Evening star., 1926-04-03

st Quitman they lost their poise and
They re likely to he pressing con
siderably when they tackle Rochester
here today and columbus again Al
Fort BenninE tomorrow, those in
charge of the club fear. Such
state Of affairs certainly is not pleas
Ing Ia Manager Harris, who feels that
much more remains to he accomplish
ed in the way of preparation work
during the next 10 days before the
flag race gets under way.
While BuCky is confident his club
will ne in fine fettle at that time, and
early this week il seemed as though
there was no doubt of it. he had hoped
to have his club reach the peak of
form without too much strain during
The homeward trip.
AGAINST Columbus yesterday the
Nationals were clarincly weak in two
reSpects-pitchinc and batting. 1t is
difficult enough for n club to win
when il is suffering from only one
Of these weaknesses. Afflicted by
both il has little chance to get any
where in a game.
a.. GriffS Get But Four Hits.
1"All the Nationals could CLEAN off the
Cuban southpaw Emilio Palmero and
the right handed Joe Johnson were
four safeties. All of these blows were
garnered off Palmero. who pitched in
the first six innings. They were
double and single by Ossie Bluege,
a two -bagger by Joe Harris and
one -baser by Sam Rice.
Four wallops were distributed in as
many innings. But for Palmero's s wild
ress-he granted seven passes-the
big leaguers would have been defeated
in more decisive manner. The other
men who broke into the lineup, with
the exception of Goslin. tapped the
ball feebly whenever they tapped it,
THE Goose had no chance to show
whether he is making any headway
In the development of hiS batting. The
four times he STROBE TO the plate he
was passed to first base. None of
the walks was intentional. The Ma
tionals did all their scoring in the
third inning, when Palmero was par
tfcularly generous.
There were two out when the Cuban
lost control and filed the bases with
walks issued to Rice. Bucky Harris
and Goslin Then. with the Columbus
cuttield playing deep. Joe Harris sent
allow looper TO short center. and he
fore the ball could he returned to the
infeld there were three tallies regis
tered and the hitter was AT second
hase Thereafter not a National got
beyond the middle station.
Fergy Has Little on Ball.
In sharp contrast to the work Of
the Columbus hurlers we're the per
fornances of Alexander Ferguson and
Harry Kelley. The veteran Fergu-
sor was touched for II safeties in
his FIVE innings on the mound, while
Kelley gave up two in his three
rounds. Ferguson apparently had
little on the ball, for the Columbus
hatters had the National fielders busy
even when they were not driving the
hall 50 fely. The veteran was slammed
in each of the sessions he was on the
hill and in two Of them was reached
for scores.
The first Columbus marker was
made in the second inning. two sin.
giles with f1elder's choice that brought
no retirement because Of the pitchers
slow throw to the middle base sand
wiched between: hut the real fire
works for all were touched off in the
third round. Then six hits were
punched for half as many runs.
Memo Leibold started making mat
fers unpleasant for his former club
by slappinG A single Regan followed
with a two-bagger to send Memo to
third. Grimes registered both men
at the counting block with drive
that became single when the ball
took a mean bound just as Peck was
about to snare it, Grimes attempted
to pifer second. but he was stopped
when Boss Bucky did some shifty
work after catching RueIs looping
tlwow. Paul Strand. who used TO he
whh the Athletics. shot a single TO
ieft. and after Miller-the Ralph Miller
that was with the Nationals in the
1924 world series-skied to Joe Harris,
took third when Mike Menosky, for
several seasons with Washington, con
nnCted for one-baser. Bird singled
Strand TO the plate. then .Palmero end
ed Ferguson s rough frame by ground
ing to Peck.
II was the worst punishment Alex
had received in an inning this Spring.
Kelley got through the sixth. inning
IN good style, but took sound thump
irlG in the seventh. Again il was Lei
bb,d who started the trouble for the
Ma tionals by opening the round with
his second single Of the game. Horn.
seht in to run for Leibold, took second
as Regan was thrown out. and romped
home when Grimes tripled. Strand
was hit by the pitched ball. only to be
forced out when Miller grounded to
Myer. who had replaced Peck at short.
Bucky Harris was unable to get the
ball to Judge for a double play. and
Grimes crossed with the final tally of