Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-25


they pick up the Giants at Birming-
ham two weeks from today. Manager
Walter Johnson's charges will not idle,
though. when not tackling the big fell
lows. Five minor outfits still have dates
in the schedule.
The series yet to be played at the
Florida training base with the major
leaguers are those with the Dodgers
and the Cardinals. The former will
be encountered here tomorrow and
Wednesday. while the National League
champions will be the Nationals guests
Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
johnson plans to get another good
look at his young hurlers in the set
with the Dodgers. The tentative slate
for the brace of Tits assigns Jim
Campbell to the first game and Ad
Liska and Fred Marberry to the second,
All except Marberry are accounted re-
cruit slabmen OF course. this slate is
subject to change. Circumstances forced
johnson to alter pitching plans made
for the Cincinnati series and they may
have to be altered for the battling with
the Dodgers.
Weaver Has Been Ailing.
Weaver has been suffering with
sore back, brought on last week by too
hasty cooling off after arduous exer-
else during morning practice session
induced profuse perspiration. Weaver
today declared himself At to resume
toll on the firing line, but may not
prove so clipper as he now feels when
the time comes to start the opening
game with the Brooklyn club.
The Nationals thus far have gotten
much out of these exhibition engage
ments with major leaguers. Team play
is being perfected rapidly. the batting
against good pitchers who really are
putting something on the ball" is I'M
proving daily. the Washington hurlers
are becoming better in action on the
hill and there is a general pickup in
enthusiasm throughout the squad
There never has been lack of pep
per In this bunch of Nationals in train
ing here this year, for that matter, but
the athletes are more peppery now than
ever. Perhaps the youthfulness OF the
squad is in large measure responsible
for this abundance Of fire. For the first
time in years youth predominates in the
Nationals squad In training in Florida
and 1t makes its presence known in no
uncertain way.
Never before has a Washington club
gone into exhibition games with more
burning desire to win. Every contest
thus far on the Spring series schedule
apparently has loomed as important to
the players as contest during the
championship campaign. The young
Sers hustle all the time, and the vet
Grams have caught the spirit. too. Since
the old-tiners began crashing into the
line-ups OF these Spring Tits they have
%aka,, <,evy iooeoe m life
This splendid spirit has sent the Ma
tonals breezing through their schedule.
OfD nine exhibition games played-all
but one against major league clubs
but two have been lost. In five of their
six tlissIes with the big timers the Ma
tionals have overcome early leads
gained by senior circuit rivals and
swept on to victory, twice snatchtng
games from the fire with rousing ninth
inning rallies. Looks as though the
club may have its best Spring series
record in years.
The Nationals latest victory, that by
8 to 2, was scored over the Reds rather
handily yesterday in the wind-up OF
two-game set. The Reds attacked
vigorously at the outset of hostilities
and garnered two runs. Johnson's
charges matched this in their first
inning offensive, then carried on to tri-
umph. while the Cincinnati outfit was
held helpless by the good pitching OF
Irving Hadlev and Garland Braxton.
Only six hits were made by the Reds
in their nine turns at bat, three of
Hadley in the first five rounds and as
many of Braxton, who left-handed his
way to the finish. Two Of the blows at
Hadley's expense were punched In the
first frame, when Cincinnati did all its
counting The only pass Hadley grant,
ed also was In that frame.
Reds Put Over Two Runs.
The Reds put two runs over with
only one out. With Critz gone, Swan
son walked He scored when Kelly got
a triple with long drive to left that
barely escaped Goose Goslin's clutches.
Kelly Tailed as Purdy rifled double to
center. Purdy reached third when
Walker was thrown out, but Myer made
a nose-diving catch at Pittenger's foul
to end the Reds run-making for the
day.
The only other hit off Hadley came
at the start of the second inning. 1t
was a scratchy double by Ford. He
hoisted the ball toward short right, and
Judge, Hayes and Barnes went tearing
after it. Judge stopped, as Hayes
seemed In fair way to make catch.
But Hayes stopped, too, when almost
under the ball. as he saw Barnes charg-
ing down upon him. So the ball drop
ped safely between the second-sacker
and the right fielder.
So effective, though. was Hadley that
Ford never progressed beyond the mid
die sack, and following the hit but nine
batters faced Irving during the re-
- Sc fssry ny1 thu elah
Braxton was greeted by Swanson with
a single, as he started to pitch IN the
sixth, but the alert Benny Tate nipped
the hitter off first base and not until
the eighth did another Red get on the
runway. Then a tumble by Joe Cronin
gave Hugh McMullen, who was with
the Nationals time last season, a life
But Adolfo Luque, the Cuban pitcher
promptly drilled into a double-play and
the Cincinnati crowd was quiet until
after two we're gone In the ninth. Pur.
DIV then singled and pulled up at thirc
as Walker lifted Texas League double
over Cronin's head. Braxton, however
handily took care Of Pittengerl
grounder.
1t was neat exhibition both pitchers
gave. Hadley showed plenty on his fas
ball and a battling change of pace
Braxton had his screw" ball going vel
and when the Reds met it they dix
not drive 1t far. Hadley famed tive
batters. once disposing of Luque witt
successive called strikes. Braxton Strucl
out three, each time having a bate
swing futilely at screw" ball.
The Nationals hung up total OF l.
hits, all off Luque. who went the rout
for the Reds. The Cuban was quit
wild, granting six passes and uncork
ing wild pitch Bluege led the Wash
ington attack with three singles In fou
turns at bat Myer, Barnes and Haye
each banged two hits, Hayes first bein
good for three bases.
Singles by Myer and Goslin. Barne!
infield retirement and Bluege's one
baser Melted the Nationas two runs an
a tie in round one. t.'
HayeS' three Dagger and Hadley