Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08

YER hopeful of climbing we'll up
into the first division, The
Nationals see iii this home-stano
against the West golden OPP
nortunitv for betterment OF
their oosition. This morning they heio
an advantage over two OF their rlvaE
in the Western half Of the American
League. although the ADVANTAGE over
the White Sox is but slight, and htey
were NOT so far back Of the Browns and
the Indians repoSing III the upper
bracket. With these first division cups
faltering only lttle-aao tneN nave
not done so we'll lately-the Nationals
with a squirt could pass them quickly
The Washington club is but game
and a half back Of the Tribe now
occunying fourth place and Just three
snd a half games back Of the Browns,
vho Yesterday fell below the 500 point
in winning percentage for the tlrst TIME
in weeks.
This week. the Nationals will set a
chance 10 carry the fight for higher
honors 10 the Cleveland club. Inc
Indians are due to stage flve-gane
series here in four days beginning with
4 double header on Tuesday. Follow
jnc the Indians will be the Browns, VINO
arc Ia engage the clan Harris four times
IN Griffith Stadium,
Looks as though the Nationals soon
should be well intrenched N the hrst
division II they play the brand OF oaSe
ball they are capable OF playing
Fc-collerianS are likely to be mound
opnoncnts this afternoon when Nation
ais and White Sox trot on; for the third
battle Of their series. Manager Stanley
Harris plans 10 start Irving Hadiey.
erStwhile Brown University Slabman
MANAGER Lena BlackeuTne is apt 10
preSs into service Ted Lyons, who used
10 star with the Baylor University nine
down in Texas.
The Nationals may line UP as they
have since last Sunday. for Harris leg
still is weak and ne does not intend TO
relieve Jack Hayes Of the secono-oase
Job until certain the underplnning can
withstand the strain Of game
In the two recent games in WHICH ne
has performed as regular left fielder.
SAMMY West not only has demonstrated
that none of his fielding ability was lost
while he idled on the bench, but also
that he may be a much better hitter
than heretofore rated. In I'VE OF the
eight times al bat in the two games
he slammed the ball savagely and three
times drove il to safety West came
10 the Nationals from Birmingham with
a reputation as a good batter. He
has never done 50 much with the willow
IN the big show. but with the as
Surance that he has regular berth
for some time to come Sammy's club
bing might pick up In there every day
getting his cut at the ball will be much
better for West than getting shot at
q pitcher only every once in while.
When playing at home, the Browns
are world heaters. On foreign lots,
they're not so hot During their pres
ent invasion of the East, they are apt
to be ioIted out Of the first division
berth they have been holding almost
continuously since the start OF the
campaign unless they do much better
than they have in contests waged else
where than Sportsmen's Park in ST.
Louis Just before heading East, the
Browns played nine games on fields Of
Western rivals and took lickings in six
Of them. They were only five games
ahead OF the second division when they
landed in New York and that advantage
yesterday was reduced to three and a
half games A number of Dan Hovleys
reserves cannot be used. being on the