Evening star., 1919-04-18
NATIONALS LOSE
THINNING GAME
Kauff'S Catch Saves Giants,
Who Win, 4-3-Chance to
Even in Richmond Today.
TEAMS HERE TOMORROW
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

RICHMOND, Va, April 1S.-Whether
the Nationals go home tomorrow for
the first of the two final exhibitions
with the Giants on an even footing
with their rivals or on the short end
of a one to three count in games won
and lost depends upon the outcome
of the fourth skirmish of the series
here today. they having been nosed
out, 4-3. in twelve-inning clash at
Norfolk yesterday.
Yaneey Wyatt Ayers. the native
is not far from this metropolis, is
listed to start in the box against the
New Workers. with either Matteson
or Thompson. possibly Dot... see.hG
duty later on. McGraw is expected to
use Cecil Causey, the red-headed
southpaw who made such a good i'm
preston last season, and one Of his
other youngsters. If the home tall
emit gag works as il cid with Rice
in Petersburg. all will be we'll with
an experience similar to Crafts. in
Norfolk yesterday. tough shedding is
in order.
Yesterdays game was full of thrills
and excitement and had a crowd,
which overfiowed the stands and en-
minute. Necessary ground rules CALL
ed Tor two bases on hits into the
crowd. A dozen of these were made,
equally divided between the two clubs
The contest was further enlivened
by numerous arguments with Arpi-
traitor Bill Brennan. who exhibited
his best brand of Southern League
umpiring. but did not succeed in
pleasing either faction Several of his
rulings were decidedly questionable,
out the one that hurt the most crop
ped up in the twelfth frame, when
he called an apparently foul fly back
OF the crowd in left-fair. The ball
was hit by Burns, who was allowed
to take second base. and he scored on
Two infieid outs what proved to be
the winning run.
The grounds were heavy from rains
of the day before and that morning.
despite liberal applications of gaso-
line soaked sawdust, which was set
aname As a result fielding was a
SLOW and uncertain proposition and
spr1nting almost out of the question,
half dozen double plays resulting
The Giants pulled four, one a piece of
quick thinking by George Burns that
nipped Washington rally. 1t was in
the tenth when. with runners on Sec
ond and first Burns trapped fly from
anVr1n's bat, tossing to Doyle at sec
ond, where Rice and Janvrin were
doubled up.
Johnson, who worked the first three
was in danger of being scored
on but once and then with an alien on
third, he famed Benny Kauf. Ben
jamin got revenge in the final frame.
however, when he caught a wicked
wallop by Shanks right up against the
bull sign in center field, after along
run. Third and second were occupied
by Nationals at the time and failure |
to snare this drive would have meant
ole
mighty one and the catch a headliner.
Rube Benton appeared in the box
for the Giants when the contest got
under way and like johnson escaped
damage during a five-inning tenure, |
Craft succeeded johnson and George |
Smith replaced Benton and these hurl- |
ers had a rare duel of 1t until the |
eighth when the first run was OBJ |
tanned. 1t was due to one-of-the-into-
the-crowd doubles by Young. Chase's |
beat out. The Griffs came right back |
In their half and registered three. all |
they were destined to get. Foster and |
Milan both doubled, the latter scoring |
on successive errors by McCarty and
Doyle. Then. with Rice out OF the way
singled. advanced on an out
and Tailed when Davis biffed long |
double to CENTER .-F 8 2
Craft dug sllfs own grave in the |
ninth. when he "grooved" the first |
ball pitched to each Zimmerman and !
Fletcher, doubles resulting in each in |
stance. McCarty's single to left |
plunked into one of the young lakes |
In that vicinity and Fletcher scored |
the tying run. McCarty being tagged |
started pitching at top speed then. |
hut IT WAS too late.-. |
I The Griffs made great bid for the |
verdict in the twelfth. which Judge |
opened with a double. Foster popped |
to Fletcher and Milan singled sharply |
to center. Judge coudl easily have |
scored. but Coach Mcbride signa1ed |
Stop" and. although he changed il |
Immediately to CO." Joe had pulled |
by Zimmerman standing squarely |
over the sack. Incidentally Mcbride |
used his arms In stopping Judge. who |
really was thus automatically retired |
under the rule. but Umpire Brennan
failed to enforce 1t. On Rice tap to
Smith Judge lodged up and down the
line long enough to allow. Milan to
reach third and Rice second. Then
came that murderous bit of pill maui
ing by Shanks and Kauff's burglar
catch of it.
Davis distinguished himself with
pair of fine stops and throws at the
expense of Chase and Zimmerman and
made a leaping one-hand stab of a
liner by Young that saved johnson
some trouble in the third. but he fell
down at the crucial moment in the
twelfth, when Burns was on third.
with one out. With the infield pulled
in Chase smacked one right at Davis.
He tagged Hal at first, but his mo-
mentary tumble of the ball permitted
Burns to race home from third.
Also in the eighth, when Young
was on third with one out. KaVn's
roller reached the youngster just as
he stepped into a soft spot In the dia-
mond. Young scored and Kauff was
credited with a hit. Burns and Zim-
norman contributed feature plays in
addition to those being mentioned.
Charity and Craft being deprived by
them of hits by some stellar one
handed fielding.
Manager Griffith and johnson, Har-
per. Shaw, Hovlik and Agnew are in
Washington today. having left Nor
folk for home yesterday evening, the
pilot by train and the players by
boat. Griffith has considerable to do
in connection with opening of the
season. work that cannot we'll be at
tended to while away from base. AS
is his custom, he has invited a large
number of friends to be his personal
guests at the initial contest. and will