Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-23
Tnney UnchangeG Writer'S Just Him Nationals Open Lo
Twin ONLY 9 OF q
| CONTESTSAT HOME
Griffs Hope to Show Improve
ment During Tour Now
Under Way.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

~ PHILADELPHIA, July 23-DtIring
this 22-game tour starting today,
the Nationals are hoping for
i better breaks than they got at
home during July. Just about
everything that could break against
them did during the recent home stand.
When they needed to hit they couldn't
hit, when their defense needed to be
frightened errors we're made and when
their pitching was good-and 1t gen.
orally was-the pitching Of the oppo-
sition was trifie better.
OF the % engagements in Grifnth
Stadium during July, but 9 were won
by the Nationals, and they had to bag
their last four games to shoot their
winning total that high. In the IA
games that went to the opposition, the
Nationals times were defeated by l
run and times by 2. Four extra In
nings engagements ware staged and
none ended with the home club in
front. 1t simply was not IN the book
for the Nationals to make any kind OF
showing at home in July. 1t seemed.
In the % games, the Nationals out
scored their opponents, 103 to go. They
were barely outllit, the visitors to Griffith
Stadium seeking the ball TO safety 223
times, against 220 hits made by the
home band But the Nationals were out
fielded by their foes making 81 err
rors against "a opponents misplayS.
And that poor fielding accounted main
" for the clubs lack Of success.
BraxtOn Pitches Best.
Garland Braxton did the best pitch
ing for the Nationals during the home
stand. He went into five games, win
ming three and losing one. The loss
was his first this season as a starting
pitcher. In the game in which he was
relieved, the Nationals were trimmed.
but the defeat was charged to Fred
Marberry. However, Marberry assumed
the mound burden in another engage
ment and was credited with victory.
Sam Jones won two games and lost one
while Milton CASTOR won@two and lost
were by lone run. Irving Hadley.
after dropping four games in a row
early in the month, ended his losing
streak By trouncing the Tigers.
Bob Burke. Lloyd Brown and Tom
Zachary, left-handerS all, were unable
to score victories. Burke took one beat
ing when he stepped in as rescue
worker. Brown was defeated twice and
Zach once. In his few appearances on
the NIL al nome, Lacn performed so
weakly that he is not likely to be pressed
into service much during this tour.
The Nationals lost no standing during
their home stay They were in fifth
place when they went into the double
header with the Red Sox on July /
and they were in the same position
after their win over the Tigers yester-
day. However, while at home the club
generally was below the fifth berth.
once dropping to seventh. and its many
losses cost it is percentage points. On
July !. the Nationals rating was .456.
This morning it stood at .44O.
With four wins in row behind them.
the Nationals are in good spirits now,
however. and general improvement in
their play may be expected. And again,
they have been much better on the road
than at home this season Perhaps
they'll yet show they are strong finish
ers by crashing into the first division
of the American League.