Evening star., 1927-04-17

Il
Of the season here, Manager
4 Stanley Harris expects TO call
upon Garland Braxton for this
afternoon engagement, even though
the southpaw has not fully recovered
from the indisposition that seized him
early last week. Braxton is one OF
the six Slabmen on the Nationals
roster vet TO see service in the new
American League campaign and the
only one other than Deacon Jones re-
garded as fit to send against the
Athletics.
While in Florida this forkhander,
procured from the Yankees last WIN.
ter in part payment for Dutch Ruethef'
was just about the, best pitcher the
Nationals showed He gave several
fine exhibitions of his skill and fin
ished the training Tits with the best
rating of the mound corps I'm the mat
te1, of earned runs allowed,
with the Yankees last season, BfaX-
ton was used little other than ln re-
lief roles, and he came to be dubped
. siY.inning pitcher. However, IN his
work South he always finished his
term on the hill seemingly as strong
a. when he started. and when IN Sooa
physical trim probably can go the
route as well as any other of the Na-
tional slab staff.
have left him somewhat weak. But
even at that he seems Manager.
Harris best bet for today. Stan
Coveleskie is not yet ready 70 take
another turn on the hill, white HONS,
ThiIrston has not had sufficient rest
since he bowled over the Red SoX.
The pilot Is not prepared to take
chance with Jones. so Braxton virtu-
ally has to tackle the job.
All run,ors to the contrary there
will be plenty of seats available at
Clark Griffith Stadium this afternoon
for those who have not reservations,
according to the club management.
Only the boxes, which always are re-
served, and the first five rows i'll both
lower and upper grandstands, which
are reserved on Saturdays, Sundays
and holidays, have been sold. Tickets
for Is. 900 grandstand seats will go on
sale today at the ball park when the
gates open. Those getting there early
will get choice positions.
Four more weeks and Walters ohm
son should be ready 10 take his turn
in the pitching box, the surgeon, who
has been attending the lamed pitcher
has advised President Griffith While
his broken foot was encased in
plaster cast, the muscles in Walters
left leg shrank considerably and the
limb is somewhat smaller than the
right one. According to the surgeon,
the muscles will have to be stretched
before the pitcher regains good use of
the leg and the stretching cannot be
accomplished hurriedly. Only careful
massag ging and moderate exercise will
he fy-iRf a ND
Walter will get while the Nationals
are on the road. OF course, he will be
able to get his salary wing loosened
in short order, so by the time his leg
is sound he will be fully fit to face
the enemy.
Joe Judges batting eye was unus-
ually dim during the training season
in Florida, but 1t certainly has bright
ened since the title campaign started.
In the four games thus far played
by the Nationals the veteran first
sacIer has socked eight hits in -
times at bat for a swatting average
OF 533 Joe has slammed twice for
extra bases, being credited with a
triple and a two-bagger. He has
driven in five runs in addition to
tallying once.
In the opening inning yesterday,
the National infield accomplished a
smart double play to kill Philadel-
phia scoring chance. 1t had been
figured at Tampa that If a runner
trying TO score from third on a drive
to an infielder was boxed SO tightly
he could not dodge back and forth
on the line it would be simple thing
also to trap the man who had hit the
ball should he endeavor 10 reach sec.