Evening star., 1928-05-15

N n AYBE the Nationals pitching
Nn staff is about ready TO per-
vi form as major league clubs
4 4 pitching staff should, After
6ubbing along the greater
part of the time since the champion
Ship campaign started with its menu
hers hobbins in and out Of action WITH
Gisconcerting frequency, the stan
seems to be taking Its business serious
IL. When one Of its members starts a
game now. apparently he entertains
the idea he is in there to finish 1t, too.
For the third time III the last four
games here. 8 National pitcher went
3 full route when Milton CASTOR yes
terday hurled his club 10 a 4-to-2 VIC
tory over the White SoX Only last Fri
6sy. the venerable Sam Jones toiled to
a triunaph over the humping Tigers
and on Sunday the youthful irving
Eadley flung to suceesS over the
Schalkmen Of Chicago.
With these sterling examples before
HIM, CASTOR evidently figured 1t was
about time for him 10 do some pitchii,g
of the kind he promised to be capable
of Going when he was conditioning
himself at the Tampa training camp
early in the Spring. And III chucking
his club to its second successive win
over the Chisox. CASTOR performed up
to early Spring promise. He ylelaeo
the men of the Windy City onS SIX
safeties. but two of them good Tor eX-
ira bases. and a trio Of passes.
True, Milton was somewhat spotty III
his work. Although he walked out
three of the opposition. he generally
was forced to pitch himself out TO the
man at the plate. Those ChisoX were
patient cusses yesterday and persisted
in waiting for the big one. However
compared with GaSton'S previous cnam-
pionshiu campaign efforts, that against
the White Sox was fine. 1t was the
sixth start Of the season Tor Mnt ana
for the first time he was anie TO nilish
as well as score a win.
CASTOR Well Supported.
CASTOR needed some sparkling sup
port 10 get aWay with his game ana ne
got lust that. Three of the younger
Nationals backed him in superb form
Red Barnes in center field. Jack Hayes
at shortstop, and Sam West III the Ielt
garden glittered in defense.
Barnes in the first inning made the
most spectacular catch seen IN years on
the washington lot. When Bill Barrett
sent a low arching drive toward lett
center. at least a two-base hit Tor the
Chicagoan appeared certain. But In
came Barnes, tearing along at top speed.
When the ball was little more than a
foot above the ground, Red diveo at II,
cot the sphere in his gloved hand, put
his ear TO the turf and rolled over sew
eral times. But never did he let go the
ball.
HAYES defensive contributions were
catches of a couple OF liners ana the
bagring of q iooper toward LETT neld.
When Randolph Moore. batting Tor TED
Blankenship in the seventh inning, sent
q -high liner flying toward LETT
fieic between the territories covered Dy
HAYES and Third Basenan Grant Giilss
the National shortfielder electrifed the
small crowd in the stands by leaping
nimbly to his right and lunging ioT a
back-hand grab Of the sphere. In the
ninth, Hayes leaped high 70 orag Gown
Johnny MostilS Scorchlng liner and IN
the third he raced into short left field
10 take over a3saae SlaoulAeRaa fast-talling
looper from LII Barr6tts bRt.
While Vests defensive eAorts were.
not So spectacular as those OF his two
teammates, he made four flne caches
and one Of them came at Q particularly
opportune moment. for Mostn was at
third base waiting 10 cross with the
third White Sox run at the time. But
Sammy went racing far to his lett 70
collar a drive from Bill Hunnefeld's bat
that, had it gotten by. probably would
have netted the batter three bases.
Blankenships wildness Helps.
1t was well that the Nationals got a
good game from CASTOR and were
strong defensively, for they were not
SO sparkling IN attack They CLEANED
but seven hits from the combined Offer
ings Of Blankenship and George C0n-
nally, five Of them of the former, who
started On the Hill and went through
six sessions. But Ted was quite wild at
the outset Of hostilities, walking three
batterS In the first inning and passing
another, IN addition TO hitting a Ma
tional In the third. And this wildneSs
Of Ted's just about handed the Ma
tiOnais the game.
factor Of the home club. He was re-
SpongibIe for three Of the four runs
credited TO the Nationals. II was his
walk that forced across the final base
q tally IN round one and it was his
two-base hit that sent over two mates
after two were out In round three.
The Nationals started as though they
would quickly Sew-up the game. West
doubled, Sam Rice walked. Joe Judge
sacrificed and Barnes drew a pass that
loaded the sacks. Gillis, though. only
popped to Bill Cissell at short. Then
Tate was franked 10 first. pushing West
over the counting block. Coming IN
with the bases still filed. Eucky Harris
bumped the ball 70 the pitcher.