Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-29

to open here this Afternoon
- the Nationals not only vii
be battling to move from
fourth to second place, but also to lie
main n jump ahead of the now fifth
place Tigers, who recently have been
swinging along at a steady pace
Some slipping during the remainder
of this week and Bucky Harris and
his bunch might find themselves in
the second division Of the American
League.
Since they visited Washington 10
days ago, George Moriarty's athletes
have been just about the best crowd
in the Western portion of the circuit.
The Tigers made the erStwhile speedy
White SoX dizzy, and back on their
home lot once more have started well
against the Browns. Moriarty's pitch
ers seem to be performing properly
at last, and as the Tigers have plenty
of batting power with which to back
their hurlerS they are apt to prove
troublesome from now on.
If the Nationals are able to get the
better of the Athletics in the present
series they are quite likely TO start
their second Western invasion of the
year next week not so far behind. If
not in the runner-up position, in the
race. Harris henchmen reasonably
may be expected to battle evenly, at
least, with the Yankees in the four
games following the tits with the AS.
Boston Beckons to AS.
But they must down the Mackmen
this time to advance. for after leav-
ing here Comics crew goes to Bos-
ton for a set with the Red Sox and
is apt to pick up much ground there.
During their last eight playing days
the Nationals have made about as
much Roadway as was anticipated,
but they did not advance without diff
iiculty. Fierce fighting was needed to
bag most of the victories in
the 10 enga gements. Both OF the
games captured from the Athletics in
The five-gane series last week were
struggles down to the last out. In
each the A threatened seriously in
the ninth inning.
In sweeping the set of five games
with the Red SoX Bucky Harris
bunch found the Hubmen a scrapping
lot in three of the settos before ac-
cepting defeat. In all but two of the
games won the Red SoX We're away
in front and the Nationals forced to
fight desperately to wrest the lead
from the foe. Even though Harris
victories in the set, it was far from
being a walkover.
One of the most pleasing features
of the recent play Of the Nationals
has been the increase in punch. In
two of the games of the series with
the Mackmen the hitting of the
Harrisuen was woefully weak and in
one other Of that set, while strong. it
was not opportune. Against the Red
Eox, however, the club waved
wicked bat. Hitting rallies Were
sharp and sustained, with several
players who had been in fearful bat
ting slunaps taking leading parts in
the attack.
-Four SOx Singers Toll.
With Al Crowder holding the Red
Sox to two hits and three passes, the
Nationals captured the game in Bos-
ton yesterday. to 0. They made all
their runs of Delnar Lundgren in
three of six innings he hurled,
combing him for seven safeties and
brace of walks. Fred Wingfield, Tony
Weller and Jack Russell each slab
bed an inning after Lundgren de-
parted. Wingf1eld was the only one
of this trio to yield a blow.
In scoring his first. shutout and the
Nationals sixth of the season,
Crowder improved in his work as the
game progressed. At first he was
forced to pitch himself out TO almost
every batter, but he stopped that after
the third inning,
In the first seven innings but four
Red Sox got on the Runway. Cleo
Carlyle walked in the opening round,
Red Rollings got a single with one
out in the fourth, Phil Todt walked
1t the start of the sixth and Carlyle
again got one when iris Speaker
dropped Bob Reeves throw at the
outset of the seventh. None of these
runners left first base
With one out in the eighth. though,
the Red Sox filled the sacks. Wal
ter Shaner got the second hit of the
day OF Crowder. Then Grover Hart.
ley batting for Weller, drew a pass
after Fred Hofmann had hoisted to
Earl McNeely. Reeves took Johnny
Tobln's easy grounder and tossed to
Boss Bucky for a force out of Hart