Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-10
24aceM Plot 7hickens: IT, -Four Choice: 1en Carries Or
Johnson DUEFULL
CREDIT FOR CLIMB
Griffmen Display Pluck in
Winning Thinning Opener
From Browns, 3D..

From Browns, 8-4.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.
OF. LOUIS, September TO-
Here's a ball club that
stands a chance of winning
more games than 1t did in
the PALMER of its two pennant-
winning years, and yet hasn't q
look-in for the flag this time. It's
the washington base ball club. To
date it has bagged SO Of 1877
games played and has II games
Ia 90 to finish its schedule. It has
a fine prospect of taking more
than 10 of its remaining games.
yet in doing so it isn't likely to
garner the American League
championship.
No matter what the Nationals do,
the world champion Athletics, setting
the pace In the junior major circuit
this season, apparently are able TO keep
well abreast of them. When one loses
the other does, but to make 1t more
dificult for the johnson bano wnen II
wins in opposing another rival, so does
the Mackian horde. The AS take
well-contested game in Detroit and the
Nationals upset precedence IN taxing
the opener of a series In ST. LOUIS
and In extra innings, too.
Back In 1924 the Nationals garnered
their first American League pennant
with 90 victories. The next year they
won the championship with 06 wins.
Now the Nationals have won one more
game than they did in 1927 when they
finished third in the American League
race. The best record at this stage OF
the campaign since their biggest pen
nant-winning year. Yet they can cop
this season only by miracle. Ano
miracles.
A THOUGH it is unlikely the Ma
n tionals can catch the Athletics.
This business of the club finishing
SECOND. position it practically mas
clinched. is one of the remarkable facts
of the base ball year. Picked by many
of the critics Of the game as nothing
better than division CLUB IN
the training season, the Nationals have
performed sensationally and they oe.
serve all praise that may be bestowed
u,,on them for their fine effort.
tBut for the gallant battle made by the
washington club, the American League
race this year would have been dreary
affair. Excepting the Yankees, VINO
have given the AS q pretty good nght,
no one else In the league other than
washington has been able TO carry on
against the world champs. The Ma
tionals are the only ones who have
bettered the Maekian horde over . sea-
Last wear the Athletics finished 1914
games ahead Of the second-plaee YAM
KEGS. At present the Nationals are
That's q tremendous advantage for
club to have over q second-piace rival
when that rival has but IL games to go
to the finish. It looks, though, that
there will be no pennant-cltnch1ng IN
the junior circuit before the final week
Of the campaign.
r UNDOUBTEDLY much Of the credit
" for Washington's fine play must
60 to its lovable manager, Walter
johnson. It has been q year OF Tragedy
for this man. But despite his sorrow
and tribulation he has been able to give
his best to his charge. He has sought
to forget all In his ball club and what
1t has accomplished can only be at
tributed to his, excellent leadership.
Here's a ball club that did not loom
particularly strong on paper at the QUIZ
set of the campaign, yet 1t has been an
aQRISSS1VC Uhn NtuO Ola eAA1 Wy
has been a fIrhting club. What's more,
1t has had good pitching and no doubt
much of this good pitching has been
due to the able handling Of the mound
staff by johnson, in his day In base
BAH the greatest pitcher that ever
graced q hill.
johnson has established nimSen as
a fine manager. It's no wonder his
club has been the surprise OF the major
league campaigning.
WHAT q fight the Nationals made TO
w get yesterdays game. the opener
of their final invasion OF the West
this wear! That they defeated the
Browns, 8 to 4, In a dozen innings was
due solely to pluck For nine innings
they could do little with the pitching
put over by Rip Collins. True, they
got three runs over that stretch, Dut
not one of the runs was earned. Only
weak fielding behind Collins neIpeo
them to that extent. However, irving
Haciley did some good hurting until the
ninth when the Browns suddenly
splurged and showed across tying talIy.
Hadley had one out when the BroWnS
began their deadlocking rally ana tnsn
a lucky bingle was needed to turn the
trick. Schultz clicked with Clean
single to left, but O'Rourkes MT was
fiukv. 1t was a bounder that barely
cleared Hadley's head and never reach
ed HAYES. second baSeman, who was
charging in. Then Kimsey picked up
Collins bat and cracked single that
put over the tying run.
Here johnson resorted TO sTategy
that saved the game: he oroereo s.le
nassinQ of Blue that filled the SACKS
with one out. The best Metzler could
do was to ground to Judge and snappy
side-retiring double-play followed, tne
first baserlnan to the catcher ana pack
to the first baseman.
BATTLING to the twelfth inning, the
ID Nationals salted the game after Two
were out. Cronin doubled to start
this round and after one was out ne
moved to third when Bluege singled.
A squeeze play was attempted Win
Ruel bunting, but Cronin was caught
at the plate However, Hayes got MT
with a loouer over the ShortStops mead
and Bluege crossed to break the tie.
Then Burke walked TO crowd the SACKS.
Rice followed with his only hit, A single
that counted Ruel and Hayes. ana
Vests single scored Burke and Rice.
a FTER Shires batted for Hadley In
IA the tenth. Marberry pitched an
inning for the Nationals, then
Burke came on to score a victory. de
retired the Browns after passing two
with one out in the eleventh. In the
twelfth they managed to get a run OF
him, but that was nothing following
what the Nationals had done TO Kimsey.
Harris was chased from the first base
coaching line in the third inning when
imp Moriarty caught him talking %
the pitcher No suspension Ior
Dave. however Bluege made pair
of nifty stops and also q fine catch OF