Evening star., 1924-09-27

the finish
The clubs best batters were foiled
yesterday by Alec Ferguson, who
reduced the Bucks attacking power
to little more than nothing. But the
Bucks az team have not been given
to protracted batting slumps re-
Gently and there is no reason to
expect them to falter now.
With only three games to the end
of the campaign, that advantage of
one game over the Yankees is not SO
small, especially to club that has
the recuperative power the Nationals
have revealed during this trip. Re-
verses have been suffered. but the
club always has returned to the fight
with renewed vigor. Three victories,
regardless of what may happen to
the Yankees, are what the Nationals
are after. Wen win our games and
let those Yankees take care of them
selves" Manager Harris told his men
this morning.
Don't expect them to waver. Just
see to it that we don't and Well
take the championship back to Wash
ington Wednesday. We are good
enough to win and if we play our
game we will win"
Feruson Baked the SluggerS.
The Bucks played their game
yesterday afield and in the pitching
box, but certainly not at bat. Seven
hits were all they could get soff
Ferguson and four of those were
registered in the last two innings.
The bulk of the swatting was done
by the lower end of the batting
order. neither Sam Rice nor Goose
Goslin, who slammed SO hardly
during the final round OF the West,
being able to deliver.
This Fery1ISOn seems have found
the Nationals to his liking this sea-
son. He has pitched against them
five times now to a record OF three
victories. one defeat and one tied
contest. The last two times he has
faced the Bucks he has scored over
them. his victory before that of yes
terday being achieved in the last
game of the season in Washington.
Ferguson gave the Nationals
scoring chances, but they were able
to take advantage of the oppor-
tunity but once. In the second frame
hits put Bucks on second and third
bases with but one out and there
they remained. Runners were strand
ed on first and second bases in the
fifth round and on first and third
bases in the final. The Bucks did
manage to dent the counting block
in the eighth inning. At other times
the Red Sox slabman was absolutely
master OF tne SITUATION.
Blows Bunched on Walter.
Johnson pitched a game that ordi-
narily would win for him. He yield
ed seven hits before leaving the con-
test in favor of a pinch batter after
seven innings of toll. The Red Sox,
however. managed to cluster four of
the blows in a single session for
their tallies. Fred Marberry pitched
to the Red Sox in the eighth and
gave them a lone bingle. Old Sol
had much to do with shattering
Johnson's winning streak.
There were Red Sox runners on
first and third bases by virtue of sue
cessive singles and one out when
Joe Harris popped a measly fly to
short center. Earl McNeely came tear
ing in for a catch, but when almost up
to the ball the sun blinded him mo-
ment, he stopped and the sphere
dropped safely Had McNeely made
the catch, Bobby Veach would have
had little chance to count from third.
for not much of throw was needed
to get the ball home.
The first pair of hits in that fate
full fourth were made by Veach and
Ike Boone, and both were drives
through the box that scraped past
second base. just out of Bucky Har-
ris' reach. Then came Joe Harris
looper into the sun that counted
Veach, although Boone had to pull
up at the middle station. Harris was
forced out by EzeIl, but Dudley Lee,
weak hitter generally, poked a
single to short left-center and Boone
numbered home.
The Red Sox had wasted O'NeiIl's
single in the third inning and they
left two more go to seed in the
sixth. Veach opened that frame with
wallop and remained at first base
while Boone and Joe Harris were re-
tired. Then Ezzell singled Bobby to
the far corner, but this time Lee be-
came an easy out.
The Bucks passed up scoring
chance before the Red Sox tailed. In
the second inning after Goslin was
out of the way. Joe Judge raped to
left field for two bases. Ossie Bluege
sent a sharp grounder to Ezzell who
tried to get Judge coming into third
but the Buck slid under the fielder
to safety. Bluege was officially given
hit, although fielder's choice may
have been recorded.
But this golden opportunity was
thrown away. Roger Peckinpaugh
with two strikes against him, let a
third one pass by without offering at the
ball, and Ruel sent a roller to Ferguson
The Bucks had two on and two out
in the fifth. Bluege had been retired
when Peck singled cleanly to left Ruel
had a third srtike called against him
Then Ferguson heaved the ball against
Johnson's left elbow. The blow was
painful but not serious. McNeely
though, could not help the runners. His
best was a grounder to the pitcher.
Pinch-hitter Wade Letter drove across
the Bucks tally in the eighth Rue
opened the round with rolling single
to left. Memo Liebold batted for John
son and forced out Ruel with a grass
cutter that Ferguson blocked. Letter
however hit over Veach's head for two
bases. scoring Memo. ,Bucky Harris Out
put Letter at third, but Rice popped te
Joe Harris.
GrifYs Threatened in Ninth.
In the ninth, the Bucks threw a. scare
into the Red Sox camp. Goslin anC
Judge were infield outs. Bluege, though
raped smartly to deep short and reach.
ed first base ahead of Lees throw. Peck
sent looper to right that the numbering
Boone could not quite reach. and Biuege
got to the far corner.
/ Then came Peck's attempt at de-
; layed steal that proved disastrous. Rue
was at bat with a two-and-two count
and Bluege had a long lead off third
while Peck was rather close to first
base. Up came a wide pitch to Rue
for a third ball, and Bluege, to protect
himself, dashed back toward the faI
corner. Peck chose that moment tc
break for second, but O'Neill got the
sphere to Wamby, and Peck started
back toward first, where he was tagged
. by Joe Harris before Bluege had a
chance to try to score.
And that left the Bucks just q
Oh 4f he