Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-03

~ DOUDCeu Yesterday NIllie ali
"A dom was celebrating the TWEEN
\ tieth anniversary of his start
as a pitcher for the Washing
ing club that he no longer expects
TO be a regular turn hurler. he prob
ably will be sent TO the slab at the
beginning of two more engagements
during the remainder of the present
home stand OF the Nationals and very
. likely will see much more service at
the commencement Of contests before
this season ends.
Manager Bucky Harris will need n
deal OF good pitching while his club
battles with the Browns III the three
game series that was to get under
way this afternoon and in the tits
with the Indians and the Yankees that
are 10 follow and Johnson ought 10
prove a very handy man 10 have
around
While he was withdrawn from the
FRAY Yesterday before the Nationals
finally acknowledged themselves licked,
10 s. by the Tigers and according
10 a strict Interpretation Of base ball
scoring rules should haVr been named
losing pitcher, although officially he
was not. the 1894 admirers of the
great veteran who paid their way into
Clark Griffith Stadium to celebrate his
big" day were far from being con
WINGED that he was to blame for the
defeat.
Support None Too Strong.
Johnson, of course. was not the
pitcher of his heyday in the national
pastime, nor has he been for years.
Time is bound to take toll of an arm
even so great as Walters over
20.season stretch. But the veteran
yesterday probably would have added
another win TO his already record
string had he been afforded better
support, even though no errors were |
charged against his club. This is not
intended as an alibi for Walter, but a |
fair defense of a remarkable pitcher |
who suffered defeat when 1t appeared |
he deserved a victory.
For four innings this man who Is |
serving in his twenty-tirst campaign |
in the American League turned back |
the usually hard-hitting Tigers in |
order. During that time only three
of his pitches were driven beyond the
infield and four hatterS he made
strikeout victims. 1t was different in
the fifth frame. though. Then six hits
were credited to the visitors, but two
Of them were decidedly scratchy and
another came in a hit-and-run play,
when Tigers speeding along the base
paths pulled an infielder from the spot
over which the batted ball passed.
This attack netted the visitors four
runs where with reasonably strong
backing Of Johnson not more than
two should have been Tailed. Thus
the lone marker the Nationals had
chalked up at the expense OF the left
handed Earl Whitehill with two hits
in the second inning paled into insig-
nificance. But they solved the Tiger
hurler again in the seventh. and with
three hits and two passes scored suf-
ficiently to deadlock the game and
force the right handed Ken Holloway
20 come to the southpaw's relief after
two were out.
Nouns Theft Decisive.
In the eighth inning, the Nationals
fell upon Holloway for two Safeties
and a run to take the lead for the
second time in the fray. but in the
ninth the Tigers again. forged ahead.
The way they did SO. however. GER
.ainIv was not to Johnson's discredlt.
He was hit safely for the last time in
The game by the first Tiger to step to
the plate In the round, but this sue
cessful batter was forced out I'M
nediately when sacrifice play was
attempted.
Then came serious pfedh dsaiho' !
Walter. While he was pitching /,
second wide one to the third man up f.,
he runner on first base darted 10
ward second. Muddy Ruefs throw
q the middle bag was somewhat low
AM got there in good time. The
Johnny Neun, though. :
,urled himself along the ground pc 9
Ind the stretching Bob Reeves, VINO r
rad come over from the shortfieid 10 a
AXE the throw, and reached the oase
,afely. ,,.,, d.oided T
raIieve the veteran and hailed ms .
,outhpaw relief worker. GariaIlu
oray ton. TO the hill. Braxton COM c