Evening star., 1927-05-19

lineup when daily IL becomes
49, more apparent he is in no
condition physically TO give
his best efforts to the club. Those in
charge Of the club have been hoping
that at any time the veteran will re-
gain the batting and fielding form that
made him so valuable to the Nationals
for wears. But their hopes probably
stand little chance Of being fulfilled
until Sam can rid himself Of the sinus
trouble that developed after he con-
tracted a severe cold during the sec
ond week of the championship season.
And while Sam is being kept in
the lineup the Nationals attacking
power is being weakened considerably,
This Clouter. who at the outset OF this
season showed n grand batting aver
age of 324 for his l. years of service
with the Washington Club, has hit
only .204 in the % games in which he
has participated thus far this year
And he holds that average mainly be-
cause Of the pasting he did early in
the campaign.
From the start Of the championship
race until he began to feel to great
extent the cold that brought about his
present illness. Rice hit for an aver
age of .255. That was quite low for
him. of course. but he felt that within
a week or two he would be around
the 800 mark. then climb gradually to
figures approximately his grand aver
age.
Hitting 132 in the West.
Instead. after the sinus trouble de-
veloped Rice batted for a rating Of
only 200 in three games in the East
and in the eight games he has played
during this Western tour he has hit
for a meager 1872. In the II engage
ments in which he has taken part
since becoming really i'll, Sam has
made only seven safeties.
And Rice's fielding has been affect
ed, too. since his physical condition
has been impaired. While he has
been charged with no errors during
the tour, Sam has failed to cover
anything like the amount Of terri
tory he used TO patrol. As a conse-
quence the Nationals defense has
suffered fearfully.
II is unfortunate that Rice's trouble
should come after all the other play
ers who were ailing or injured have
recovered or are well on the mend.
for the club needs all the strength
1t can muster back of the class of
pitching it has had generally.
A scarcity of extra outfielders
might make Rice's retention in the
lineup seem reasonable. but at pres
ent the club has a goodly supply of
gardeners. Sitting on the bench are
Earl McNeely, an accomplished pas
ture man; Sam West. Ollie Tucker
and Nick Cullop. Yet Rice remains
In action and the club suffers.
Rice Had Company Yesterday.
Rice had plenty of company yes
terday in the weak batting class when
the Nationals were licked, ; to 3. by
the Tigers in the opener of the four
game series here. Only six hits were
CLEANED off the left-handed Earl
Whitehill, four Nationals being credit
ed with the making of them. Man
ager Bucky Harris connected for
double and single. Muddy Ruel got
a brace of one basers and Goslin and
Rice got singles.
Sam, got his single more through
the courtesy of the official scorer than
anything else. With two gone in the
ninth, he pushed a roller to Jack
Tavener. The shortstop dug the ball
out of the dirt neatly, then made a
bounding throw that went through
Lu Blues paws. There would have
been no lifting of eyebrows had
Tavener been charged with an error
w AIitSIllll gave LH6 NATIONALS many
scoring chances by backing up the
six hits with five passes and chuck.
ing in for good measure a couple OF
erratic heaves in addition to the error
committed by Red Wingo. But White
hill also got ten strikeouts. six times
checking rallies by this means.
Like the Nationals, the Tigers got
only six hits, but how they used them
Opposing Whitehill at the start was
Al Crowder and Al gave what has
recently become typical Crowder
pitching exhibition. He started like
a house afire and breezed through
three innings. then lost all his cum
ming and was socked for three hits
in addition to issuing two passes in
the fourth, enough TO make the mark
er the Nationals had garnered in the
first half of the frame pale into in
significance
Braxton Also Is NfcI1ed.
Garland Braxton pitched the next
two rounds for the Harrismen and the
Tigers got to him for three more
safeties and another marker They
got nothing off Fred Marberry in the
seventh and eighth innings, but it did
not matter. Try as they would, the
Nationals never could make White
hill believe he was in serious trouble.
The Nationals got their first run in
the fourth, that Harris began with a
two-bagger. After Speaker drew a
pass, Goslin flied out and Judge
whitfield, but Ruel shot a single to left
to get Bucky across, but away went
that lead in the Tigers half
Rigney's tumble put Warner on at
the outset. Wingo grounded out, but
Fothergill walked and Manush crash
ed a double that tailed Warner. Nc
Manus' two-bagger scored the rotund
Fothergill and Manush. Tavener
rolled TO Harris. but Bassler singled
Marty over. Following Whitehills
walk, the round ended when Blue,
ninth Tiger up. popped to Boss Bucky.
Two were out in the fifth when the
Tigers got their run off BraXton,
Fothergill doubled and scored when
McManus got a two-base hit, following
Manushs stroll.
FNf.a lz IF