Evening star., 1928-05-14

n deal Of beating. Despite the
~ number Of players it has listed
as casualS. there still can be
enough strength mustered to put on
the field an outfit with kick,
The Nationals generally have hit and
fielded well. In fact, their offense and
defense has been such that the club
should stand much higher than It does
IN the American League race. But only
nYsce in while have the Nationals been
blessed with what might honestly be
considered pitching When they have
had that, victory usually has been theirs.
They got plenty of good pitching
Yesterday in the second game OF the
series with the White SoX from Irving
Hadley. This stocky young fellow, who
last year led the Nationals mound staff,
was even better yesterday than in his
successful performance against the
Browns more than a week before. Then
Burnp was unable 10 go the route and
was tapped rather freely before he was
removed from action. In yesterdays
engagemeat. Eadley went all the way
to s lo-to-S victory that lifted the
Nationals from sixth 70 fifth place, and
n al but two innings he was the Had
ley Of last year.
The Nationals backed this good
brand Of hurting with an effective at
tack and a Staunch defense. They
reached three Chicago twirlers for is
Safeties, being held hitleSS in but on in
ming and only once was there mis-
play by a local athlete. That came
after two White Sox had been retired IN
the eighth inning Then Jack Hayes
let BIB Falk's grounded go through TO
give the batter life. The error, though,
6id no damage The entire affair was
a sood-looking performance by good
looking bail club and revealed what
might ordinarily be expected of the
Nationals when their pitchers function
properly.
The big surprise to date has been the
hitting prowess exhibited by the Ma
tlonals. During Spring training, the
club appeared all but helpless at bat. 1t
was so weak with the fail that even
pitchers fresh from college ranks get
1sng trials with big league clubs were
able to check it easily From the out
set of the championship campaign. how
ever. there has been great change IN
the Nationals ssickwork. The club that
could scarcely hit lick during the ex-
hihition contests now Is socking the
ball at .294 clip.
Two Of the Nationals playing regu-
larry are among the first i've hitters Of
the circuit. Red Barnes, rookie who
1ot a chance 70 show his wares N the
osatfel6 only after Goose Gosiin's arm
failed TO come around. nov heads the
batting parade with the impressive av-
erage of .xI7. while the veteran Sam
Rice stands third with q rating of .376.
That's banging the ball with q ven
geance The Nationals are by far the
best hitting bunch IN the second di-
vision Of tire league race and they have
been outhelded only by one aggregation
CT the lower group. the Red Sox
II seems d pity that SO much of this
offensive strength should have been
wasted. Behind pitching Of an ovdi-
nary variety Ii would have kept the
Nationals in the first division and
within striking distance OF the tep Of
the heap. undoubtedly Instead, the
failure Of the hurting staff to perform
effectively has the club barely leading
the second division and with little hope
Of betteTing its standing before embark
ing upon its longest tour of the season.
Too bad, this waste Of fine effort.
Every one n the Nationals lEe-up
Yesterday except Benny Tate crashed
into the hit column. Jack Hayes was
the big noise OF the offensive, with
three successive safetieg, the last .
triple All Of the other hitters except
sam West got two cIosits each. Kits
were made II b1nches, too. Charley
Earnabc. sosIthpaw, who opened IRE for
the Chisox. felt the 5ttng Of Washing
ton bats 70 the extent Of two smashes
in round one and I'm the second Was
blasted froga the hin by four success
sage singles. AL OF this brought i've
markers
Ffls relief. George Cor. gave up two
afctAee in ffso third inning and ono
.-1..........Y, -. tock z scG---...t 2-d .C.--
fs1ss-S.SI-v -s-e.- r<t.s.sc tHc innings ard
rsS ztcszex sc- three h.-gses tsszt y.el6-
- z tentEs tally. - wgE rough Gay
si1 GROUND for fi1e Chicago hurlers
HadIey allowed seven safetaes, gpyeaS
sver four innings, two passes and hit
batter A single in the second inning
ard another IN the ninth meant moth
s-g 20 the visitors. They punched three
hits for brace Of runs In the third,
though. ard made two eafeties count for
> marker IN the fourth. Then when
Il seemed that Hzdley was about TO
suffer the fate o. 50 many other Wash
fngton f1uyIers. and Manager Harris had
4 prospective relief flnrler t0iling az
a0p speed in the bSillDen. Bump" pulled
gaif1segf together and went on 10 finish
saucf1 stronger than ne had been at
the start
slngIes By Judge ard ellis that
9anked the pinking Of Barnes by
Earnabe brought a tally after two were
sssgt in tlae first session and IN the sec
a.1 after Cis1Ell'e fan11le had glgen
,gase Z hfs. one-ba9e RI.oGk& sprung
1za tEle }3S1E Gl kIGsE.s, f14ges. IE4aJes
I'D west acted lcsar mars Es1Zs $40
aged F3ar3aaEe from the picture
9gse White S6T fi6aE tfeee&cb 81 gst
a.n 3 gll1 II tkaE '3fasGs.a@lSa b99ai
q Tor s1ate fnsTe YysG a hf1 tlsale
III fag e]5ssa1ess vsenI from the gene
r he tim n>weTef. @nen Cox was
e14nSlv soskeS. HAYes tr3pie arc
4ssez 70 Ea1iey and v'e8t flea fhe
a.asef wasa gsons OUT ElleeG singae bent
1me mates over arc after Judge Gaey!-
eAcsd singles by Barnes and 0!liis &C.
counted for tw0 more tgIiieE.
In the eighth Counaily was nicked
fer the fggas run Rice singled. Ewiped
seegnd ard nefated the counting block
when Judge rifiec q double.