The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-08-11
s I RAIN IS
GROWING
HEAVY
Criffs and Mackmen Fighting
Tooth and Nail, Fearful
of Cracking
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER
Sports Editor, The Times.

40
fast approaching finish line go
the flying Mackmen and the fight
ing Griffs? Neither will give an
inch. Each is battling for every
thing in every game. The team
cracking first will likely lose the
pennant and day by day the
strain becomes increasingly hea-
y;er. From now on to the bitter
end this strain will threaten to
tear wide gaps in each team fight
ing for the banner and Bucky
Harris, leading the world cham
pions. believes that his veterans
viii carry on better than Connie
Mack's outfit which has yet to
pass through the fire.
Just as the st. Louis Browns
seemed about to walk away with
the first victory in the Shibe Park
series, the Mackmen staged a raily
and ronped in ahead. The Griffs
were watching that scoreboard and
thoughts of losing another fun
game made them fight off the de-
termined rush OF the Indians in the
ninth frame Result, Griffs, 3; In
dams. 2. The Mackmen remain two
games in front of the world cham
pions.
The ninth inning contained all the
thrills of yesterdays skirmish. As
it opened the Griffs were leading,
to O, with Dutch Ruether pitching
unhittable ball. When 1t finished
the Indians had scored two runs
and had the tying run on third base.
It was some finish.
BucIy Harris showed the utmost
confidence in his veteran south
nav. Never once did he sug-
gest yanEing him, though Fred.
Marberry did hurry out to the
buIIpen and prepare for action.
And Ruether made good. His last
play was . WhaHll.
Burns stood stock still and let a
slow ball hit him on the leg. giving
him q free ride to first. Ruether
didn't like that and jawed the
Cleveland man all the way; though
geon singled to center and iris
Speaker came to life, sending George
Ule in to hit for Rube Lutzke.
Ruether called upon all his wiles
and, to Uhle's evident disgust,
showed over the third called strike.
Luke Sewell spilled the beans with
a sweet rap to center, scoring
Burns The fans, the few that
were on hand to see the fun, began
to grow nervous.
Chick Fewster came up for Wal
ter Miller, the pitcher, and he
promptly shot single to right,
filling the bases. Spurgeon might
have counted on that wallop save
that he thought Rice would catch
the low fly. So he waited and
helped fill the corners. He counted
a moment or so later when McNulty
was forcing Fewster with jouncc
to Judge.
Ruether apparently thought Bucky
Harris you'd yank him. He watch
ed Marberry. Harris tended to his
knitting and finally Ruether began
working on Summa.
Summa got hold Of one to his
liking and hammered it back at
Ruether, not on a line but into
the dirt. The ball came up on a
long, high bounce and Ruether
went right up with it. He clutch
ed that drive i'm both hands and
easily threw out the runner, end
ing the game and leaving that
tying run on third base. 1t sure
was an exciting finish.
Ruether was in great form. In
the first eight frames he allowed
but four hits and, contrary to his
usual custom. he issued but single
free pass. That went to Spurgeon
j., the sixth and counted for moth
ing. He famed four of the foe.
Miller, the Ohio State University
southpaw, suffered from weak sup
port at critical times. Two errors
hurt him in the opening frame, one
made by himself, however. McNeely
singled and Rice got a life when
Miller failed to tag first base after
taking Burns toss. Goslin's fly
to Lee sent McNeely to third.
Rice stole second and Luke Sew
ell faxed peg to his brother, only
to whirl and let it go to Lutzke.
1t was a wild peg, shooting off the
Rube's glove and letting McNeeIy
count.
In the third Spurgeon's tumble
put Harris on with one down. Rice s
single to right advanced him to
third from where he counted as
Goslin was forcing Rice.
The deciding run was chalked up
in the eighth. Rice singled with one
gone and again was forced by
Goslin. Judge walked, but BIuege
whipped a single to left, scoring
Goslin. That run was the margin
Of victory.