Evening star., 1925-09-06

ietics for the 1925 cham
pionship of the American League
rapidly is developing into a romp for
the crowd OF diamond athletes
ploted by Stanley Raymond Harris.
Three weeks ago two full games be-
hind the AS, who had been pace
settlers practically since the start of
the campaign, Harris cohorts today
are seven full games in front of the
Mackian horde with little more to go
to the finish.
, The Nationals boosted themselves
TO that commanding position yester-
day by registering their seventh
straight victory in 7to-6 engage
ment with the Red, Sox while the
Athletics, playing the Yankees. were
beaten for the ninth successive time.
The Champs did not win without a
struggle yesterday, as the score indi-
Gates. The Red Sox pounded the ball
with vengeance, but they could not
outpound Harris and his men and
the latter kept on their toes at all
times to take advantage of all breaks
in the defense of the visitors. The
Pldyed dS IHOuSA SuIc VI
themselves all the way.
Dutch Ruether and Fred Wingfield,
the latter a member of the Nationals
for time last year, were pitching
opponents at the outset of hostilities,
but the savage batting of the Red Sox
was too much for Dutch and after
four innings of toll the southpaw
withdrew: Before he left he was
hammered for a homer, q triple, two
daThloG nd q cfr1olo thof r1otfad Tho
Fohlmen a quartet of markers.
Ballou Pitches ImpressiveIy.
Wingfield helped his own cause by
getting the homer off Ruether,
mighty slam to center field that
scored a man ahead in the second
round. But he was handled none too
gently by the Nationals, who combed
him for 10 safeties, including a three
Dagger by Hank SEVERED and two
haggers by Bucky Harris. Oswald
Bluege and Win Ballou. The Red
Sox pitcher would have Jared a trifle
better with proper support, for one
of the Champs runs can be at
tributed directly to the erratic fielding
of his mates.
However, it was an error by Ballou,
second National pitcher of the game.
that paved the way to one of the Red
Fox tallies, so the outcome of the af-
fair probably would have been the
same, in SO far as the victor was con-
cerned. Ballou, incidentally, gave the
best pitching exhibition of the after
noon. This right-hand recruit from
Chattanooga yielded four hits in his
five innings and saw two alien runs
cross, but never once was fiurried by
the presence of men on the bases.
After striking out the first man to
face him in the fifth frame, Win
temporarily lost his control and passed
a couple of batters, then he regained
his poise and performed like big
league veteran. The Red SoX had
runner at third base with one out in
the seventh, but the next two batters
found Ballou too clever for them. His
error and q hit put the first two Red
Sox batters on in the eighth, but only
one was able to get home.
In the ninth, the visitors had the
potential tying run on second base
with but one out. Then Ballou rose
to his greatest pitching heights. Doc
Prothro at bat had three-and-one
count. He allowed one of Wins
heaveS to pass for a strike. Ballou
whizzed another by and the Doc was
cut. Manager Foil sent the slugging
Ernie Vache up to bat for the ancient
&. Bill WambsgansS. Ernie allowed q
wide one to go by, then swung futilely
staggered the pinch-batter, for he held
his bat on his shoulder while Ballou
shot two more across the plate and
the game was over.
81 Hose Are Strong at Start.
The contest started as though the
Red Sox would make short shrift of
the Nationals. Williams opened hos
tilities by bunting foul to SEVERED,
hut NIoc feo N,-ac
the right-feld line. Ira had to cling
to second base while Bluege threw out
Carlyle, but he romped home when
Todt lifted a triple over McNeely's
dome. Prothro followed with a double
10 left to score Todt and the fans be-
game so nervous that even Bluege's
catch of Rogelrs pop failed to soothe
them.
But the Nationals initial attack
perked up the home supporters. Nc
Neely walked and pulled up at third
base when Boss Bucky poked a dou-
BILE to right. Prothro took Rice's
sfounder and tried to bluff McNeely
into sticking to the third cushion.
But with Rice streaking to first, the
Doc had to get the ball away in a
hurry, so McNeely counted while
Bucky took third on the out. Goslin
lifted to Carlyle and the manager
,eantered to the plate. Moon Harris
followed with a single, but 1t was
wasted, as he was forced out by
Bluege.
To show that they were not through
by a jugful, the Red Sox threw an
other two-run jolt into the Nationals
in the second round. Lee strolled at
the outset of the inning and after
Bischoff popped to- Bucky Harris
Wingfield smote the ball Justify, send
ing ii past McNeely to the far reaches
of center field. Before Stan Harris
could relay Earl's throw to Severeid
Wingfield had followed Lee across
the plate.
The Nationals waited until the third
inning to knot the count once more
They did it with a combination of
three singles and two infield retire
ments. McNeely singled to left and
= took third when Bucky Harris pushed
q one-baser to right. AS Rogell tossed
out Rice, McNeely- tailed and Bucky-
went forward NOTCH Goslin's in
field erasure put the manager at third
base and he was sent home by Moon
Harris line single to left.
: The Red Sox threw another scare
into the fans in the fourth when they
filed tlfe bases with only one out.
Bischoff's walk, Moon Harris failure
to hold Bucky Harris throw that
would have nipped Wingfeld and
Williams single to short center.
crowded the cushions. But Ruether
got his gloyed hand in the way of
sf'lagstead's liner and DETECTED the
hall toward Bucky Harris, who grab
bed 1t before it reached the ground.
- was an easy matter for Bucky TO
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