Evening star., 1924-08-30

But Curly would have to do a won
derful bit of hurting to give the
husky Gothamites more interest
ing time than did the veteran Walter
johnson yesterday. The dean of
major league moundsmen turned in
one of his best efforts of the season
and all but stood the Yanks on their
heads during the little more than
seven innings he toiled.
That Walter did not go the full
route was due to an injury to his
pitching hand inflicted by drive
of Wallie Schang'S bat in the eighth
round. With Walter Pipp on first
base as a result of a pass. Schang
slammed the ball directly at Johnson
The hurler knocked down the sphere
and threw to Judge to retire the
batter. Then. holding his right hand
lie sank to the ground.
Walter MomentariIy Dazed.
The ball had hit his hand just
below the third joints of his fourth
and fifth fingers and the pain was
severe enough to daze Walter for a
minute or two. But he arose and
gamely went back to the slab, only
TO discover that he could not grip
the ball we'll because of the bruise.
80 Fred Marberry was called in to
replace the veteran
FIRST aid was given the injured
pitcher by Trainer Mike Martin, and
later the hand was examined by a
surgeon, who was unable to de-
termine at the time whether a hurt
more serious than d bruise had re-
suited from the blow Walter was
advised by the doctor to have an
N-ray photograph of the hand taken.
he was to return to WaShington
TINS afternoon and may wait until
he gets home to have the picture
made.
III there are no bones broken.
Walter may be able to take his
regular turn on the hill next week
or at the worst miss only one trick
or mound duty. But a fracture would
put the slabman out for the re-
ihalnuer OF the season, a serious thing
Tor the club to contemplate.
Loss Would BE Hard Blow.
johnson has been the main strength
OF the National mound corps this
season and his recent pitching efforts
have been especially remarkable
Losing his services would put a ter
rible crimp in the pennant chances
OF the team that has been battling so
desperately the past three months.
Before his hand was hurt yester-
day, Walter had the Yanks practi-
cally at his mercy. His exhibition of
skill and coolness in emergencies was
most notable. In three successive
innings after the first, the Yankees
threatened to go on the warpath, but
Walter with his courage and cunning
Kept them at bay.
The first of these critical periods
came in the second session after Bob
Meusel famed. Pipp and Schang
singled successfully. the former get
ting to third on his eliminates wallop
But Walter took Aaron Ward over
the strike-out route and Deacon
Scott's best was loft to Earl
McNeely.
johnson ran into another squall in
the third inning. Joe Bush began the
frame with d one-baSe knock, only
to be forced out by Whitley Witt.
Joe Dugan popped to Ossie Bluege,
but Babe Ruth, with two strikes
against him, crashed a single to
right sending Witt to third. Then
Walter frightened and whitfield Meusel
for the second time.
But Johnson rose to his greatest
heights in the fourth inning, after
temporarily losing control Pipp and
Schang, first two up, drew passes
and Ward bunted toward third. John
son fielded the ball, but was in an
awkward position to attempt a play
on Ward. He turned for a throw to
third that would have forced out
Pipp, only to find the bag uncovered,
as Bluege also had come in for the
tan so the ba SSpS were filled