Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-10
ONLY THREE SUBS
HIT IN a TRIALS
Need of SIamming Reserve
Seen as Chisox Defeat
Griffmen. 8 to |.
BY JOHN n. KELLER.

Good pinch hitters must be scarce
For some years. the Nationals have
needed one or two batterS who more
likely than not would sock the ball on
the nose in crises. Yet they have been
unable to corral reserve batterS OF this
type. They must be scarce,
The clan Harris might have made
good use of such clubswingers in the
latter part of yesterdays engagement
with the White SoX. Tommy Thomas,
whose pitching had been especially baf-
fling to the regulars of the Nationals
lineup from the outset of hostilities,
appeared on the verge of passing from
the picture. One good wallop seemed
all that was needed to knock his props
from under him
But the regulars could not produce
the wallop and there was no reserve
batter thought equal TO the occasion.
So the Nationals took a Stool licking
that cost them the four-game series
with Chicago and dropped them TO
sixth place in the American League
standings Just short jump ahead of
the seventh-poSition Red SoX.
The record of Washington pinch-bat-
ting during the past thirty days is
something to consider In that time
batting subStitutions were made on "a
occasions. Only five of the substitute bat
tiers reached first base. Three hit sim
giles. another once walked and once was
hit by a pitched ball. But two of the
substitutes advanced runners. They were
two of the three that singled and each
Of the pair drove a run over the plate.
An effectiveness record OF .0S3.
Seven Tried in Pinches.
During the so days, the pinch batters
used were Benny Tate, Sammy West,
Ed Kenna, Joe Judge. Muddy Ruel.
Goose GosIin and Dick spaiding. Tate,
Kenna and Judge only of this lot drove
the ball TO safety.
Tate stepped to the plate nine times
as substitute, hit one single, struck
out once and twice drilled into double
play. Kenns, up four times. singled
once to send mate across the plate
and famed once. Judge. up once. hit
a National over the big base. West, the
only other of the pinch hatters 10 reach
the initial station in seven trips to the
plate. walked once, was hit once and
struck out once
Ruel, Goslin and Spalding each went
to bat IN pinch roles once. Ruel ground
ed to the third baSeman Goslin fouled
to the catcher and spalding whiffed.
So much for the Washington pinch
batters during the past 80 days.
1t is to be hoped they'll be able to
show more strength during the Ave-
game set the Nationals are engaged in
with the Indians They probably will
be called into action. for the club in
recent contests has not been singing
the ball with any regularity. While
plenty of Nationals have managed to
get on the runway. there has been a
lamentable lack of the punch needed to
get them around.
No Punch at Finish.
This was so yesterday when the Ma
tionals. after being held 70 two singles
in the first seven innings by Thomas.
numbered their artillery In the eighth
and socked over q run. Then West
began the attack by driving the ball
to the right fel0 corner for three bases
Ossie Bluege followed with hooper to
short center that was good for base
and West romped home. Right there
the attack stopped for a time. Kenna
whitfield. and Tate. sent up TO bat for
sam Jones. promptly grounded into a
double killing.
There was no pinch-liitter employed
IN the ninth, when the Nationals re-