Evening star., 1925-08-10

below the paCe-Settlng Athletics.
On paper, being two games bac
have lost three games more than t
gone forever. so the Champs in rea
to make up if they would overhaul
If the Macks step along at a six
games-in-ten rate the remainder of
the season. as they MAJ reasonably
be expected to do, the Nationals will
have to step along at practically a
seven -games-in-ten rate to cop the
flag again.
This the champions did not do dur
ing the past seven days. They tri-
umphed in only four of seven en-
gagements. During the same period
the AS took five of sev1n tits 1t
certainly was not a good looking week
for Bucky Harris & Co.
Victory yesterday would hive been
sweet for it would have put tie local
aggregation within a game OF the
leaders, but when the twelfth innf~-
came along with the light waning so
rapidly that IL was plain another
round could not be played it seemed
the Nationals would center their eff
forts upon staving off defeat rather
than battle for the big prize when
the opportunity came.
Make No Effort to Tie 1t.
The champs had the potential tying
tally on third base with but one man
out. A sacrifice had just been exc
cuted deftly by Ossie Bluege to put
at the far corner Joe Judge, who had
opened the session with a two-bagger.
But il was not tried again.
Roger PeCkinpaugh was given moth
ing good to hit by the cagey Sher-
rod Smith, who southpawed a clever
game after a stormy fifth frame.
After Peck walked, Muddy Ruel. who
has been in such a severe batting
slump that he has hit for but .172
since the club came home from its
long July trip, started swinging. A
weak tap, the ball rolled to Short
stop Joe Sewell and Judges rundown
resulted.
OF course. the Nationals died fight
ing, but it is too bad that a club pos
sessing such really good qualities as
does the local American League repre-
. sentative seemingly persists in getting
whole hog or none on all occasions.
Hank SEVERED batted for Fred Mar
berry and was purpoSely passed. load
ing the sacks, then a couple Of speedy
pinch-runnerS were introduced TO set
the stage for a killing. Eary McNeely
gave his all. but it was a roller to
Chick Fewster at third and the game
was gone.
johnson Far From in Form.
Walter Johnson and Smith We're
mound opponents at the outset and
the latter went all the way, while
Johnson retired after passing the
first batter to face him in the tenth.
Johnson was far from being himself
in coming back to the hill after a
lay-off of only two days. That, how
ever, could not be helped. Ii was a
case of pitching either Walter or
Dutch Ruether, who also toiled Thurs
day, for none of the other regulars
had had sufficient rest.
Before leaving the engagement,
Walter was batted for IA safeties. He
was off to a poor start, the Tribe
getting to him for five swats and as
many runs in the first three innings.
He was bumped we'll thereafter. but
was fortunate enough on several oc-
casions to get out of close quarters
without being harmed. Marberry,
who succeeded Walter. started strong
ly, but faded quickly.
Smith hurled an odd game for the
Indians. He was quite spotty in his
performance in the first four frames
when the Champs got to him for nine
wallops and in the fifth he threatened
to give way altogether. Then the
Nationals mixed a quartet of bingles
with q couple of passes and scored
four times TO knot the count There
after Smith pitched in splendid form,
allowing but three hits in the last
seven innings.
Indians Start Impressively.
Jameson singled between Judge and
Harris to open the game and took
third when Lee doubled after Summa
skied to Rice. Jamie scored while
Sewell was being thrown out and
Burns single tailed Lee. McNeely's s
double, Harris retirement and zee s
single quickly gave the Nationals a
marker in the first round. Judge
singled Rice to third after Goslin
lofted to Summa, only to be forced
out by Bluege.
An error by Goslin helped the Tribe
to get three more runs in the third
session. Johnson hit Jameson, and
Summa hit Johnson for a single, send
ing Jamie to third. Stimma promptly
stole second best. Lee lofted to left
deep enough to enable Jamie to count
had Goslin caught the ball. But the
Goose permitted the sphere to bounce
out of his hands. so Sumna was left
on third base and Lee on second after
Jamie crossed the plate. Sewell sent
both runners home with a single to
right.
Three singles gave the Nationals
their second run in the latter part
of the round. Harris bingled and
after Rice had been erased got home
when Goslin hit safely. Judge s
single put the Goose at third base.
He had to remain there while Smith
tossed out Bluege then Peck lofted
to Lee.
Both Tally in the Fifth.
Both clubs tailed in the fifth
Jamieson's double, Summa's s single
and Sewell s two bagger got a, marker
for the Tribe. Rice opened the
Champs half by beating out a bunt
to Lutzke, and Goslin followed with
8 similar hit. Judge scratched a sin
gle to Sewell, filling the sacks.
Smith walked Bluege, forcing Rice
across the plate. Peck rolled to
Sewell. erasing Bluege. but Goslin
counted. Ruel strolled. again loading
the bases and Judge scored after
Lee caught Johnsons hoist. Nc
Neely's single to left tailed Peck
with the tying score before Harris
flied to Jameson.
The Indians threatened to get a
decisive run several times. finally put
ting il across in the twelfth, that
Summa began with a single to left.
Lee tried to sacrifice, but only forced
out his clubmate. Sewell. though,
combed Marberry for a single that
sent Lee to third and Burns walked.
crowding the cushions. Lee scored as
Sturgeon forced out Burns with a