The Washington herald., 1921-08-04
Face Hard Task to Keep
Winning Streak Intact
Johnson and Erickson to Do Pitching for
McBridemen-Team Batting Above 800 !
During Last Eight Games.
BY JACK NYE.

The fast-traveling GrAmen today.
To keep from sustaining q fracture
of their winning streak, all zeb
Milan and the boys have to do Is TO
take a couple of games from the
world champion Indians That's. all.
Either they will have ten con-
secutive wins to their credit when
the supper bell rings, OF they will
.aee the stern Lscessity of starting
slT over again. They are hoping for
the best.
Rain intarfered with the nrsI
scheduled battle yesterday. which
nekessitated a double bill this af-
te5noon. beginning promptly at
o'clock.
tndaunted by the task that con-
fronts them. the Griffs Will make
determined bid for a clean-upJ TO-
day. Walter johnson ana his rast
ball will oppose the cha ,pions in
the opening tilt. with the famous
Harry Coveleskie as his opponent.
IL is going to be a real test for
Barney. as he will have to do some
tight pitching to get decision
over the steady spitballer. Convey
has made a habit of trimming the
Griffs all season, but remembering
the fate of the equally sure MIR.
Faber last week. 1t is not beyond
the range Of possibility that he will
be upset.
Erick to Pitch Second Game. e..
in the second engagement Acting
Manager Milan will give Ole Erick-
son a chance to see il he still holds
spell over the enemy. Allan So
thbron. the former st. Louis spit
bSller, may work against the
Gtiffs.
Thus the stage is all set for the
big melee Both teams have more
than usual at stake In this series.
The Tribe, leading the Yankees by
one slim game. can't afford to do
any slipping at this time. Though
still far behind the leaders, the
Griffs have budding aspirations
once more and, in addition. are
mighty proud Of their streak of
consecutive wins. Hence they are
going to be fighting for blood for
the next three days and for some
time thereafter.
The reformation Of the Grifts
after a slovenly road trip. began
with the last game In Detroit on
July 20. On that occasion Walter
johnson got away with an easy
game Returning home on the 26th.
the Griffmen cracked open their
home stay by giving Red Faber a
2-te-O licking and have refused to
drop a game since then. They took
thtee straight games from the
White Sox and made a clean sweep
OF the four games with Detroit.
Grifs Playing Great Ball.
During this squirt the McBridemen
have been playing great baseball.
Their fielding, which had been the
poorest in the league. has improved
greatly. They have maintained a
team batting average of .3OT. far
above their previous stride. and the
pitchers have been doing excellent
work.
Ailan's inspired work has been
the outstanding feature of the
teams play. The veteran outfielder
has been performing wonders in
right field and has cut a wide swati
with the stick. In the eight games
Zeb has maintained a batting aver
age Of S33, with Is hits in 80 times
at bat. including a double, two
triples and a home run. In addi-
tion he has swiped a couple of
doing earlier in the season.
As runner-up to Milan, Sam Rice
edges into the limelight with an
average of 1928 for the eight bat
ties This improved stick-work by
the fleet outfielder would indicate
that the batting slump into which
he slipped on the road has come to
an end. Shanks is another who has
been pelting the pellet, holding
third place with a mark of .322
"Blackie" O'Rourke's .3OS gives him
fourth place, with Harris right on
his heels with an average of 900.
Zach and MOgridge Win Two.
Among the pitchers Mogridge and
Zachary are tied with two wins
apiece. with Sehacht, Courtney,
Erickson and johnson having one
victory to their credit. Cuby
Acosta is the only member of the
staff who hasn't contributed to the
winning streak, due chiefly to- an
injury which put him out in the
second game with Chicago.
One feature of the Griffs' play this
year is showing a decided improve
ment. They are demonstrating an
increased ability to hit home runs.
an art in which they have been de-
have already hit for the circuit
thirty-one times this season and
shouh finish with a total far ahead
of that in 1920 Miller continues
to set the pace for his mates in
smuggling with seven round-trip
blows.
Figures During streak.
Following are the batting and
fielding records of the Griffmen