Evening star., 1924-06-25

Marberry has started few games
this year, but his work as a reserve
nurler warrants trial against the
Gothamites. Should the youngster
falter Crafty Joe Martina, whose arm
has been relieved of kinks by a hot
summer sun, will be prepared TO take
his place.
Now these, wildly galloping Ma
ward position to the most coveted
. point in the going in an almost in
credlbly snort space of time, are more
confident than ever of themselves.
but their confidence is not of the sort
that led to their downfall in Cleve-
land. Then they considered them
selves good enough to hold an op-
ponent cheaply and entered the series
with a lassitude that could not be
dispelled once they became the under
s team
Fortunately. the club was able to re-
cover it's poise, once free from the
spell Of the Indians. but in getting
back to it's proper stride it did not
OF action temporarily. The Cleveland
lesson was we'll taken. Since, not an
opponent has been underestimated.
OF course, some teams encountered
by the Nationals are not as strong as
others. but against Ill they are play
ing snappy and hold-up base ball,
with every man on his toes.
Have Won Eight Straight.
AS a result the Harrismen have won
eight straight games and eleven of
their last thirteen, and when they
tackle the Athletics tomorrow in
Clark Griffith Stadium in the first
series of long home stay they will
be very, very close to, if not in, first
place in the standing of the clubs of
the American League, instead of we'll
down In the second division of the
circuit, as they were when they COM
pleted their last home stand
In their recent rush the Nationals
nave not found the going easy. So
keen has been the opposition that in
practically two-thirds of the games
exert fighting qualities it seemed the
team did not possess early in the sea-
son. During the present winning
streak of eight games the Nationals
but two of their engagements.
That last encounter in Chicago was
a nerve-wrecking affair, in which the
White Sox threatened in their final
lead of one run. not earned until the
ninth inning. Two of the three re-
cent games with the Macks were bit
terly contested, while all of the tits
in all of them the Nationals have re-
fused to wilt under punishment
Yesterdays Game Hardest.
That ten-inning duel here yester-
day, however, was the most grueling
contest the Nationals have engaged
in this season. Both clubs entered
the fray assured that the winner had
chance of first place in the league
and they played accordingly. Most
of the pitching was of high order; the
fielders, with few exceptions, per-
formed magnificently.
All so-called breaks" were made
by the team that benefited by them.
Wild Matthews clever placing of his
bunt in the first inning had much to
do with its becoming a two-base hit.
The vigor with which Roger Peckin-
paugh Smote the ball in the fourth in
ming added to the impetus of the hop
over Bob MeuSerS outStretched hand
that converted the drive into homer,
and it was the strength that Wally
Pipp put into his punch in the fourth
more than apparently slow National
fielding that made the blow a triple
when it rebounded from the right
field bleachers wall.
The Nationals were called upon to
face a left-hander, Herb Pennock.
The only southpaw on the Yankee
staff went the route, and. until the
his lone pass of the game, worked
very we'll. He gave six hits in the
first four frames. when the Nationals
got trio of runs; two in the sixth
that meant nothing and one In the
tenth that put the Nationals in the
way of victory.
Russell to the Rescue.
Two of Harris pitching staff saw
service. Paul Zahniser started and
was bumped in the first and fourth
frames-two hits being registered by
the Yankees in each for enough tai
lies to knot the count. Then Allen
Russell pitched to the finish, and
granted but three hits, although in
his last four sessions he gave him
self a deal Of extra work by putting
on base the first man up in each.
Rice's single, Matthews intended
sacrifice that became good for two
bases when it rolled past Pennock
and through the position vacated by
Johnson. who had gone over to cover
first base, and Harris sacrifice fly
gave the Nationals a run in the first
frame. But the Yanks tailed in the
same round with Johnsons triple and