Evening star., 1928-06-19
BATTING, PITCHING
NOW MUCH BETTER
Nationals Fit for ArduouS
Campaigning Slated for
Next Two Weeks.
BY JOHN II. KELLER.

Packing plenty of punch and at last
possessing much good pitching talent
the Nationals are well prepared to
tackle the big job ahead of them.
Seventeen games in IL days constitute
a heavy order for any ball club. Bucky
Harris hopefuls, however, in their re-
cent swing through the West during
which they ronlped to victory in 9 of 70
engagements proved they are capable
OF withStanding the strain of this full
schedule and that they have enough
base BAH ABILITY TO grab a fair share
OF the contests
A batting average of .Sos for the
tour of the West indicates how the
Nationals are So1king the apple these
Gays. Before invading that sector Of
the circuit for the first time this wear
The washington diamond athletes as
club were hitting we'll below the 800
mark. After the two games played
in st. Louis, though, they began bang
ing the ball at a great rate and III
only four of the dozen engagements in
the West did they fail to show double
figures IN the hit column.
Fourteen SafetieS only were made by
the Nationals in the two games at ST.
Louis. In the Chicago tilts, however,
they totaled IL hits one day and Is
on another. The four games at Cleve-
land saw the Nationals collecting SO
hits. That's a bunch in four games
for any club. At Detroit, Clark Grit
fltf's hirelings found George Moriaritys
hurlerS for 40 Safeties and that with
game in which they were held to
three. hits
All told, the Nationals swept the
uySFf Isl
lSi hits in 425 legal times at bat. No
other club Of the Eastern sector waved
Its wG-lds in such effective manner.
Pitchers Did Wen.
While this punch told greatly in the
West. the Nationals pitchers bore their
share OF the burden They yielded the
opposition but 100 Safeties and in out
four engagements was there double
figure hitting against them. Nineteen
hits were knocked by the Browns in
Two games, the same number by the
White SoX in the same number of en-
gagements, 35 were crashed by the In
dams in four battles and 81 by the
usually hard-hitting Tigers in a quar-
tet of contests.
Fred Marberry. who had not been so
good formerly as a relief hurler, came
back IN great style in this role during
the tour. Five times he was called
UPON TO save tits and he pitched to a
record Of three victories and no de-
1eats~ Of the starting hurlers two vet
eIans were the stars. Tom Zachary
ana sam Jones each won two games
aEld vent the route in each. Zach also
was Acked IN game, but he stuck to
rs guns IN the finish in that one, too
Inc other victories were credited tn
Garaanc Braxton and Horace Lisenbee
bTaxton pitched q remarkable parne
against the Browns, while Iisenhee
scored his win after relieving Braxfon
N clash at Cleveland. although LIZ
nao 70 give way TO Marberry before
the battle ended
=, Defeated pitchers in the West other
EEaan zachary were Lisenbee and irving
Hadley. Lisenbee started onIy one
game and vas trounced by the indians
before MaTberry came to his relief
Haoleg started three games and fin
lsaed none. Wlldness more than any,
tLang else, hurt the stocky LYNN hoy
The Nationals managed to save fusn
OF the engagements in which R,Inn
Degsn pitching. but they we're unable
70 nrag out Of the fire the game he
haTIeo against the Tigers. HadIev gave
,np put nEe hits in that match. but
sack.
Reeves, Judge Hit Hard.
Before the club went West Red
Barnes Vas hanmering the bali al 4
great rate, but he slumped In his hit
ting IN the other half Of the circuit
However. as Barnes sIumped two other
Nationals picked up considerably II,
their work at bat Bob Reeves pounded
opposing pitchers SO hard that Ne
caumbed well toward the TOP Of the
Leagues batterS and Joe Judge. whose
inehectiveness at bat had hurt the Ma
t5onaE cause No little in the early part
OF the season, began socking in the
form that made him feared bv mounds
men OF the opposition in other years.
Goose Goslin showed no Improvement
IN his throwing arm, but continued the
vicious hitting that has carried him
10 great heights IN the batting averages
this year, and Muddy RueI, now getting
deal Of work behind the bat. since
lis heaysng wing has gained strength,
Slammed often and with telling effect
OSsie Bluege was one OF the big sur
prises OF the trip in a batting way
in the early part OF the season. a woe
fully weak cluhgwinger, Osgie stepped
into the ball In the West TO get him.
self an average Of 1858 for the tour