Evening star., 1927-05-11
HORACE LISENBEE SLATED
TOFACELYONS ON MOUND
Failure of Nationals to Furnish Adequate Attack in
Support of Thurston's Pitching Costs 4-3 De-
feat in Opener With White Sox.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.


season, the Nationals have hit freely,
but lacked worthwhile pitching. At
sother times they have been strong on
the hill, but weak at bat. Rarely
have they had the pitching and done
the hitting at the same time. A sharp
er attack yesterday would have meant
much, for Hollis Thurston performed
right we'll against his old teammates,
but lacking punch, Bucky Harris
athletes were Outpointed, to 8, by
the White Sox in the opener of the
series here.
The inaugural Of the Windy City set
virtually was mound duel between
Thurston and Alphonse Thomas all
the way and the Chicago right.hander
grabbed all the laurels. He not only
held the Nationals at bay, but came
through with hits first to knot the
count, then send his club TO victory.
1t was Thomas single with two gone
in the fifth that sent Bill Barrett home
with the tying tally and it was his
double with two gone in the seventh
that registered John Clancy and Aaron
Ward at the counting block with the
markers that spoiled the afternoon
for Hollis and the other Harrismen.
This afternoon, Horace Lisenbee,
best of the Washington recruits, and
ed TO be slab opponents. Pitching TO
form, they should be capable of pro-
viding as fine slab battle as did the
box rivals In yesterdays engagement.
Hits Are Well Divided.
The hits were right well divided in
the series starter. the Nationals get
ting six off Thomas while Thurston
yielded seven. But Thomas never
~ To-.
inning and had he not backed one
wallop with the two passes he issued
during the afternoon, and q balk, he
might have escaped with only one
run registered against him.
The balk accounted for one Nation
al marker, and an error by Catcher
Harry McCurdy was mainly RESPONSE
BILE for another. Joe Judges circuit
drive into the right-field stand in
the eighth inning was the only run
hit off Thomas.
Judges clout was just a trifie
harder than the other homer of the
game. that made by Alex Metzler of
the Chisox in the first inning. Judges
homer landed four or five tiers above
the front wall of the stand, while
Metzler's just cleared the barrier.
Thurston was hit in only two innings
after Metzler got his homer, but in
each OF them the Chisox punched
three clouts, and that proved the un-
doing Of Hollis.
iris Speaker was the most i'm
portant factor in the Nationals de-
fense. He roamed all over the field
and hauled down seven White Sox
drives in addition to making throw
that brought about double play.
The only hoist that iris failed to
reach was that from Thomas bat in
the seventh Spoke made game ef-
fort to get under it, but 1t fell for the i
game-deciding hit.
Hollis Hammered at Start.
Thurston was hammered hard by
the White Sox in the first inning. but
only one of the drives was good for
a hit. It was Metzler's wanop. that
went into the hands of a fan in the
right-f1eld stand. West made
great catch to keep a hit from Kamm
and after Hunnefield was disposed of
easily Speaker had to go far back to
pull down Falk's loft.
Judge and Ruel singled in the Ma
fionals' second batting turn, but there
were two retirements sandwiched be-
tween the safeties and Thurston
ended the round with pop to Kamm.
This White Sox tally was matched in
the third, however, largely due to
Speakers efforts.
There were two out when iris
walloped a two-bagger to the right
field corner. This shook Thomas,
evidently, for he passed Judge and
West, filing the sacks. AS Thomas
was about to deliver his first pitch
to Rigney, Spoke pranced along the
line from third to home. This so
worried the pitcher that he checked
his throw and a balk was called
against him. That let iris get home.
In the fifth, the Nationals registered
another marker after two were out,
and again it was Speaker who began
the run-making. iris lined single
to right, and West followed with
double between Barrett and Metzler.
Spoke never hesitated at third base,
and got home easily when McCurdy
let Wards relay Of Barrett's return
go through.
White Sox Tie 1t Up.
:. The White Sox tied it up in their
half, though, getting to Thurston for
three singles. Barrett opened the
round with one-baser to left and
stood on first while Speaker took care
Of lofts by Clancy and Ward. McCur-
dy, however, beat out a teasing roller
to Rigney, and when Thomas rified
hit to center Barrett raced to the
plate.
Thomas put the White Sox in front
in the seventh just as it seemed
Thurston was to get out of pit
mostly OF his own digging. Barrett
began the round with double down
the left-field line. and Clancy got
single with bunt toward third when
Reeves, coming in for play, slipped
on the soft ground and fell. Then a
pass to Ward filled the sacks.
With McCurdy, usually dangerous
In pinches, up, the situation was any
thing but pleasant for Thurston Har-
fy. though, drove a hot one TO Judge.
and a two-ply killing followed in
which Barrett was erased at the plate
and the batter tagged at first
Thomas, however. proved that pitch