Evening star., 1928-06-05
GOSL|N ALONE HITS
WELL ON THE ROAD
Nationals Due for Final in st.
Louis Today. Then Move
On TO Chicago.
BY JOHN h. KELLER,

ST. LOUIS. June S.--After having
their engagements rained out for two
successive days the Nationals were to
make final effort to clash with the
Browns here this afternoon. then move
on 10 Chicago. where they are due 10
start four game set with the White
SoX tomorrow.
II there is any other club in the
league as weak as is the Washington
aggregation at present it probably is
the Chicago club. Ray Schalk's band
has played at clip only slightly faster
than that followed hy the Nationals, so
the clubs may be regarded as about
evenly matched. When in Washington
last month these aggregationS battled
70 $3.50 split in four-tilt series
The battle opening in Chicago to-
morrow viii be for the cellar cham
pionShlp at this stage of the season.
The White SoX, in seventh position, are
not so far ahead of the Nationals that
the latter cannot drag themselves out
OF the basement during their stay in
the Windy City. The Clan Harris has
been kicked around SO much lately that
II ought TO be ready for form reversal,
Even couple of victories III a series
would be welcomed by il these days.
Sluo seems misplaced.
It's odd to see a Washington club
around the foot of the league after the
long string of successful years enjoyed
by the Nationals During the clubs
first IL years in the American League
u never finished better than sixth. and
that good but twice. Five times 1t
wound up a season in seventh position
and four times ii was tail-ender.
But since 1911 it has been far diff
ferent In the last is seasons, the Ma
honalS have finished out of the first
division of the circuit only five times
They were seventh in 1916, fifth in
1917, seventh in 1919, sixth in 1920 and
sixth in 1892 Twice in the past Is
seasons have the Nationals won a pen
nant, twice have they finished second.
three times third place has been theirs
and four times they have captured
fourth place. They certainly look mis-
placed now.
The steady drizzle Sunday and the
regular rain yesterday that forced the
Nationals to loaf two days may have
been blessings in disguise. The Ma
tionals are in a sore way in several
respects ard can stand a bit of idle
ness. II ought to help their pitchers
and may serve TO clear the batting eyes
OF most Of the regulars who have not
been going any too well recently.
OF the regular lineup aside from the
batterymen. Goose GcSiin is the only
player who socked the bail soundly in
the six games the Nationals played on
the road last week. He connected with
the sphere for the healthy average Of
.36z. getting hits in 3 times at bat.
The others slunped terribly.
Barnes in Big Slump.
Red Barnes. recruit. who has been one
nf the batting sensations of the league
hit safely In but three of the six en-
gagements. and then only enough to
give him a batting rating OF .l67 FOR
the stretch. Joe Judges weakness at
bat persisted. although Joe did eontrive
60 stick for 200 i'm the half dozen tilts.
The veterans Sam Rice and OsSie
Bluege zere woefuIly weak with the
average of 185 only, while Bluege was
able TO ciout at but .143 clip. The
failure OF these two men 10 hit fairly
well hurt the club frequently.
The youngsters, Bob Reeves and Jack
HAYES. also fell Off In their batting.
Reeves. who had been walloping the
bali savsgely. banged at only $50 pace
on foreign fields last week. A gait far
below the standard he has set for the
season. HAYES DatteC along At .Z5o
speed and be is capable Of doing much
better All Of these Slumping batters
TnEst pick I'D IN their work quickly If
the Nationals are 70 get anywhere
worth while
Sam Jones, whose right ankle was
dislocated when he fell during practice
last Saturday, left the hospital this
morning and will accompany the Ma
tionals 10 Chicago instead Of return
ing 70 Washington as originally plan
ned Right now. the pitcher Is Of no
use 10 the club but the surgeon ad-
vised Sam &c attempt light exercise the
latter part Of the week and intimated
that he might be able 70 get into a
game before the Nationals finish this
Ewrirs ti1roug7 the West.