Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-09
CLUB WINS DESPITE
A WEAK BOX CORPS
Sets .765 Pace Against
Western Invaders to Keep
on Heels of Cards.
BY the Associated Press Sports Writer.

n YOBODY knows how John Nc
N Graw is doing it, but-there he
is, with a record of 10 victories
4 and Is defeats in the first half
of his campaign against West
ern foes, the master mind OF Coogans
Bluff settled into the fastness Of the
Giant dugout two weeks ago prepared
to think his way through an lS-game
siege by the enemy from the West.
All Of the invading clubs were PEN
nant contenders in all that the name
implies. The Giants were equipped
with one dependable pitcher and the
fighting spirit Of John McGraw. Freddy
Fitzsimmons and Joe Genewlch' not
to mention the younger set OF SOUTH
paws. suddenly began TO give Larry
Benton some help. the Giants began To
pull off last-ditch McGraw rallies in
the closing innings, and-well, look at
them now.
The New York team alone Of all the
Eastern defenders bettered the 500
mark in the Western invasion which
closed yesterday, but bettered 1t to the
tune of Is victories and only defeats
.765 base ball Anything approaching that
pace in the 81 remaining games against
the Western clubs, coupled with nor
NAL gait against the East, would bring
Mr.. McGraw in for some very serious
consideration along about next Septen1-
Der 80.
Cards Remain Favorites.
The Cardinals, nevertheless, must re-
main favorites for the National League
fiag-so long as they play a steady game
and keep their games-lost column in
better shape than that of the Giants.
Cardinal pitching again had an OIL
day at the Polo Grounds yesterday when
Willie Sherdel and Harold Haid took
lacing which netted the home talent
10-to-5 victory and two out OF three
on the series, one game Of which was
postponed to September 81, an other
wise open date.
The success of the Giant arms In
hand-to-hand fighting with the leaders
reduced the margin of the Cardinals to
four and one-half games, with a differ
ence of only two games in the lost
column. Ball players themselves al
ways reckon the standing of the clubs
solely on the number of games lost
presuming that any contender Will win
most of its poStponements, but that q
game lost is, Of course, gone beyond
recall
If this basis of estimating the stand
ing always were accurate, the Cardinals.
indeed, would have something about
which to worry The fly in John Nc
I
eight engagements against the Braves
in four days on September 10, IL, IL
and 10. and that is no bargain at any
stage of the game-even against the
Braves. McGraw. after ALL will have
to call on some inexperienced pitching
hands in the double-header epidemic.
After posing as contenders. or semi
contenders, through two-thirds of the
season, the Robins finally have assumed
InasN. viii n q
sistance from the thoughtful Pirates.
Ray Kremer surprised himself with a
neat game yesterday. as the Buccaneers
| fought through to their third one-run
decision in Brooklyn in two days, and
| their seventh straight in the East. The
score was to 3.
Four in Row for Phils.
While the Robins were settling firmly
into sixth place just above the Braves
and the Pills. miracle was being
piled upon miracles at Philadelphia TO
the intense disgust Of Joseph Vincent
Mccarthy and hts fellow Cubs. The
PhillieS. believe 1t or not, were cleaning
up their fourth straight against Mr.
McCarthv'S cX-contenderS-the same
FhillieS to whom winning streak Of
one consecutive game always came as
a surprise.
Inc BAKER boys pulled TINS one out
in the last of the ninth. To g. The
only regretable feature was that Artie
Nehf stepped onto the firing line just
in time to absorb blame for the defeat
The Reds ran their string of losses
to eight straight by permitting the
Braves to win both games of double
header at Boston yesterday. s 10 : ssad
IL TO l. Art Delaney and Bob Smith
turned in some of that Spring training
camp pitching, and the Reds we're
helpless despite five double plays which
ran their seasons total to 1873 George
Sisler helped out with cluster OF six
hits in eight times at bat.
The American League teams we're
engaged in travel, or in exhibition
engagements. Not content TO let a
day go by in peace, the Yankees
dropped one to Albany. 3 TO ?, while
the Athletics were winning by II to 8
in 10 innings at Binghampton.