Evening star., 1924-09-11


Generally the defense is steady. bu
the opposition clusters OF clouts at
upon its fielding ability plus an ordir
the American League.
All of this was painfully evident
tunately got an even break with the .
Hitting power was sadly lacking in
the first game. but pitching lapse
too. had much to do with sending the
clan of Griffith to 2-to-1 defeat
Jezbel Tecumseh Zachary. after ap-
parently having the Macks checked
was content to take a chance on a
final out in the third inning and dis
aSter followed
George Mogridge narrowly escaped
the same fate in the second encoun-
ter. when d three-run lead at the
start of the MackS' ninth made him
feel too prosperous. The Athletics
socked him SO hard then he had to
retire in favor of Fred Marberry and
was fortunate to get d 6-to-o decision
The days work left the Nationals
with the same advantage. over the
second place Yanke es-a game and
half-they possessed at the out
break of hostilities. but only because
weather conditions were too unfavor-
able for a game in Boston between
the three-time league leaders and the
Red SoX.
Bucks Must Win Today.
To assure themselves of starting
their final Western swing in undis-
puted possession of first place i'm the
race. the Nationals must win today
In the last tilt of the series with the
MackS. The TankS were due to tackle
the Red Sox twice this afternoon and
should they triumph in both encoun-
terS and the Athletics win here. Har-
riSmen and Hugmen would enter the
West on even terms in front of the
six other clubs of the Johnsonian cir
cult.
The Nationals have been credited
with having pitching staff superior
10 that of the Yankees this year but
no matter how confident any hurler
under Bucky Harris command may
be of his ability. he must put forth
his best effort from now on
No ball club in the American
League may be accounted soft pick
ms for asmoundsman. Each club ap-
pears to have group of batters liza
bic to step out and knock the props
from under pitcher at almost any
time. Such a condition may not be so
disturbing to a team with the punch
ing power of the Yankees, but it can
easily upset the Nationals in their
chase for the flag.
Bucks staff realize they must make
every pitch mean something, the bet
ter 1t will be for the club in it's final
intensive drive. Every batter step
ping to the plate must be pitched to
carefully. No chances can be taken.
The Yankees may be able frequent
ly to overcome lapses of their pitch
ers with terrific batting rallies, but
the Nationals cannot count upon do
tional moundsmen to bring home the
bacon.
Attack Is Not Dependable.
That first game yesterday demon
strated that the Harrismen cannot
place any dependence upon their at
tack. Twice Sam Gray, young right
handler working for the Macks, pro-
vided them with golden scoring op
portunities, but in neither instance
were they able to take advantage of
Sc ms generosity.
Gray was quite wild and a bingle
from a National bat at either of the
two critical moments probably would
have showed him out of action. But
none was forthcoming and each time
Gray recovered his poise sufficiently
to prevent damage to his game.
Gray gave up six hits and five
passes, trio of the latter being
granted in. one frame, yet little was
garnered from the walks and wal
lops. The Macks. though, eagerly
seized upon the big chance Zachary
held out to them. JeZ scattered 10
safetieS through the first seven of
the eight frames he adorned the hill
and gave a pass, yet might have
gotten away with it all had he stuck
to his guns in the third round.
Gray and Hale were disposed of
easily Gn that session, but Lamar
shot a drive over second base that
Harris fielded cleanly, but not in time
to attempt throw to first. Then
Miller slapped a ball that Zach tried
to grab, only to slow the drive too
much to give Peck a chance for a
play at first or second base. Hauser
got a three-and two count on Jezebel,
then came a good pitch, and the big
Mackman poled it to left field for
two bases, sending Hale and Lamar
home.
That was all the scoring off Zach,
but it was enough. He got himself
into hot water several times there
after, but was dragged out by the
clever fielding of his teammates.
Bucks One Run a Gift.
The Bucks run in the third was a
gift from Gray. Peck famed at the
start of the inning, but Zachary
walked. McNeely popped to Perkins
before Harris singled by Hale. send
ing Zach to second. Gray then passed
Rice, filling the bases, and Goslin also
walked. forcing home Zachary. Judge
waited for a three-and-two count to
pile up, then watched a third strike
go by.
The Bucks next scoring chance
came in the eighth. after Goslin fouled
to Perkins. Judge got a pass and
Taylor was sent in to run for the
first sacker, who is nursing the ankle
that was hurt last week. Ruel
bounced, a single off the third bag
that moved Taylor to the far corner.
Bluege drove the ball on a short pop
to Hale, and Taylor, who had started
but not before Ruel reached third and
Bluege second. Pecks best, though,
was a short loft to Lamar in left.
The Bucks might have done some-
thing in the ninth, that Tate, pinch
batting for Zachary, opened with a
single, had a sacrifice play gone
through. but Benny was caught easily
at second when Lebold bunted, while
Harris fouled to Dykes back of first
base and Rice was retired by Miller's
running catch.
Grids Bump Two Southpaws.
The Nationals did deal of hitting
at the expense or SouthpaW FRED
Heimach at the start of the second
game and bumped Roy Meeker, an
other lefthander, well before he set
tied to work, but Mogridge all but
lost the clubs advantage in the ninth.
Heimach got by the first inning. al
though he yielded a couple of hits
after two were out, but he was
pounded in the second. Bluege's sim
gle and Peck's double were followed
by Shirley's one-base hit to left that
drove in two scores. Mule went to