Evening star., 1928-05-03

I initial stand Of the year against
" Western rivals, the Nationals
made three important oiScoN-
erieS-that the exchange Of posi-
tons by Jack Hayes and Grant GlIilS
around the keystone sack strengthened
the clubs inner defense. that Sad sam
Jones at last is ready 10 do some 5000
pitching for them and that they can
lick tlle Yankees
Shifted 10 the Shortfiel6. while ellis
performed on the other side Of tie sec
on6 sack. Hayes yesterday PLAYED
bang-up game. Jones. starting con-
test for the frs. time in the season.
winged his way brilliantly through six
innings tired in the seventh and hn2Ily
gave way 10 Garland BraXton IN the
eighth The Nationals generally flashed
more fire than they had in days. All
Of this combined brought about 9-to-5
triumph over the world champions, the
first win of the campaign over the TankS
for the Harris clan in six starts and
one terminating s losing streak of eight
games.
Perhaps the realization that it still
is possible for them 10 overcome an OPP
ponent will put the Nationals IN the
proper mood to tackle the Browns, who
are scheduled to open four-genle
series here tomorrow. AS they have
been travelling the Browns will take
deal of beating. This ST. Louis club.
which heads the invasion of Clark Grit
fifth Stadium b. the Western contingent
Of the league. thus far has confounded
al the base ball experts. In preseason
doping. picked generally 10 finish last
or next TO last in the pennant race, the
Browns have upset all the calculations
Of the wiSeacreS Of the pRstime by get
ting away 10 flying start.
Browns Have Good Record.
They have a record of IL victories
against 9 defeats. and right now are
in fourth place in the American League
scramble. Only yesterday hey stepped
out to lick the Indians at Cleveland,
and in doing so licked for the first
time this season the veteran George
Uhle. whose pitching has been one of
the sensations CT the new major base
ball campaign.
Dan Howley. who assumed the man
aeement Of the St Louis Americans
only last year. appears to have whipped
into shape a pretty good bail club after
breaking I'D under the orders OF its
owner. Fhil Ball. the aggregation he
inherited from George Sisler Mixing
a few brilliant recruits with some sea-
soned players procured from other out
fits during the past Winter and sew
eral holoovers from the 1927 Browns,
Dan has put out q fighting crew.
Prominent among the revised ST.
Louis cast IS Ralph Kress. new short
stop procured from Tulsa Of the West
ern League. who this morning was
rated as the leading hitter Of the major
leagues In II games KreSs has
thumped his way to an average Of .490.
He has been fielding in fine style. too.
Otis Brannon at second base is an
other recruit who has been making
good Ee. tee. was yanEed from the
Tulsa club
Transfers from other American
League clubs who have been helping
the Browns materially are Lu Blue ana
Eeinie Manush, formerly Of the Tigers
who are playing first base and left
field. respectively. and Earl McNeely.
before this year wearing Washington
uniform e. q major leaguey, but now
1n right field for the H0wleymen.
Aside from the batterymen the only
holdcEers from the 1927 edition Of the
Browns used III the lineup at present
are BiacEe O'RouTke at third base and
Fred Schultz in center field.
Mound Corps Is Strong.
Old waliy Schang has been doing
practically all the catching for the
Browns, and doing 1t in great style
Their pitching corps has beea led by
Sam Gray. smart Highlander pro-
cured during the Winter in a deal with
the Athletics. Grey's performance this
season has riYaleo Uhle's Other pitch
ers who have been starring for Eowley
are the youngSter George Blaeholder
and the veteran Jack Ogden, the latter
brought up from the Baltimore Orioles,
and brother Of Curly Ogden, who used
to be with the Nationals. Both are
right-handers. Then Howley has Al
Crowder and Dick CofTman, formerly
On the Washington pay roll, and Ernie
Eevers. This lot and couple more
give the Browns right good mound
staff
Tne pitching put forth By the
Yankees yesterday did not annoy the
Nationals greatly. Waite Hoyt, essay
ing a comeback after suffering with q
fu attack that kept him out Of action
for more than TWO weeks. vas thumped
CT the slab before the fifth inning was
completed. He walked 10 the shower
after being reached for eight Eafeties
and two passes that netted the home
club six runs. Henry johnson, who re-
IieEed. gave UP three hits and ar many
runs IN the sixth, one Of the runs being
f,a 1eYrae After All this Tayna op