Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-23
BURKE'S SLAbb|NG
II FACTOR IN UP[|FT
Moung Southpaw Shuts Out
Red Sox in His First
Start of Season.
RY JOHN b. KELLER.

Three weeks ago the NatlonaIS were
IN last place in the American League
!. and apparently doomed to stick around
the bottom of the circuit. rms morn
ing they were occupying the loaren
position In the stand Of the clubs. A
1ine lump in three weeks for club
that was unable during the first seven
weeks of the championship campaign
to assert itself.
The Nationals climb from the foot of
the ladder to the fourth rllng has been
accomplished through victory in Il Of
IL engagements. staged over the three
week stretch. The big win lifting them
! above the Indians, who had been first
division outfit since the start Of the
season, came yesterday when they
duwned the Red Sox, to 0. and bagged
the series with this club. three games
70 two.
Being in fourth place after dis
appointing start naturally has the
Washington crew feeling peppery, put
3t1l need all its pepper and everything
else it has in base ball way to re-
tain its first division laurels curing the
set with the Athletics here. The SIX
game series that was due TO get unoer
way this afternoon with a douole-head-
er ought to provide severe test for
the Nationals. IF they emerge from it
stiu In the upper bracket, there they
are likely to be when the halfway point
of their season schedule is passed on
July Z.
In the course of their march from the
kail end Of the procession 10 fourth place
in the line, the Nationals have been for
tunate In getting great oeaI out OF
: pitchers who prior to the advance hao
. not been consistently good in their WORK:
Several experiments with hurlers OF
R..H en- hr1isQht DieAS@
antlv surprising results though. Again
YESTERDAY. Manager Stanley Harris eX-
perimented with pitcher and the result
Of the experiment speaks for itself.
Burke Baffles Red Sox.
The pilot assigned to the firing line,
the youthful Bobby Burke, elongated
left-hander, who had contributed niue
to the Nationals cause this season, al
though he had been around tne cIun
from the start excepting little more
than two weeks, when he was loaned 10
TIE Rirmincham outfit Of the Southern
Association. But Burke had tolied only
4 few times in relief roles for the Ma
tionais. However, with the barons ne
started four games and won three oi
them. u+
have put young Robert right on eoge, IoI
be looked well-seasoneo hurler agaAS1
the Red Sox in his starting DEBUT yes
terday. And he had TO perform as olls'
too, for opposing him was Cnafley NuI-
U-aS ANYTHING but the pitcher VINO was
Ranged from the box by the Natlonss
an the second inning OF the late Tues
day engagement here. a.
Rufinp Welded the home club but nVe
safeties and three passes ana was a.
corded perfect support, while Burke NaS
ricked for seven socks by the Fisltors.
Despite the hitting statistics aaVollns
RI,finr. Burke pitched the better gaLnie'
After the Nationals buncneo tMo ins S
t,otS, rather scratchy affairs, u the Sec
rr,S ,nnirg to get what proved 70 be the
fone counter Of the fray, Burke ran
S,to ynuch trouble that was not OF Ms
,,.-y, Tnarirp Twice errors BY SnoFsSsop
yaoh Reeves put Red Sox runners on a.
Eye <tart of an inning ana II alOeA, -,
s..,rS after two were out an error py
pscl.t Fielder Sam Rice put on tnAIo
taee n runner who never snoulo hafS
soften by first.
Harris Catch Helps.
wx.vv time Burke's support railieo
.tt.r these rnispiays to check the rec
GoY. but only once was an e1csp1 lasIae-
- rsre4sary 70 the checking. 1naI
80 q, fne seventh inning, when bucKy
49,. SHARED low liner that seemed
ticrste6 4 hit when 1t left Cnariey
TserTy's bat. Walter Gerber was al I'LL. ~
Wifh the potential tying Ialy ~ nc ~,
tsrne. having reached tnaI sea.lOI %
virtue Of his single ana Hace '"o''o
THE fsrst hit of Burke was single py
shii Todt after two were out Ia the
s.-.,,d inning. Gerber, though, Dounu-
- ~ Harris. Reeves fooled Berry
.etvsr At the outset Of round three, put
ET,fHy,v forced out Charley and was II
tr,rn forced out by Buddy Myer aver
sack Rothrock had hoisteo 10 joe Juoge-
peeyes erred again In the start OF the
Afr. u,anhandling Todt's grounder, ana
ths Ped Sox also got two hits in the
frame. but nothing came OF the naA-
t1ire. Todt was nipped as ne frieo 70
steal, and the two hits oio not conls
,tntu Gerber had rolled into the second
o,,f Perry endeavored 10 reach tnlru
from first as Rufang singled 10 left and
was tagged by Reeves relay Of Gosllns
Ira Fiaesteads single in the sixth
awe after two we're out. what nap
S,ened ia the Red Sox seventh has been
mentioned. The Red Sox did tnelr
last hitting in the eighth. One single
came after one was OUT dtio dioehSL
after the second retirement had peen
recorded. John Hevtng was rushed IN
10 bal for Doug Taitt when runners
we're at third and first bases. and MS
best was weak loft 10 Red Barnes IN
center.
BIuege Drives in Run.
The hits of Ruling were spread over
three innings Goose Go6lin opened
fhe second session BIZ bounding single
off the pitchers gloVed hand ana
T2aeyes walked. Judge sacrificed, then
Osxie Biuege looped a Texas Lacquer
10 the middle garden. tallying the Goose
MUDDY Ruel drilled into a double play
and thereafter the Nationals mad but
two scoring chances.
C,oxlin started the fourth frame with
O single. but was shared IN a tNo-ply
kiiiing with Reeves. Burke and Rice
SINGLED successfully after one was out IN
the eighth. but neither Harris nor
barnes could advance the runners
However. the Nationals Socked the ball
sod1ndly the greater part Of the way
cnIy 10 have some fiashy fielding By the
vet<rsn F1sss,ea6. in center end the
recruit Taitt in right keep hits from
them.
~r1 ManEIArFk nTfrT