Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-16

After finishing
with the Eastern invaders last month
the Indians were in second place,
nine games behind the Yankees. Now
they are in fourth place, eight and
one-half games behind the pace::set.
tiers. The Tigers over the same
stretch have gained one and one-half
games on New York, but they have
fallen from fifth to sixth place.
About all these figures Indicate, in
so far as the Yankees are concerned.
Is that Higgins club is suffering a
terrible slump, a circumstance that
rightly may 10 attributed to the loss
of prominent cogs in the New York
machine through injury. With re-
spect to the other clubs, the figures
indicate that while the Yanks are
losing steadily their most dangerous
rivals are principally engaged in
slaShing one anothers threats.
In other words, the Yanks continue
to keep well ahead with all the poor
breaks that have come that way be
cause there does not seem to be an
outstanding club among the five other
than New York that seems to have a
look-in at the 1926 American League
flag. Right now the Yanks are the
weakest of the group of six chief flag
contenders, but the others appear so
well matched that they are unable
to make much Roadway unless they
happen to clash with the leaders.
And of these well-matched rivals,
the Nationals have accomplished the
least in battles with the Yankees
within the past four weeks. They
have tackled the leaders seven times
IN this period for a record of three
victories, three defeats and one tie.
The Athletics have won three of
four games from the Yanks in the
same stretch, the Indians have
grabbed three of five engagements
and the Tigers two of three tits.
The Nationals, during the same
period, have encountered two of the
clubs regarded as having a chance
to. overhaul the Yanks. They have
mauled the Athletics in four games,
while in two games with the White
Sox they got an even break. All that
was accomplished in these scraps was
keeping the AS within hailing dis
lance Beating the Macks certainly
did not hurt the Yanks.
Rough Road Ahead.
Bucky Harris and company have
plenty Of work ahead of them during
the remainder of their present home
stand. This afternoon they were to
open a five-game series with the In
dams, and next Wednesday one of
six games will be started with the
Tigers. On one of the days Ty Cobb's
crew is here a double header will
be played, for the Nationals are
scheduled to leave for the West on
the night of July Is.
Both of the clubs yet to be met dur
ing this second visit Of the year Of the
Western contingent have been tough
nuts for the Nationals to crack. Here
in May the Indians took two Of three
games played, while the Tigers won
two, lost one. and tied one. While
the Nationals were in the West last
month. they broke even with the
Tigers in two-game series, but lost
two Of three games played with the
Tribe.
Both clubs seem to be better forti-
fed with pitchers than are the Ma
tionals The Indians have a fine
mound corps, one that compares favor.
ably with any other in the circuit.
The Tiger hurlers now seem much
better than they were not so long
ago. And both outfits can slug. These
next eleven engagements are apt to
be somewhat rough on the meager
slab staff of the holdover Champs.
Rain. thatI forced a postponement
yesterday OF the final game Of the
series with the White Sox, may have
: been a blessing in disguise: 1t af-
forded an extra day of rest for Wal
ter Johnson, so the veteran pitcher
ought to be quite ready for his start
against the Indians this afternoon.
Beginning this long series means
that Walter VIII come back against
the Indians in the final next Tues.
day. That may help some.