Evening star., 1928-06-21
PLAY At .o67 CLIP
OVER -FOUR WEEKS.
Late Squirt Has Nationals
Pressing Indians for
Fourth Place.
BY JOHN r. KELLER.

the first division door On a gam
basis they are deadiocked with tn
fourth-place Indians. The Tribe ha.
won two more games than the Ne
tlonsls. but also has lost two moTc
According to winning percentage, how
ever. Bucky Harris hopefuls still art
three points shy OF the Cleveland
standing following the S-to-o victor!
scored over the Red Sox yesterday II
Clark Griffith Stadium.
Crashing into the select group Of this
American Leagus should be accom-.
piiSl1sd within few days the way thc
Nationals are stepping along. Gener-
ally hitting i'll double figures ana bless
eS with good pitching more often than
not these days, the Washington Cluh
is capable Of giving any rival a stout
argument.
During the last four weeks but two
other clubs in the circuit have played
ST a faster clip than the Nationals
Both the New York and st. Louis ous-
fits have travelled at TOO rate in silis
time. However. over this stretch the
Nationals have tied these clubs In wins,
but have lost one more game. Water
seeks It's level SO does a potentially
strong base ball club. Early-season
sluggishneSs in the pitching staff held
back an otherwise good outfit. but this
defect seems 10 have been remedied
and the Nationals are on their way to
the higher position they deserve TO hold
il this years pennant chase.
Braxton Shines on Slab.
One biz stem contributing 10 the
recent success of the Nationals was
the discovery that in Garland BraXton,
slender southpaw. the club had an ad-
mi ahle starting hurler. Used only as
q relief man at the outset of the cam
paign because he was regarded too frail
TO withstand the gafT Of pitching over
a route. BraXton got chance as a
starter only because virtually all other
members OF the mound corps had failed
TO make good From the beginning the
sim left-hander proved his worth and
his sudden rise probably has done rs
much as anything else 10 inspire the
other huriers who had been unable TO
swing into a strong stride.
From the day that Braxton pitched
his first full game and blanked the
Yankees in New York almost all OF his
fellow pitchers have been performing
IN great style. How much of a brace
the pitching stan took following that
signal success is seen in the Nationals
record of II wins in is starts after
ths Yankees were licked on May 80
II was a splendid pitching exhibition
BY Braxton yesterday that marked the
victory over the Red Sox. With q fine
change Of pace and excellent control
OF this tantalizing "screwbail'' he
yielded the Hubmen but four safeties,
and was in really serious trouble only
once. Then the trouble was not OF his
own making. In the first inning a
tumble by Bob Reeves at shortstop that
came after Red Sox had singled was
followed by a double steal that left
visiting runners on third and second
bases with one out. Braxton. un-
daunted, procer6ed 70 ont "A bat
ter and the danger was removed when
another hoisted to Red Barnes in short
center.
Red Sox Threat Halted.
II was Buddy Myer, former National.
who got the single of Braxton In the
first frame, a hit to right field. Ira
Flagsteac sent an easy chance toward
Reeves, but the shortfelder evidently
tried 70 start the ball toward second
with a double play in sight before &C.
tually getting 1t within his grasp. A
foozle resulted. The dual theft was
STAGED easily. then Braxton frightened.
Phi Todt. a dangerous man at the
plate. whitfield and Bill Regan was dis
posed OF by the center fielder.
But fiTe other Red Sox got on the
runway during the remainder of the
pastlE-ng. There was one out in
the third inning when Reeves raced To
snort left and gracefully let bound out
OF MS hands pop ny from Jack Roth
foeE- IL vas a two-baSe error. but
Fotnrock never progressed beyond Sec
ond- Two were gone IN round four
Vnen Doug Taitt got regular hit, a
sock against the fence near the score
board for three bases. WaIIy Gerber
base.
Myer got second single at the begin
ming o. the sixth session. II was q
scratchy affair, bat Buddy had dribbIed
the oaA 70 Judge. However. Joe WAS too
Tar from first base to carry the ball there
and Brsxton did not get to the bag in
Time 70 take retiring throw. FiagsteAd
proceeded to force out Myer and then
was shared in q two-ply Killing with
Iodt. Charley Berry began the eighth
inning with a one-baser and never ad-
yanced beyond the initial station. That
was the finish for the Red Sox.
IN sharp contrast TO this weak Of
fenslve was the Nationals attack.
Twelve safeties were cleaned by them of
three Boston hurlers. -Four of the hits
were for extra bases. Goose Goslin
hslped himself 10 a double By dropping
the ball IN short center when the Bos-
ton outheld was playing IN the next
county. Sam Rice and Muddy Ruel
stakec themselves 10 triples and Sam
West drove the bali over the right iield
barrier for his third homer of the year
The bespectacled Danny MacFayden
was the first Of the Hub hurlers 70 feel
the sting o. the nome clubs offensive
-Four hits, GOOD for as many runs, were
mace Of hin in the third inning before
re gave way 70 Slim HARRIS. Slim was
reached for seven Safeties. Foul
punched IN round five netted three tai
lies anc two In round seven were gooc
for another run. Pat Simmons did ths
pitching II the eighth end gave up bui
one single Every one Ia the Washing
ton lineup. except Dick Spaiding. whf
had but one turn at BAT, crashed int
the hit column.
Rice triple started the Nationals on
their winning way II came with on,
gene In the third inning and scored
Ruel. who had made FIRST when Myel
funbled. Jack Hayes singled Rict
home then swipeG second before Barrlci
walked Successive singles by Goslif
sno Judge drove HAYES and Barnes u
the counting block before Harris
stepped 20 the slab
Hit Harriss in Fifth.
Slim got ms punishment in the fifth
Barnes singled and Cogiin got q tric,
double Judge was Intentionally p2sses
to hli the bases Reeves, resenting ti1l
insult singled Barnes and Goslln owe
tnE big base Judge vas caught In
double play when OsSis Eiuege lined h
Myey bur Ruels tnree-bagger tailie.
Reeves
The last National counter vas regis
tered In the seventh West started tha
inning with his clout over the wall,
0
Hace-track bettors in France neglect
ec TO collect the cash due on t5I IS
worth of tickets last year