was
trapped fatfooted off second by a snap
throw from Fisher.
The Reds got two runs in the third.
Wingo singled and took an extra base
when Wheat fumbled the ball When
Fisher bunted Pfeffer played the ball
ate to third. Rath grounded to the
box. Then Neale walked, filing the
bases. Kruger threw wildly to catch
Fisher off second; on the error Wingo
scored and Fisher reached third. Groh
singled to left, scoring Fisher. Magee