The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-08-19

Harris Now Sure Grfffs Will
Lead When Team
Comes Home
Nv LOUIS A. BOUCHER

CLEVELAND, Ohlo, aug
: That gap between the flying
Macknen and the struggling
Griffs is now but a single game,
Thanks TO Walter Johnsor's hard
fought victory over the Indians,
4 to 4. while the st. Louis Browns
were winning from the leaders,
z to 6. Furthermore that gap
represents the two extra games
played by the Griffmen.
Each contender has won seventy
two games but where the AS have
dropped thirty-eight the cham
pions have lost forty, having
played two more than the Mack
men. The leaders, on their re-
turn home next month, win catch
up with the Griffs in games
played when they stage some
five double-headers and Bucky
Harris is counting on those twin
bills to raise particular ructions
with the Philadelphia pitching
staff.
According to my way Of think
ing" said Manager Harris today,
everything favors US. Here we are
entering the final six weeks Of the
campaign a single game behind our
only rivals. The AS have been
earring the burden Of leading ever
since July and It II some burden.
They may endure it 20 the end,
/ don1 say absolutely that they
wont, but they win hardly do as
well under It as we would in the
same position. We have been
through it, remember.
81 think that Comics team has
done wonderfully well to remain out
In front so long. But look to see
our team forge ahead on this trip
through the West and return home
In first place. Right away we have
two games in washington with the
AS, and II we happen to win them,
the pennant fight will Just about
be done. with nearly a month to
go. If the AS fail to lead by Labor
Day, they viii be done, and look
to see my team comfortably ahead
on the night OF September 8 on
our return from those four games
IN Philadelphia. In other words.
think we've got them where we
want them"
There was great glee shown
WNflOIlk ElAO E64AA anu lAAG VI GAaO
champions last night on learning
o. the Philadelphia defeat in st.
Louis. The players studied the
score and buxzed about the posi-.
billty Of another defeat for the
leaders today.
II the champions are fortunate
enough to win from the Indians
again today while the Browns are
whipping the Mackmen, their rela.
tive standings tonight will be as
follows.
w. L. Pct.
Mackmen. ... 72 80 .649
Griffmen. .... 70 40 .646
The slight difference between. the
contenders arises from the mathe.
NAUTICAL fact that defeat Is more,
costly to a team than can be
made up by one victory, and the
Champions will still have lost one
more game than their rivals.
Winning that opening game
here. though by a shade, has served
70 fill the Champions with pep.
There was much growing on the
train Sunday night because Of the
defeat by Shocker and the Yankees
in that last game at home, and,
had the Indians copied yesterday,
gloom might have been cut with a
dull knife among the Griffs today.
On the other hand, to have the
first game OH this trip a victory
has filled the team with q con-
fidence that can't be hid. Clark
Griffith blew everybody to cigars
Last night, so tickIed was he over
the victory.
For today's second clash of this
series q southpaw duel IL expected
to be staged, with Dutch Ruether
Both are veterans from the Brook
lyn club. of the National League,
and each is a winner with his re.
spective team.
iris Speaker expects to try out
a minor league wonder today
against the Champions in the per-
son of Johnny Hodapp, who has
been the apple of DOME Bush's eye
at Indianapolis for two seasons.
Hodapp is expected to report in
time to relieve RUDE Lutzke at
third base. A bag of jack and
three players. including Klugman
and Riggs Stephenson. have been
turned over to Indianapolis I'm return
tOF f1OOdpp, WHO IL now out twenty
one years old.
Instead OF giving Goose Goslin
brief respite for three days,
Bucky Harris has benched Earl
McNeely. Sam Rice has gone to
center fled. with Joe Harris play.
ing right field. II Bobby Veach
reports today he may alternate
with Joe Harris in the garden. at
EAST as long as the Griffs play
Jlere where there is a short right
Geld.
McNeeIy's falling off in batting
proves is being blamed upon too
much morning golf. The Call.
fornian has become q golf nut,
playing every day during the last
three weeks at home.
Close judges have detected him
using a golf swing at the pate
and the scorers have not been bur
dened with keeping track of his
hits as a result. The Californian
showed the right spirit yesterday
on being benched. He went over
70 6rst base and coached every
body, his wild California yellf