Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-15
- BY JOHN b. KELLER.

~ ETROIT, July 15.-7Rain today
necessitated postponement OF
both ends of the double header
- scheduled between the Ma
tionals and Tigers. A steady
downpour in the morning early made
it apparent shortly after noon that the
initial contest of the twin bill would
have to go by the board and when
moisture continued to descend all pos
sibllity of playing, even single con-
test disappeared. -
Rain Yesterday. forced. the sched-
uling Of a twin bill for the wind-up OF
the series with George Moriarty's
club. While the Nationals were at bat
in the third inning the skies opened
and within a. few minutes Navin Field
was so flooded that resumption OF play
was impracticable.
When the storm broke the Nationals
had the bases filed with one out.
Ossie Bluege opened the frame with
the first hit off the left-handed Earl
Whitehili, a single to left. Reeves
walked, only to be forced out by wal.
ter johnson, but Sam Rice was pinked
on the arm by the, Tiger pitcher.
The deiuge may have hurt the Ma
tionaI cause, and again it may have
been a blessing in disguise, for the
Tigers had slapped Johnson for five
hits. punching four, Of them in the
first inning for two runs, the only
scoring done while the clubs were
in action.
Pitchers Showing Wear.
Johnson apparently was far from
being as effective as when he hurled
against the Indians last saturday,
and the outlook, therefore, was none
too bright for the Nationals. Their
pitchers have been having terrible
time getting along in the west TINS
trim. even though the club has won
seven of the nine games played. In
these contests Johnson has been the
only pitcher to go a route. Most OF
the other hurlers have been pressed
into service so often, perforce, tnat
thew are showing signs of wear
1t seems that whoever starts on the
hill for the Nationals these days needs
plenty of punch back of him to carry
on.
The opposition generally manages
to pile up runs at an alarming rate,
and only by a violent counter barfage
can Bucky Harris bunch overcome
this weakness of the mound stan:
The club has been seeking the pan
savageIy, averaging nearly IL safeties
not get as many runs from this at
tack as it really deserved.
Too many runners have languished
on the paths, waiting for the Wallop
that never came. An average OF oe-
tween 9 and 10 Nationals have been
stranded per game. And much of this
may be laid to the failure OF Goose
Goslin to hit up to the point reason
ably expected of a batter with his
record for pounding the ball Since
the Nationals came West the Goose
has hit for only .216, an average winch
would not mean much TO MANY hurlers
even-and most hurlers are about the
worst batters imaginable-and GER
tainly an exceedingly poor mark for
q man occupying the cleanup POSI-.
ton in the batting order OF club
struggling to maintain it's hold on sec
ond place in the American League
race.
Goose Weak i'm Pinches.
Goslin's batting average does not
begin to tell how really ineffective he
has been in attack during the trip.
He actually has stepped to the plate
2S times with a chance to advance a
mate or mates on the runway. And
he has made good by getting hit,
drawing a pass, knocking sacrifice
or forcing out a runner only nine
times.
True he has been responsible for
driving over eight runs during the
tour of this section of the circuit, but
he sent over five of these eight runs
in the first three games. In the last
six he has been pitiful at bat.
But Goslin will be retained in the
cleanup position, at that, according to