Evening star., 1926-04-18

delphia's home season, with Alec Fe
Coveleskie following in the next tn
ought to give the Quakertown forces
Before invading the home of the
Athletics, though, Boss Bucky will
endeavor to clear the batting eyes
of his charges at morning drills to-
morrow and Tuesday. The Nationals
so far have been quite inconsistent
in attack, putting quite a burden on
their moundsmen. The club batting
average certainly is nothing to brag
about. though Harris is looking for
it to improve before many days pass.
Joe Bush, who was unable to get
much on the ball when he made his
season debut against the AS last
Thursday, Is likely to take the hill in
this afternoons engagement with the
Yankees. Harris had expected to send
Joe back to the pitching job yester
day until the hurler announced that
he did not feel in good enough form
to do himself justice. Bush was con-
Iif1dent. though, that he would be in
fine fettle by today and in talking
with Manager Harris after the first
battle with the Hugmen expressed
his eagerness to pitch against them
as soon as possible. The former
Brown boxman blamed the cold
weather for his poor showing last
week, claiming his arm was so
chilled that he could not control his
pitches. He has been toiling strenu-
ously since then. however, in daily
war1n.up drills and now considers his
salary wing free enough to withstand
any weather that may prevail.
johnson and C0vey are slated to
follow Bush in the series with the
New Workers., the former to start toa
morrow. It is barely possible, though,
that O. last-minute change in slab
assignments may send Walter to the
hill today and leave Bush for the
third contest.
Two of the young hurlers on the
Nationals staff are to be sent to the
minors this week. with the shift likely
to occur before the club entrains for
Philadelphia, according to Harris.
The Birmingham club of the Southern
Association Is apt to get both OF the
rockies.
Pinch batters OF the Nationals
surely did not shine last week. Six
we're used and not one produced.
Tobin, Tate and SEVERED could not
make the grade yesterday.
There was nothing OF startling
nature done afleld in the first game
of the season with the Yanks. Prob
ably the best bits of work were those
accomplished by Babe Ruth in the
first inning, when he played Bucky
Harris clout well enough to cut 1t
down 10 a. two-bagger and held Joe
Judges long drive to a single by leap
ing high to spear the ball on the
bound.
Joe Harris has started out to make
a. deal Of business for the bat manu-
facturers The right-hand slugger
smashed one of his favorite warcluos
Friday and yesterday cracked another
when he hoisted to GehriG In the third
inning.
KneeIing outflelders seem to be the
style this season. GoSlin and Hlce
fiopped on their shins for a couple OF
catches Of Yankee lofts and in the
ninth round Combs knelt before gath
ering in Ruels high one.
Those Yankees keep their heads up
when running bases. By doing SO
thew made the National gardeners
seem sluggish at times. This was
most noticeable in the sixth yesterday
when with the beefy Pat Collins on
first base Mark Koenig sent Texas
Lacquer to left. Goslin did not play
the ball any too fast and Collins ran
ON to third, easily beating the Goose's
throw to that bag, while the heave
let Koenig continue to the midway
station.
Myer made game effort to keep
single from Meusel in the opening
frame. Buddy went far back OF sec
ond base to knock down Bob's drive,
but did so too late to attempt re-
firing throw
With Collins on second as a result
of a double at the start of the eighth
inning, Hoyt attempted to bunt but
missed the ball. Muddy Ruel whipped
the sphere to Myer and Collins. VINO
had left the sack with the pitch, be-
came an easy out.
Hoyt does not seem to be much of
hunter. In the sixth inning after Col
lins had strolled, Waite tried three
times to sacrifice and was autonat-
ically retired when the last effort re-
suited in a foul
Those Yankees seemed to be hitting
a lively ball all through the game. for
all their drives went far. Somebody
as the Nationals were concerned,
though, after the early innings.
Gehrig's smash that sailed over the
rjght.field barrier for a homer in the
first inning was favored by high
wind, but Collins drive into the left
field sun parlor in the second session
was an honest four-baser. Collins
narrowly missed putting another hit
into the bleacherS in the fourth, chas-
ing Goslin back to the wall for a
catch.
Bluege's triple to the fagpole in
center in the third, was a powerful
WALTON with such a tremendous loft
that only very fast fielding by Combs
forced Ossie to stop after rounding
third and return to that bag.
Hoyt stood on the hill in statuesque
pose SO long in the second round that
Rice, who had walked, became impa-
tient and darted for second, only to
be tagged by the pitchers snap to
Koenig.
Ruth did not clout any homers, but
did his share Of the hitting at that.
After two fruitless efforts at bat the
Babe came through with single and
triple.
Gelrig and Combs liked the Ma
tional pitching immensely. The husky
ex-collegian helped himself to a sin
Gle, three bagger and homer In four
Z,