Evening star., 1926-05-07

offensive and defensive resource it {
tionals will withstand the Western
the club in it's drive for third flag.
Although 5-to-3 victors over t
and within a game Of the league lcaC
desperately during the next two wee
in the White Sox. the National
thc best the West has shown SO far.
start TO finish of this stay III Clark c
Manager Harris has at least three
pitchers who seem TO be ready to
give consistently good accounts of
themselves. Walter Johnson is in
splendid trim. and may be expected
to get a decision in his favor in most
Of his starts. Dutch Ruether. south
paw veteran, is in much better form
than he was at this stage of the last
campaign and then he was more
than good.
Ogden to Get Work.
Curley Ogden, although he has
started hut two games and those
against the lowly Red SoX. is apt
to be heard from more frequently
as the season goes along. He probably
will get an early shot at the Western
ers. Backing this trio of hurlers on
edge is Stanley Covelsltie, spitballer
After staggering in early games,
Covel braced considerably in Boston,
and turned in a great game against
the Fohlmen. Perhaps this oldtimer,
who led the American League pitch
erS last seaSonti now is in shape for
another brilliant campaign.
With the exception of Fred Mar
berry, who specializeS in relief work
there seems little behind the slabmen
mentioned at present, however. Joe
Bush still is an uncertain quantity. and
Alex Ferguson has done no pitching
that might indicate he will be Of
much value TO the club in the near
future. and it appears that little
may be expected of the quartet of
recruits still carried by the Nationals.
DefenSlVely, the Nationals seem
'set" at last With Earl McNeelv in
center, and Sam Rice returned to his
old stand in right, the outer guard
OF the club cannot be improved with
material at hand.
Roger PeCkinpaugh's reinstatement
at shortStop has strengthened the
inner GORDON wonderfully. Once more
the Nationals may be expected to reel
on double plays with startling regu-
lartty.
Club Generally Better.
Batting has steadily improved. Nc
Nicely has been hitting well since he
swung into action. Goose GoSlin and
OsSie Bluege are Sockin@ often and
timely and Rico and Bucky Harris
have been clubbing more effectively
in recent games.
Generally, the Nationals seem TO be
much better club than they were
two weeks ago. 1t is we'll they are,
for they are not likely to encounter
any easy going while hosts to the
Western members of the Johnsonian
circuit.
The Champs had to battle gamely
yesterday to get their first victory of
The year In New York Walter
Ruether, who started for them on the
Slab. did well, despite his WildneSS,
hut hunt his left hand when he tried
% check Joe Dugan's drive in the
fourth. and had TO he relieved in the
seventh inning after two were out
Fred MarberrX. who followed, was
continually in hot water. but man
agcd 10 escape serious ScaldinE.
Urban ShUCker pitched good bali
for the lanks, but he was withdrawn
in favor Of pinch batter in the sew
enth and Bob Shawkey hurled the
last two rounds. The Nationals got
only hits, but of them were for
extra bases, among them home runs
by Goose Goslin and Roger Peckin-
pauSh.
Goslin's Homer Helps.
Two were out before the Nationals
started their scoring in the first in
ming. MCNeely, given a life when
Koenig fumbled, was caught trying to
steal almost Immediately, and Harris
hoiSted to Combs. Rice. though,
luoped the bah to short. right, and
when il bounded toward the grand
stand made third before Ruth, who
retrieved the sphere, could check him.
ioSlin then slammed homer into the
tight field bleachers.
BlueSe opened the second round
with loft to left that become good
for double when the sun got into
hoonlg'S S eyes, only to be Tagged at
third when Peck grounded to Gehrig.
-MCNeely started the third frame with
d iluky triple, but clung to the far
corner as Harris rolled to Gehrig, Rice
sent short liner to MeuSel and Cos
I'm whitfield
1t was different in the fourth. With
TWO gone, Peck drove the ball past
hocniG at great clip. Meusel tried
/" intercept 1t. but the sphere sped
ny him, too, and before Bob could
recover 1T tho Rajah was over the
counting block with his first homer of
the wear.
Ructher's Wlldncss kept the Yam