Evening star., 1927-05-17
BY JOHN Il. KELLER.

~ LEVELAND, May 17.--Weath-
er permitting, Nationals and
Indians were to battle here
this afternoon after being
rained out for two days. but
contest or no contest Bucky Harris
will take his athletes out Of this toSTn
tonight. Tomorrow they are TO begin
a fve-day stay in Detroit. although
only four games are scheduled with
the Tigers during the visit. Friday is
listed as an off day for the clubs.
Five licliiiar% =. = sVw have left the
Nationals In a tie with the Browns
for sixth position, Just two-anda-half
games ahead of the lastpl2Ce Red
Sox, who seem recently to have taken
a new lease on life.
But by winning today should a
game be staged in this town, which
is being flooded almost daily by the
worst Spring weather in years in this
section. the Nationals would climb at
least one notch in the championship
race and, should the Browns also be
drubbed go 70 the top of the leagues
second division.
Need Sweep for Even Split.
AS affairs stand now. the Nationals
must sweep ali the remaining con-
tests scheduled this trip to show bet
ter than a $3.50 break for the initial
swing of the year through the West.
Just one more defeat and the club
will return to Washington next Mon
day with a winning percentage of
less than 500 for this jaunt
And one more licking would mean
that they could not return home with
a season standing better than 500,
which may be considered no figures
at all at such a stage in the title cam
paign for an outfit that in pre-sea-
son dope was rated among the strong
pennant contenders.
Horace Lisenbee. the Nationals can.
didate for rookie pitching laurels in
the big show this season, after being
robbed twice by the weather of
chance TO show Clevelanders just what
he can do on the hill, was expected
to draw the hurting assignment this
Afternoon if It was dry enough over
head and under foot at Dunn Field
TO make base ball possible.
Just who would pitch for the In.
dians was questionable this morning
1t was apt to be Joe Shaute. Walter
Miller--both of them southpaws-or
were treated by Bonesetter Reese at
Youngstown the same day George
Uhle's arm was put back in shape.
If the ligament ffxer did as much
for Levsen and Miller as he did for
Uhle, either ought TO make matters
more than interesting for the Ma.
tionals.
Uhle Fully Recovered.
George certainly had the Nationals
at his mercy Saturday and it was
quite surprising TO them after the
stories relating to the Cleveland vet
eran's ineffectiveness that had been
circulated this season. According to
the Washington batters who faced
him, Uhle seemed better in Saturdays
engagement than at any time against
the Nationals last year.
This Cleveland club, by the way, in
the one game against the Nationals
here looked better than any other
Western club Bucky Harris crowd
has faced so far. The Browns GER
tainly showed nothing TO rave about
and, while the White Sox took the
Nationals for three in a row, they
We're rather fortunate to do so. Ray
Schalk's combination is too erratic in
the field to be accounted dependable
just yet
But with Charley Jameson once
more taking care Of left field, thus
permitting Fred Eichrodt to return
TO center, and Lew Fonseca doing
good work at second base, where Fred
Spurgeon was a fixture last season,
the Indians seem quite strong.
Eichrodt is clever fiyhound, and
there is enough hitting power in the
remainder of the Tribe to keep him
in the lineup for his fine defensive
work. And he is flanked by capable
gardeners in Jamie and Pat Summa.
Tribal InfleId Strong.
In the inffeld George Burns at first
and Joe Sewell at short apparently are
every whit as good defensively IS they
were last year, while Rube Lutzke, at
third, still is a bear at handling hot
grounders. and wings the bail to other
stations with speed and accuracy.
Burns has set out on another double
making spree. and Joe Sewell. some.
what bulkier than in other seasons, is
socking the sphere we'll
The greatest improvement in the in
field, though, is seen at second base,
where Fonseca has replaced Spurgeon.
This graduate of the Newark club of
the international League is a right
clever fielder, and a. hitter of no mean
ability. He is particularly good as a