Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-19
BY JOHN II. KELLER.

~T. LOUIS. August 19.-Follow-
ing final fling at the Browns
in this town this season, the
~ Nationls will embark tonight
for Detroit. where there Is a
pretty good ball club to be met.
Unless Bucky Harris horde puts up
better argument against the Tigers
in the ftve-gam series that Will be
opened tomorrow with a double
header than it has been putting up
against the Howleymen here. 1t will
find itself on the ragged edge of sec
ond place il not out of it altogether
when 1t quits Detroit.
The Nationals certainly have not
performed as a prospective runner-up
in the American League champion
ship race in their stay here. Thus
far they have failed to find much
use for their fails and have not
Sparkled afield by any means. True.
they have had quite fair pitching In
the series with the Browns. but all
the fine efforts OF their hoxmen have
been wasted with the club faltering
miserably in other departments OF
play.
Right on the heels of the Wednes-
day defeat in the ninth inning of the
second clash of double header came
another licking yesterday when the
Browns rose in their fury and swept
aside a lead earned against them In
the early rounds of the pastiming.
The Browns won, to 5, and had TO
go to the twelfth inning to do So
but they surely were the whole show
after the first three innings, in which
the Nationals did all their counting
Lead Frittered Away.
Harris gang simply frittered away
the five-run advantage 1t attained
in the early stages Of the fray. 1t
kicked the ball about. used poor
Judgment in throws, slowed notice
ably in the infield, all but lost sight
of the sphere entirely at bat and
generally managed to undo all the
good that was done by It's hurler.
The Nationals have no alibi for this
second successive defeat in the series
with the Browns. AS the game was
PLAYED, they were the worst club and
deserved the trimming.
Walter Johnson and Win Ballou
were the opposing pitchers at the out
set Of hostilities, but neither lasted.
After yielding seven safeties and
three passes for Ave markers In the
first three frames, Ballou called 1t
day. Johnson went through six SEES
sons. granting six hits and three
walks that enabled the Browns to get
back three Of the runs their starting
slabmen had given up. In the sixth
inning Johnson probably would have
held the Browns scoreless instead OF
being reached for run had his sup
port been faster. But sluggish field.
ing blasted a double play hope, and
Brown capered over the counting
block after a play that should have
meant third out was made.
Al Crowder, who wore a Washing
ton uniform during the first half Of
this season, relieved Ballou, while
place on the hill. Crowder was wild,
issuing five passes. but he gave up
only five bingles in the nine rounds
he went to the finish. Until the tenth
inning Johnson, who had combed
Ballou for single, was the only Ma
tional to nick Crowder. Walter raised
his hit. total for the game to three
at AIS expense. Crowder found him.
self in close quarters several times,
particularly IN the eleventh, when two
walks following a hit crowded the
bases with two out, but he always
had enough in reserve to bafle the
Nationals.
Braxton Does Well, Too.
Braxton, too, gave a fine perform
ence against the Browns. He was
unfortunate enough to have his sup
port go to pieces in the seventh, his
first inning of toll, and let the Browns
get two runs to deadlock the fray.
From then until one was out in the
twelfth he was strong, bat after the
Browns had reached the southpaw in
the twelfth for a brace of hits to
swell the lot made off him to six, he
gave way to Fred Marberry. The big
Texan purposely passed one batter to
fill the sacks, then was reached by the
next for a long fly that let the de-
cisive run get home.
Harris walk and theft, Speakers re-
tirement and Goslin's single account
ed for a National tally in the first
frame. In the third. Ballou was nick
ed for singles by Johnson, Speaker,
Goslin and Bluege and a triple by
McNeely in addition to passing Rice