Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-03
FIRST IN FIELDING,
THEY LAG AT BAT
Johnson's HopefuIs Meet In
dians Tomorrow in First
Western Battle.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.


NEW YORK, May 3-En route to
Cleveland, May 3.-Irving Hadley, well
tflumped last Sunday in Washington,
to go again tomorrow. when the Ma
tionals begin their initial invasion Of
the West this year. BY sending Hadley
against the Indians, Manager Walter
johnson hopes to make a good begin
aing in the West. Although the chunky
Etcher was soundly smacked by the
world champions the first of the week
he has much on the ball nevertheless,
is in good physical trim and probably
rates a call over the others Of the
Washington staff for the assignment at
Dunn Field in Cleveland.
Getting a good start will mean much
TO the Nationals on their way through
Tie West. They are entering this sec
tor with a record of only three wins
against seven defeats and if they would
return to Washington on May II with
q winning percentage of 500 they must
take eight of the dozen games Sched-
uled for the trip through this part OF
the league.
That means winning at a two-to-one
rate, which is some order considering
what the Nationals have done. But they
must travel at such a clip or close to
it if they are to become real contenderS
for the pennant. Even though the sea-
son is young. the Washington club has
lost about all the ground it can afford
to lose in the first month of campaign
ing and still be considered flag factor.
Postponements May Help.
It may be that the series of post
ponements that have come the Ma
tionals way since the start of the sea-
son is a blessing in disguise. When
rain ended the game in New York yes
terday before a decision was reached the
total of tits put of until brighter days
was raised to six. Perhaps the Ma
tionals will be in better form than they
are now 10 tackle their Eastern rivals
when the play-offs come.
IF the club runs into fair weather in
Cleveland. Ossie Bluege will return to
his regular post at shortstop where Joe
Cronin has been filling in for several
days. The leg tendon pull Bluege SUI
fered last Saturday in Boston is about
healed, but trainer Mike Martin does
not want to let the player get into the
game until there's some sunshine to aid
IN linberlng the muscles in the injured
limb. 1t was bit too raw in New York
Tuesday to risk using Bluege, in Mar
tins opinion, and yesterday with its
rain certainly was no day for the in
jured short fielder.
Warm, sunny weather will hasten the
return of Red Barnes to the outfeld,
too. So it may be that Washington
within a short time will have its best
aggregation on the field. And the team
that swept through the exhibitions in
such Snappy style ought also to make
considerable Roadway in the champion
ship season.
Should Be Contender.
There's no reason why the Washing
ton club should not be a peTlnant con-
tender. Individually it Is strong and
its team play is good also. In training
IN the South it revealed much power
extensively and its defensive play was
smart. But it has yet to function prop
erly in every department at one time in
the championship play. Once it does
SO, it surely viii give every rival a
tussle.
Defensively. it is the best in the
league to date. The Washington outfit
has helded in its 10 games at a 1856
pace. It has made but six errors. At
bat, though. it has exceIled but one other
club Boston. The Nationals have stung
the ball for only an average of ISL,
Just 10. points better than the Red Sox
have hit. and that's why the Nationals
now are at the foot of the league.
y
we're to score their fourth victory but
after they had had their third batting
turn rain blasted every hope of success.
Herb Pennock, veteran left-hander max
ing his second start of the year for
the Yankees was raked for four hits
and a run in the three innings, the
run crossing in the first round. Sam
Jones. in two innings against the world
champions, yielded nothing more than
that UOiT1cr tn Panp Pflfh affnr
two were down in the first inning, and
Jones pitched to the Babe. It was no
gift base on balls.
Gehrig Makes Error.
In the first session with Buddy Myer
out of the way, Lou Gehrig, Yankee
first sacker. let Sam Rices easy
grounder go through for two-base err
ror. Goose Goslin smashed single
to center and Rice counted. Joe Judge
forced out Goslin. but pulled up at
second when Sam West almost knocked
Pennock'S arms of with a smash that
went for single. Joe later was trapped
of base, but was fortunate enough to
check in at third with a steal to his
credit when the Yankees tossed the
ball about. Then Joe Cronin's walk
crowded the sacks. but Jack Hayes
best was a grounder toward Gehrig, and
this time Lou stopped the ball.
Jones singled with one gone in the
second and advanced notch when Rice
bounced a one-baser off Leo Durochers
nose after the second out was recorded.
That ended the Nationals attack, for
Ruth took care of Goslin and in the
third the side was retired in order
After that, rain was the winner.
The bruising Pennock suffered when
he threw his hands UP to check Vests
drive in the first frame may have him
out of commission for some time. The
ball struck the pitchers hands with
such force that it rebounded almost to
the plate. Pennock in the third inning
complained that his pitching arm was
stifening and it was announced he
would not have come back for the
fourth inning had play been resumed