Evening star., 1924-04-10


affair here to assure an edge over tn
home Saturday. So Slim McGrew,
ability so far this year, will be KEEP
Sorrel-thatched southpaw falter.
That loss yesterday has broug
the ranks of the Nationals. Harris
hurler, used the pine tree product to
Lucas did call for a resin bag be-
fore going to the slab in the first in
ming. and Duke Farrell, old coach of
the Braves, handed out a packet that
the Slabman slipped into his pocket
Whether there was resin in the packet
is not known to the Nationals, but
they are claiming a doctored ball as
an alibi for their weakness at bat.
All told, the Nationals garnered but
six SafetieS, all made off Lucas in the
first seven innings. and two of these
blows caromed off the bat of Joe
Judge. Most of the time Harris men
popped weak rollers 10 the intield or
popped to the outergardenerS. Against
Tim McNamera, who hurled the last
two frames for the Braves. they were
helpless.
Speece Proves No Puzzle.
But the Boston batters were by no
means weak. Byron Specie and his
underhand bali had no terrors for
them. Sam Rice helped Specie to
poor start. booting Bancroft's single
so hard that the first Boston club
swinger of the game was able to COM
plete the circuit. Specie disposed of
the next two hitters. but Tierney
swatted the ball over Rice'S head for
a home run.
against one of Speeces deliveries and
lined it to left field for a round trip
of the bases. O'Neil followed with
single, but double play saved Specie
L.. Il
pensive purchase from Omaha was not
right was quite apparent to Harris.
and Fred Wingfield took the hill for
the remainder of the route.
This youngster, obtained from Chat
tanooga last year. gave a very i'm
preSsive performance for four innings
HIS control was excellent. and he had
most deceptive curve that the Bos-
tonians found unhittable. But Wing
held tired in the seventh, and the
Braves fell upon him for three safe
ties and as many tallies, one of the
blows being a homer by pinch batter
Sperber, the third-cirruit clout Of the
game for the opposition. Wingfield.
though, kept himself out of trouble
In the eighth, the Braves last turn
at the plate.
Griffs Had Three Chances.
The Nationals had but three real
scoring opportunities. In the third
was combed for a brace of singles
but each time Harris. who was the
hero of the Macon battle Thursday
with timely homer, slammed into a
double play
In their third scoring chance the
Nationals made good. This was in
the seventh inning, Lucas last and
another pair of blows netted the coun-
ter. Fisher opened the session with a
single to left, and Prothro followed
with triple into the same territory
More speed on Prothro's part in
travelling the paths would have meant
two runs, for the wallop went to the
FAR reaches OF the terrible Griffin field
But the Doc was probably too sure of
the length of the swat. for he loafed
between first and second bases and
had to hustle back to the bag after
turning third
There may be much to this cry
about the resin ball The Nationals
declare that four of the National
League clubs faced this season have
made use of il. Harris makes no eff
fort to conceal his disappointment
over the showing of his club at bat
recently Timely wallops have kept
the Nationals in front in most of the
engagements, but the aggregate bat
ting average of the club is nothing to
boast of. This Harris hopes to i'm
prove by morning sessions after his
men return to Washington.
Planning to Use GosIin.
The young manager has made no
plans To use Memo Leibold or one of
his recruit outfielders in left field in
place of Goose Goslin in the opening
game of the season next Tuesday
Harris is convinced that Goose will
have worked hard enough since being
sent home from Savannah to be fit
for duty when the flag race starts. In
fact, the Nationals boss now is bank
ing upon Goslin being available for
the exhibition engagements at the
Georgia avenue ball ward in Wash
1ngton Saturday and Sunday
Nor has Harris abandoned the idea
of employing Doc Prothro regularly
at third base Bucky believes the
are encountered during the training
trip to the we'll constructed diamonds
of the major league circuit will work
wonders with the Memphis graduate.
He insists that ProthrO. while not
likely to become a flashy player will
the job around the hot e eorner 1t to oet'ns coms
mand the respect of the fans.
BIuege Improving Slowly.
During this trip northward Ossie
Bluege, who has been on the casual
list for some time, has been exercis-
ing daily in the ball yards in an effort
to. restore strength to his left
knee. He has been doing a bit of
bunting and trackwork, but so far
has not attempted any fielding Har-
ris is confident that the young in
fielder will improve his playing abil-
ity, but is not SO certain this will
be accomplished within a short pc
riod
Tonight the Nationals are to move
on to Spartanburg, S. C, where the
final tilt of the tour homeward will
be staged with the Braves. Paul
Zahniser and Fred Marberry are the
aIabmen listed for the encounter.
The latter may get the call as start
ing hurler and may go the route, for
having recovered fully from the Sc
we're cold that handicapped him in
Florida
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