Evening star., 1928-03-21

thouznt he had serious out
Il field problem TO solve before his
Nationals could be accounted
ready for this years American League
pennant chase With the veteran Sam
Rice Seeningly weak and the recruit
Sam West bothered greatly by a game
leg after being rated SIS certalntes Tor
the clubs 1928 pasture combination,
the Washington pilot feared they might
have to start the championship season
with a brace OF inexperienced gardeners
In action. Developments this year.
however. make it seem likely that the
Nationals vii face the barrier with an
outfit alignment as originally planned
Goose GoSlin in left West IL center
and Rice in right.
There never has been any question
regarding The Goose. He IS A left field
fixture. West. once more. IS cavorting
about the middle pasture in the same
brilliant manner that caused him 10
loom as 2 valuable acquisition before
he injured his leg last year and is be-
ginning 10 .1nd himself at bat. Rice ap-
parently has taken q new lease on life
Right now he IS more SpTy than al any
time last season and IS singing the hall
81 great rate.
Since conirg back 10 the game after
6 lav-of OF more than a week because
o. recurrence Of his leg ailment, West
has given no sign of any trouble in the
limb. True, he had played in but
eleven innings ii TWO games up today,
but he covered a deal OF none too
smooth ground and did so most accept
ably. He looked particularly good on
defense yesterday when the Nationals
opened their two-game series with the
Dodgers here with a 6-to-2 triumph.
and with Rice performed with telling
effect z attack
Proves His Leg Is Strong.
West had three chances afeld. two of
them catches and The third a throw TO
chsck 8 Brooklyn threat. and did not
foozle any He. demonstrated that his
leg IS sercrg ara his throwing wing in
Spisnold tT1m an the second inning Of
the fray. wi1en he went back like a rab-
BIT 70 grab al Tyson's bounding single
then feaTed a strike" TO Ossie Bluege
10 get Charley Hargreayes. who was tly-
Ing TO cash from first TO third base on
the hit In the sixth, his last inning in
the game, West twice Sprinted TO the
depths Of his 1iel6 TO drag down liners
sTnote by Del Bissonette and Babe Her
man. Il was mi6seaSon exhibition Of
fielding that Sammy gave
Both West and Rice starred at bat
The former, In three trips 10 the plate
hit safely twice. his initial effort being
q triple over the head OF Tyson in GEN.
ter and the second hit a clout that Sec
ond Baseman Jimmy Partridge barely
contrived TO hold TO a single. Between
these slams West drove the ball 10 deep
center. but was retired by Tyson's spec
tscular catch.
Vests stugging was especially impress
s!ve, IN that il vas cone against the
ieft-handed pitching Of Jess Petty, one
Of the stars Of the National League.
Sammy had not been considered par
ticularly effective when facing southpaw
singing.
Rice went through the contest to a
perfect batting mark. He singled Of
Petty the first three times he stepped 10
the plate and IN his last trip drew
pass from DaZZy Vance. the speed-bal
king Of the senior circuit: showed plenty
Of foot, too. each time he got on the
paths, although he was baked in his
effort 10 pilfer base after walking In
the seventh session.
Pair Start Again Today.
weg. and Rice were 10 be started
agains. the Dodgers again this after
noon and viii continue in the Nationals
lineup as regulars from now on, Man.
sger Harris having revised plans that
called for the frequent employment OF
recruits rather than the pair Of Sans
a. the outset Of exhibition contests
Altogether, the Nationals offensive
Yesterday vas the most pleasing 70
club officials thus far II the Spring
training. Eleven hits were registered,
nine Of Petty in six rounds and two
Of Vance IN the first Of the two innings
he worked.
George Sisler continued his swatting,
contributing a brace of singles 70 the
team total, while Harris cleared his
batting eye 70 such an extent that he
slugged q double and triple. Hugh
McMuIlen. who caught through the
contest, stepped out 20 get his first hit
Of the year Il was homer, too, q
drive 20 the deep right field fence that
came with runner On the paths In the
SIXTH round.
Goeain was not fortunate enough 70
break into the hit column, although
three times he gave the ball sound
wsIIopang His line drive 70 Tyson In
the first inning was deep enough 70 get
Rice home from third, and he sent the
Dooger center fielder far back for a
catch e the fifth. In the seventh,
Gosl1n drove one 70 right field so far
that George Sisley. who had gone down
70 D5fJ1g2G bS&E WIN the EnlA2Ns easily
regsinef first after Herman made q
catch Just n front of the fence.
Grihs Bunch BIngies.
TIE Nationals punched their hits
so2E times for scores. Tn the first
frame. Vests triple backed singles by
RICE and Sister 70 tle the taliy!ng done
by Ire Dodgers. and II the second,
Tlce's single and Harris double put
Washington 2 run 10 the good. Two
more narkef& were recorded In the
sixth when McMulien got his homer
after s0 error had given Bluege life,
gsalle Harris triple ard Sisters single
accounted for q score in the seventh
Mary reserves were sent into action in
TIE eighth inning. but they failed
u nl1
Pred EarberFy ard Horace Llsenbee
dc the hurting for tf9e Harris clan
aDc IL fine style, 800. NaToerry Wal
reached for four hits and q pass anC
hlt batter ia tAe first FIVE frames
boag should not have been scored on
Two If fhe blows and The wax netteo
the DGegefs Their tX9 runs 10 the first
f04n1
HaG sFa}Ttst0p CiIlss heaYe6 directly
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