Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-22

For the Is games the Nationals
hit NJ = rate of only .273. Those are
not championship club figures these
days by any, stretch of the magma
tion. The batting averages for the
five series on the road ranged from
the respectable size of $40 to
meaGer .222.
Hit Best i'm Cleveland.
The high mark was achieved in
Cleveland. hut it brought only one
win in three starts. The ridlculouSl!
low mark was made in Chicago. Inc
Nationals halted .299 in the four
cames at St. Louis. .2S6 in the par
81 Detroit and .247 in the dual Dill
~ New York.
And even these figures were heipeu
h. nIavers who were not in the line
mp day after day. the oattihg d.e
a~es of the supposed core OF the Ma
tinuals' attack were startlingly small
Coose Goslin. Sam Rice and Joe
Judge had q combined rating OF .29o
end generally when one of these was
hiring the other two were swinging
Judge clouted for .29S during the
tour. Roslin for .2S6 and Rlce Tor
.eS4. Ossie Bluege and Roger Peckin'
naugh did the best hitting Oh ot ne
regulars, the former batting at o.
clip and the latter at .Sl4: BuckS
Harris found it especially dinicult 10
solve the pitchers OF the oppositioii
He hit for a round 100.
Of the experimental outflelders, Joe
Harris and Tex JeaneS were the
strongest each hating for .231. Ear
McNeely hit at 200 and Johnny Iooln
OF 17e Toe Harris and Tobin, now
ever frequently were used as pinch
batters. and that did not help them
to build sturdy averages.
Ruel Clouted Well.
THO real tower of strength in at
.o,li was Muddy Ruel. He socked the
hall in fine fashion. Muddy was III
oil hut one of the Is games and ne
clouted for .375. But he had no naro
hitting companions to support ms
offensive. Muddy was the leader IN
driving runs across the plate, ms
slams being responsible for !o OF liie
GO tallies made by the Nationals IN
the Is engagements. ,..,. ore
The opposition was a little more
than Is points stronger ar pat imam
the Nationals and managed 10 coz
centrate Rs attack frequently. All
of the clubs except the Tigers were
ne two games in Detroit the Cobb
mon were outbatted .2S6 20 .IOo. IL
win he recalled. though, that walter
Johnson lost in Detroit when ne al
lowed but four hits against I'VE mace
off Ed Wells.
The pitching most of the way was
of tho order that should win. John'
son did we'll at New York, Detroit
and Chicago. yet was beaten III eaGh
of those cities. In st. Louis ne weak
ened after his club had gained 1alr
lead. .
Dutch Ruether was in fine fettle In
both his starts, and with anytnins
resembling an attack by the Natlonais
would have won in Chicago as he did
in ST. Louis.
Stan Coveleskie was impressive In
his victories in Detroit and Cleve-
land. He also did well against Chi
cago, although losing, but was nam
mered in St. Louis.
Bush Was Pounded
Little good can be said of the work
al the other starting members OF the
Nationals mound corps during the
trip. Joe Bush proved a dismal fail,
,ra in New York, Cleveland and St.
louis. So did Curly Ogden in CleVe-
land.
Poor play in center and right fields
MAS costly to the Nationals seyera
times. Sam Rice was far off form
I'm his work. even when playing his
regular position in right field. In
center he was wholly at sea most of
the time, covering little ground and
often throwing aimlessly. Joe Harris
tried Eamely to take care of right
field on several occasions, but Joe
has not the speed of other days.
The Nationals had pitching of cali |
her strong enough to carry them
through fairly successful toNr, but
feeble failing at opportune times and
faulty fielding put the club .on the
sllids. Unless the brakes are applied
shortly it is not apt to regain the
first division.
The club goes to Philadelphia to-
morrow morning for a two-game
series. Stan Coveleskie will hurl one
OF the games against the Macks. Man.
sger Harris this morning was not
certain who would be the other start.
ing pitcher in the series.