Evening star., 1924-09-28

With a pitching corps of really
only two dependable hurlers and a
relief man, the Bucks have had to
fight desperately for every bit of
ground in the home stretch of the
most stirring race the league has
known since 1908. In most of their
games they have had to overcome
leads gained early by opponents. and
that kind of battling tells heavily
even against club of champion
ship caliber.
Fridays loss to the Red Sox was
a severe blow to the Bucks. because
it put out of commission probably
until Tuesday one of their pair of
dependable hurlers. With Walter
Johnson gone there were many of
the more timid in the ranks ready to
acknowledge the race lost They saw
only Jez Zachary remaining as a
starting pitcher likely to give the
Red Sox a good argument, and the
team that had overcome johnson
might be we'll able to overcome Zach
ary. they figured.
Harris Spurs Them On.
1t took every bit of the fine spirit
of their manager to spur the Bucks
into action today. Their gameness
had not left them, but they were
staggering under the strain of the
drive when they reached Boston and
that defeat in the first game, while
the Tanks were beating the Macks.
was like a blow between the eyes to
sick man.
The Bucks were not down" so
much as moral courage was concerned
as they were mentally and physically.
They could not think quickly, act
quickly or fight quickly. This dull
ness was only too apparent after that
first inning this afternoon, when
George Mogridge was slammed and
their early lead was dissipated. They
did not seem the same Bucks that had
fought their way through the trying
league race to enter the home stretch
in the lead.
There was no brilliancy. no snap
in their work. They appeared on
edge in every play and went about
their work sluggishly. 1t seemed for
a time today that the club was about
to crack, and crack badly. Just one
more knock and it would be out.
But it barely managed to staGger
to the finish a winner this afternoon
and probably a pennant was saved
to Washington. 1t is a different out
fit after the engagement The men
this evening are bright and cheerful
and there is no talk of the Yankees
beating them out.
They were on the brink of the pit
this morning, but tonight are ready
to give Washington it's greatest thrill
in base ball history.
All Credit Is Due Harris.
. Bucky Harris is the one man who
has kept the fight in his club this
long. He never for one instant de-
SPARED of ultimate victory in the
race after leaving home with his
team two games in front of the
Yanks. When .reverses were met in
Detroit and the Nationals reduced to
tie with the Yanks he encouraged
the timid and so inspired his club
that 1t came back" with vim in
Cleveland.
ALI through the troublesome St.
Louis and Chicago series he kept his
players in hand. Some had to be
patted on the back. others had to be
admonished sternly that tagging
spirits were harmful to the club.
Buck up,"~said Buck, there's more
fighting ahead than you have dream
ed Of. This is to be a fight to the
finish, and only the good ones will
get to the finish, not the weak sis
ters''
But Bucky had to keep a sharp eye
on his forces continually. At the first
sign of nerves" in an athlete he