Evening star., 1928-05-17
SOCK, BUT LOSE 10
:OF IS GAMES HERE
Foes Bang Weak HurIers at
$40 Rate--0pen Series
With Tribe Today.
ny JOHN .. KELLER.

ssx wins In ie games played. That's
the Nationals record for the present
hofAe stand that began April 26. The
BEST they can achieve for the stay here
before getting out of CLARK. 0rimth
stadium for their long .taunt around
the American League Is $3.50 break
And 70 do that. they would have 70
sweep the four-garle set with the IN
dians due to open today.
base ball, but this does not seem to be
the rear of miracles. Should the Ma
tions get as good as an even break with
the bloodthirsty Tribe. they would de.
serve considerable back-patting.
Cold figures reveal clearly just Why
the Clan Harris has had such an I'M
successful stay at home to date. The
Nationals have Socked the ball savagely
IN the Is engagements, but their OPP
oponents have socked it even more
SaYagely. Most of the fine batting ef-
forts of the locals have meant nothing,
30 atrocious has been the WORK OF their
PITCHERS.
In the is games the washington ag-
rrerstion in SIS times at bat got IT'S
hits for an average of .3oS. That's
Rood hitting for any club. Yet the i've
foes they have faced in 5St times ct
bat slammed the Washington pitchers
for III hits. That's batting at q rate
az $40. To overcome the handicap OF
such hurting the Nationals would have
had 10 hit around .s2S at least. Il seems.
Parade Of Pitchers.
= In the I6 engagements. Manager
: Stanley Harris had to relieve hOrlers
so often that q total ef 81 pitchers 40.
pears In the box scores on the Nationals
SIDE. Once OF the Harris STAN
were sent int action In game. six
times Bucky had to use > hurlers
In a fray and as many times he en-
ployed 2. In only three Tits did the
man who started on the slab for the
Nationals weather the storm.
It's about time for the mound corps
TO buck Iip and show something In
uitching way If the Nationals are to get
anywhere at all in this years race. This
morning they were in sixth place. half
game behind the Red Sox, leaders of
the second division of the league. Ten
games back Of the faSt-fiying Yankees
this early in the race, the Clan Harris
apparently has no chance to soar to q
flag this year. But it enters the series
with the third-place Indians only four
and a half games back Of them, 50 1t
still has great chance to fight its way
well up into the select division,
1t has been weak pitching alone that
has held back the Nationals thus Tar.
The clubs batting figures speak for
themselves and for team composed IN
the main Of young and rather green
talent il has fielded surprisingly well.
Injuries TO several regulars have forced
q considerable use Of reserves and much
shifting of positions, yet no abb Tor
the low standing Of the Nationals u TO
be found In the many caguAls on the
roster from time to time. Rotten htfl.
ing only has brought about the teams
downfall.
Unless there are more accidents during
the series with the Indians, the Nationals
should embark upon their long tour with
al except one Of them IN guod playing
shape. Two or three more days should
bring OsSie Bluege's finger around to
sOundness, find Bucky Harris bruised
hand and foot about healed, Bob Reeves
trick knee quite strong and Muddy
RueIs throwing arm relaeyed Of much
Of its kink. Only Goose 0uelir u apt
70 be out Of the picture Of players In
good enough condition 70 get into &c
ton regularly.
The Goose Is striving earnestly to get
into usuable form the throwing arm
that has been 1ncapacit&teo since the
last days Of the Florida training camp.
During the fifth inning Of the March
n exhibition engagement with the Car
dinals, GoSlin, after fielding hit at.
tempted TO head of a run with long
throw. The effort caused him some
pain at the time, but he remained In
the game to the finish. The next day.
the arm was quite sore and the Goose
did not 60 into action. Since then
his wing has been useless for throwing.
After undergoing various treatments
that might afford some relief, 0oslin
now Is trying to work out" the trouble.
He Is exercising daily before the game.