Evening star., 1925-09-18

The young pilot was hoping to
draw nearer the pennant today with
Alex Ferguson. late of the Yankees,
toiling on the hill against the White
Sox in the first engagement of their
four-game series here. Since becom-
ing a National, Ferguson has won
three of four games and was especial
1y effective against the Collinsmen in
battle in Chicago last month.
Four Nat Hurlers i'm Opener.
Pitching yesterday was rather good
all the way, but in the first game
Walter Johnson, who started, was
forced to withdraw in the seventh in
ming when a leg injury he suffered
while sliding into first base in the
previous round affected his pitching
stride. Win Ballou, Walters in1me
date successor, was the victim of
some tiuky hitting. when the Tigers
overcame a National lead in the sew
enth. Allen Russell stopped the TyS-
ers in the eighth after Ballou weak
ened and Fred Marberry, who pitched
in the ninth would not have yielded a
score had he been properly supported.
The Tigers got IL hits off the
quartet of Griff hurlers in the open
ing encounter, while the home crew
got l. off Ken Holloway. right
handler, and Ed Wells, left-ha nder
One OF the safeties off Holloway. who
worked through the first six innings,
was a homer knocked over the right
field wall by Goose Goslin in the third
round.
In the second game. which was
halted by darkness. after two Ma
tionalS had been passed to first base
in the sixth inning, Stanley Coveles-
kie and Earle Whitehill were opposed
for the third time this year. Covey,
who beat the southpaw the first time
they met this season, but took a Ito
0 defeat in u innings in Detroit in
the second encounter, got along well
yesterday, even though he gave UP
five hits and three passes. Whitehi1l
was found for four safeties and as
many walks. but might have earned
a draw had he been better supported.
Tigers Get Early Start.
The first and fourth innings were
the only ones of the opening game
that we're not productive of runs.
The Tigers started the scoring in
the second session when they regis
tered tally without a hit. Cobb
walked. took second when Ruel
threw to retire Heilmann instead of
attempting a force play for which
he had an abundance of time, reach
ed third when Peck fumbled Blues
grounder. and romped homo when
Ruel made a wild heave past Bluege
in checking a double steal.
Two were out in the Tiger third
when Wingos walk and Cobb's triple
netted a marker, but in their half of
this round the Nationals deadloclled
the game with Rice's three-baSger,
Bucky Harris infield erasure and,
Goslin's round-tripper. The Tigers
came back with two runs in the
fifth. O'Rourke and Wingo singled
and Cobb walked to fill the sacks
with one out. Heilmann popped to
Bucky Harris. but Peck, after max
ing a remarkable stop of Blues one
baSer over second that tailed
O'Rourke. tossed wildly in trying to
retire Cobb at the middle station and
Wingo also counted.
The sixth was a healthy inning for
the Nationals. Moon Harris doubled
and Bluege strolled to first. Peck
sacrificed and Ruels single past
Haney at third scored Moon. A
squeeze play with Johnson bunting
tailed Bluege with the tying run, but
Walters spikes interfered with his
slide into first and the pitcher
wrenched his leg. Rice socked
double to right to get Ruel to the
plate with the marker that put the
Champs in front for the only time
during ths fray.
Fluky Hits Costly.
The Tiger seventh was a tough in
ming for the home fans to take. Cobb
walked and was singled to second by
Heilmann. After Blue sacrificed John.
son was Withdrawn and Ballou sent