The New York herald., 1921-04-18
FIRST HOME GAME
LOST BY DODGERS
Pfeffer Ineffective, League
Champions Drop Fourth
Straight to Braves.
by SAMUEL ). BRooKMAN. /.

Rain ceased just In time for the
Dodgers to play their first home game
Of the season at Ebbats Field yesterday.
The appearance OF the sun an hour and
a half before game time was greeted
with great satisfaction. for~the Brooklyn
club Is not insured against rain and
there would have been no balm for the
many thousands of dollars that would
have been lost had rot the clouds van
isbed. But the Brooklyn club generally
has been pretty lucky with the weather.
1t Is not rain insurance the Dodgers
need, but IL their success on the field
continues no better than 1t has begun
this season insurance against defeat
may have to be resorted to as an urgent
measure If company can be found to
take the risk.
Before a home crowd Of $4,000 the
Dodgers. champions of the National
League, dropped their fourth straight
game to the scrappy. hustling Boston
Braves yesterday. this time by a score
of to 2. For the fifth time in success
sion the Brooklyns failed to finish with
the pitcher they started. and without the
help OF effective twlrlng the Dodgers
We're lacklustre. for pitching has been
so per cent. OF the clubs strength in
the past. jeff Pfcffer was Wilbert
Robinson's choice yesterday. He held
the mound for five innings and part Of
the sixth. and during that time the Bos-
tons were getting to his speed with ever
increasing success. They scored four
runs and it took some pretty smart
fielding to hold the score to that figure.
The Braves were swinging their bats
" hon
ing the ball ION the nose"
Mitchell Is Effective.
When practically ali the damage had
been done Pfeffer was removed and
Mitchell. who relieved him. held the
Braves safe for the rest OF the game
The game was marked by sensational
work In the outfield, with Zach Wheat
showing to greatest advantage. Zach's
catch off Nicholson in the fifth was one
In a thousand and robbed the Braves
of at least two runs. The reorganized
Braves, showing here for the first time,
impressed with their earnestness. fight,
pepper and ambition. During the Dodger
rallies in the latter innings every man
on the field came in to encourage the
pitcher and give him advice. Four vic
tories In row over league champions
has made them a pretty coclxy crew.
The Braves did not need safe hit
10 score a run In their first time at bat.
After Powell had walked and stolen sec
ond Barbara famed, but Olson fumbled
Southworth's lick and the runners were
safe on third and first Nicholson hit in
front of the plate and Kruger threw
him out at first. holding Powell at third.
The latter made a bluff toward home
and Honey in his haste permitted the
ball to slip out of his grasp. Powell
ran home unmolested on the error.
Almost Home Run.
In the Dodgers half Olson and John
ston were retired easily. Griffith then
sent one soaring TO the top OF the right
centre field fence. getting two bases.
Had the ball travelled bit more TO the
right II would have cleared the fence
AS II was. however. Griffith was left
stranded, as Wheat lifted a fly to deep
right.
With two out in the second the Braves
scored another ran. Oeschger's single
following O'Neill's double. Powell also
singled. but there was no further dam
age. Oeschger did not have to draw a
long breath TO retire the Dodgers on
three infield taps in Brooklyn's half OF
tne heCoHu
The excitement was not renewed un-
I'll the hfth when the Braves began con-
Meeting soldly with JEFF Pfeffer's speed.
Powell. who had singled IN the second
came through with another line hit TO
centre. Barbere sacrificed him to Sec
end and Southworth scored him with a
single to centre. The Brooklyn outheld
was being kept pretty busy.
The most brilliant play of the game
followed. Nicholson. catching a ball on
the end OF his bat. sent It on line soar
ing TO deep left centre. 1t looked good
for three bases at least Both whea,
and Myers started racing toward the
sphere at full speed. but Il looked like o
hopeless chase. Wheat was the fieeter
OF foot and he sprinted ahead OF Myers
by several strides The ball was drop
ping fas. when Wheat by superhuman
effort leaped IN the air and brought II
down. The stands went into a frenzy
Of delight. Southworth believing as
everybody elise did that the bali was
sure 20 drop SAFE had raced all the way
70 third. Wheat was out Of position for
the throw after the catch. but he passed
the ball 70 Myers who lined Il TO Shee-
han. The latter relayed II to first In
time 10 catch Southworth yards off the
bag grr n sensational double play.