Evening star., 1922-06-29


never failed to refer to the wonderf
ft it may be ventured that, although
end OF, his string, as all must, that II
Attention of the mourners respect
fully is directed to the fact that
Johnson. now in his sixteenth sea-
son in the majors, is ranked right in
the fore front of the first flight of
American League hurlers with nine
games won and three lost. for pitch
ing percentage of $50.
Just two weeks ago when Johnson.
willing under the blazing sun and
terrific heat of a typical St. Louis.
summer day. had to be withdrawn in
the sixth inning after yielding a hit
and walking three batsmen, the self
constituted custodians of his career
imme ediately recognized the familiar
symptoms and started tolling the bells
again. Since then all the, poor old
shut-out decisions over the White
Sox, Athletics and Yankees in a row,
allowing'a a total of only sixteen hits
an average of 5.33 game-and issu-
ing only five passes.
Walters Control II Perfect.
In some respects his triumph of
yesterday, when the YankS were his
victims by 10 score, was the most
impressive of the three, for his con-
troll was perfect and he was at his
best when threatened, a S he was on
four different occasions.
Nine StrikeoutS were recorded by
the Kansan. the mighty Ruth being
included in the number, while Babes
brother batterer, Bob Meusel, took
the count three times in succession.
on two of these occasions leaving
mates on third and first.
Aside from those who hit SAFELY,
only two Yanks. Witt and Ruth, were
able to get ball out of the infield.
Rice took care of both of their flies,
his partners in the outer defense haV-
Ing nothing at all to do.
On three occasions aliens attained
the far corner and once 1ank
reached second, but always with the
same result-the succeeding batsmen
either whitfield, hit easy grounders or
popped.
johnson, in his thirty-ffth year. an
age when most players have long
since quit or slid to the oblivion or
the minors. has just completed TWEEN
ty-seven consecutive innings OF rum
less ball and registered the ninety
seventh shutout of his career. No
debate on the greatest pitcher IN MS
tory ever will be conducted without
Johnson's name figuring prominently.
Smiths Wallop Wins 1t.
Until the ninth inning yesterday
from a tendency to wildness that re-
suited in the passing of four players
and the wounding of another. had an
edge on his veteran adversary: yield
ing only two bingles. One of these
was a double by Earl Smith that
lacked little of being home run and
it was the former Brownie who pro-
duced the blow that settled the issue
Shanks started the final frame with
a clean-cut single to center, Brewer
neatly sacrificed and Harris was hit
by pitched ball. This was the stage
setting when Smith waloped over
Wits head in the middle garden
Witt ran over and back and maze a
passed over his finger tips and the
duel of moundsmen was ended.
Yanks Threaten in Opener.
McNaIly singled down the 1eft-ield
line with one gone in the first and
sprinted to third when Ruth acknowl-
edged the mingled cheers and jeers
of the crowd by ripping safety to
right Johnson then whitfield Meusel
and gathered in Pipp's tap.
Peck got no farther than first after
walking in the opener. and in the
second Smiths lusty double and
pass to Picinich went for naught
when Hoyt slipped a third strike over
on Johnson.
For three rounds following the first
the Yanks were retired In order.
Wits fly to Rice in the third being
the only ball knocked out of the in
field Scott slid a single between
Shanks and Peck with one gone in
the fifth. whereupon both Hoffman,
and Hoyt popped. In the sixth the
Yanks staged threat similar to that
of the opener, only to be baked in
like manner. Witt started it with
lady-like safety to left and after Nc
Nally popped to Harris took third
when Ruth rasped his second single
to right. Johnson then victimized
Meusel on strikes for the third time
tempt TO steal was frustrated by Har-
ris' clever handling of Picinich's peg.
Hoyt Stinsy With BinEles.
In the meantime the Nationals were
able to accomplish nothing against
Hoyt. who whitfield Smith after wound
ing Harris In the fourth, while Judge.
who walked in the fifth, died stealing.
Scott skidded a safety over the ini-
tial sack that netted pair Of has
socks with two gone in the seventh
and was left when Hofmann popped
foul to Judge. while Picinich's fly to
Meusel left Smith on first after "Oil"
had walked
After the Yanks had been set down
expeditiously in the eighth. Picinich
getting all three putouts, Judge sim
gled to left with one gone, the only
bingle registered off Hoyt since the
second INNING feck lINo1 uusucceSS-
fully to sacrifice, and then raised a
short fly that Ruth grabbed after a.,
sharp sprint. Rice connected viciously
for a drive toward right. but Pipp
grabbed it on a mean kop and beat
Sam to the sack.
With Ruth and Meusel disposed of
in the ninth, Wally Pipp occasioned
nervous chills for the faithful in the
stands by whacking to the wall in left
center for three bases, but he was
stranded when Harris backed up for
Wards little fly.
Judge stretched as he never did be-
fore to spear Peck's wide throw of
Meusel's roller with one hand In the
ninth and twas well he did. for Pipp's
triple followed.
HOW GRIFFS ARE HITTING