Evening star., 1923-04-12

NNo'iShdi LN a = uNi D ' " u.
Peck reported at the Tampa camp in
good physical condition this year, realiz-
ing that he would have to travel at a
speedy clip TO overcome other younger
asprants to the shortfield job. He went
At his work with a vim. but had barely
rounded into good playing form when
he had finger broken in game
against the Dodgers at Clearwater
Such setback would have dis
outraged player with less heart. but
ieck refused to quit. With his frac-
tured diget in Splints, he reported for
drills at Tampa daily. going through
light batting and fielding work and al
ways doing q bit Of throwing to keep
his arm in condition. So when the time
came to remove the supports from the
hnger after the bone had mended. the
veteran shortstop was ready to resume
his job with the team
Got Poor Start Last Year.
=. This he has done most acceptably
His fielding and hitting has been of
high order in the past three days and
Roger has been going about his task in
way that indicates he may enjoy one
of the best years of his career. 1t will
be remembered that he did not get
away to any too good a start last sea-
son alter he came to Washington in
one of the most talked-of base ball
trades of the year. He quickly braced
hitting stride This year. however, he
gives promise of becoming much better
than an average clouter
PECK made a stop yesterday that
was the outstanding fielding per-
formance of the fray. 1t occurred in
the fourth inning after two batters
had been retired. McInnis drove the
ball sharply toward the left side of
second base. and. with both Harris
and Peck playing deep in their posi-
tlons. the slam appeared to be a GER
tain safety. But Peck dashed toward
the sack. reached the ball with his
sioved hand, and. without waiting to
recover his poise, threw to Judge to
retire the runner The feat drew
generous applause. and deservedly so.
Ihat win yesterday gave the Ma
tionalS an even break with the Braves
in their series OF six battles, and also
Daianced accounts with the National
League opposition in the exhibition
season. 1t was the fourteenth game
with repre- sentative of the Heydfer
circuit and the Nationals seventh win
in the lot.
Mogridge HurIS Brilliantly.
Ranking with Roger Peckinpaugh's
brilliant fielding was the impressive
work of George Mogridge on the slab.
This long left handler went through
SIN innings against the Braves, and
not until four of them had passed did
Boston batter get anything that
even resembled a safety. Errors let
two Braves get on in the first inning:
i1en they We're retired in order until
Ford, second up in the fifth inning.
singled to center. He was forced
by the next batter. and no others saw
hrst base while Mogridge was on the
job.
George was working under a good
lead, for the Nationals treated Rube
Marquard rather roughly in the open
ing session. Rice greeted the tall
$outhpaW with slashing double to
left field and moved to third base
when the Rube uncorked a wild
hcave Then Harris was safe when
Iadgett messed a tap 10 short, but
Rice was held at the hot corner
Judges retirement tailed Rice and
sent Harris down to second before
Evans walked Wade lofted to
Powell but Conroy clouted over the
short left field fence for the circuit
Four runs must have satisfied Peck,
for he grounded to Boeckel
That ended the scoring for the Ma
t.onals although they got five more
hits off Marquard during the next
Went to the mound for the Braves
and permitted but one wallop, Allen
Russell's double in the ninth.
Russell Succeeds Southpaw.
Russell had come into the game
when Mogridge. after hurting six in
nings decided to call it a day and
take the boat to Washington. The
sptballer bumped into trouble in his
first inning. Boeckel singled to cen
ter and after McInnis had flied to
Wade. Bagwell slapped one-base
knock. Ford forced Bagwell, but
O'Neill hit to left field and when the
ball rolled under the fence. completed
the circuit. although Evans had re-
trieved the sphere in time to hold
the blow. to a double. 1t had gone
out of the umpire's sight. however.
and that was enough forf homer. ,
Russell then famed Mcnamara and
brceZed through the remainder of the
route.
joey Evans made q most capable
understudy for the injured. Goose
Goslin. in left field. The young doctor
handled cleanly his four chances
ateld and two Of them were especial
~ difficult, too. He stepped to the
plate four times for d record of a
pass two singles and a strike out in
order. More than good when one
considers that Joey has not heen in