Evening star., 1925-03-15

There was little in the game to
recommend it to an admirer of the
sport of base ball in its more polish
ed form. The Nationals played the
poorest game they have indulged in
to date, and the performance of the
Braves was nothing to brag about.
The contest early became matter
of who could supply the worst pitch
ing, and in that respect the Nationals
were winners.
Manager Bucky Harris trotted four
hurlers to the mound, two of them to
make their season debuts. Walter
Ruether, veteran left-hander,. pro-
cured from the Dodgers during the
Winter, struggled through the first
three innings without being severely
damaged. But 'Stanislaus Coveleskie,
another oldster, thought by some, to
have been regIanded, found the going
entirely too rough.
After a wobbly start, Covey was
the main objective of a Boston tea
party, and in one inning. the fifth,
the Braves showed overheard all the
advantage the Nationals had gained
at the expense of Tim McNa mara and
Larry Benton, a pair of right-handed
hurlers.
The big Pole was bifred for six
hits and as many runs in the terrible
round, and when he left the slab the
Braves were on even terms with the
Nationals
Recruits Show Form.
Benton was reached for a marker
to give the Nationals the lead once
more, but southpaw Jim Mcnamara,
Griff pitcher, seemingly as generous
as his Boston namesake, saw to it
that the Braves were not to have
their afternoon spoiled. He yielded
three safeties for as many scores in
the sixth inning, when he started
to pitch, and everything was over so
Tar as the Nationals were concerned.
The Braves could do nothing worth
while against the youthful Harry
Kelley, who worked the last two
rounds on the hill, but neither did
the Nationals get to Eddie Vanbrunt,
Boston rookie, for anything of value
in the same sessions.
The Nationals socked the ball we'll,
collecting in all IA hits. The Braves
socked the ball better, accommodating
1S hits. There were some bright
spots afleld, but most of the play was
loose. Altogether, the game was a
spectacle that could have been enjoy
able to Brave partisans only. Impair
tial observers could not have gotten
much pleasure from it and followers
of the Nationals certainly did not.
The Braves took to Ruether's offer
ings in the opening inning and
slammed him for pair of runs. The
southpaw got himself into hot water
at the outset by passing Marriott.
first batter to face him. Bancroft
lined two-bagger to left that moved
Marriott to the far corner and Lucas
sent his team mates home with a
sharp single to center. Burrus then
rolled into double play that made
life easier for Dutch.
Grfffs Go ON Rampage.
The lead of the Braves was ruth
iessly swept aside when the Nationals
got their first turn at bat. McNeely
opened fire with one-base. wallop to
left field and Manager Harris strolied.
Rice's bust to center for a base
pushed McNeely home and Harris to
third. Mcnamara made a strike-out
victim of Goslin. but Judges scratch
single Tailed Harris with the tying
marker and put Rice at third.
Then runs came thick and fast. Rice
counted as Bluege forced out Judge.
Peek walked and RueI knocked
single to center that showed Bluege to
the plate, but Peck could not pass the
middle station. Ruether's double to
right center, however, chased Rajah
and Muddy in with the fifth and sixth
runs of the round.
Smart National fielding aided Rue