Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
BAT SLUMP CAUSE
OF SKID IN RACE
Johnson Is Nursing ManuSh.
Fischer Shows Speed.
Firpo Blanks Tigers.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.


ouished the league lead to the
Athletics, the Nationals have
done we'll since they left home a
week ago last Sunday. They have
played 10 games and won 6,
which is better than they did
back in late May and early June
in the first 10 engagements of
visits to Eastern cities and the
first invasion of the West. Then
Manager Walter JohnSon'S charges
were defeated in six games. This
Washington club isn't to be re-
garded as slipping simply because
1t failed to get the edge over the
Tigers this time.
That the Nationals were defeated,
three games to two by the Tigers was
because of a slump at bat more than
anything else. True, their pitching was
wabbly at times, but really the Nationals
had but one poorly pitched game in the
five. That was Irving Hadley's game on
Monday. when the Tigers picked up a
substantial lead early in the battling.
It was lack of hitting that hurt the
Washington cause. The club socked
1or only .261 during the series.
Buddy Myer, Joe Judge, OSsie Bluege,
George Loepp and the catchers were
az bdb N0yC4
hit only at rate of .167 in the five
games. Judge at .235 and Bluege at
ass. Loepp in two games batted for
900. He failed to connect safely in five
legal times at bat. Muddy Ruel batted
ct a .125 rate and Roy Spencer at rate
Of 100.
Sam West and Sam Rice hit sensa-
tionally, West seeking for an even 500
in three games and Rice for 1896 in the
entire SERIES However, 1t seemed when
Rice did not knock the ball to safety
he drilled into a double-play. He was
on the hitting end Of four two-way
erasures. With so few drives going safe
the Nationals were fortunate in not
taking a worse licking in Detroit.
IT was not that the Nationals were
i swinging weakly that they drove so
few to safety in the last five games.
Rather 1t was the sensational fielding
of the Tigers that kept the Washington
club at bay Not in any other series
this season had the Nationals been re-
pulsed by such superb defense.
Charley Gehringer, at second base,
was the brightest star of the Tiger de-
fensive. He was all over the territory
before, around and back of the middle
sack throughout the series. His scin-
tillating stops and his throws from all
positions amazed onlookers. Particu-
larly sparkling was Gehringer in the
Sunday game. It was he more than
any other who beat the Nationals then,
for Victor Sorrell's pitching was not so
good. But 1t was impossible to get a
ball through the right inner defense of
the Tigers that day, so clever was their
middle sacker.
Closely pressing Gehringer for high
defensive honors were Mark Koenig and
Elias Funk. At short, Koenig was
Tho former Xonkoa m the
starting end Of several important double
plays and he had to make great stops
or catches to start each double play.
Funk was q wonder in center. He
roamed all over the pasture from left
to right to drag down well intended
lofts and spear scorching liners. 1t was
Funk who saved the Tigers from defeat
in the first game of the twin bill last
Saturday, tearing In for shoe-top grab
of Blueges looper when the Nationals
had the bases filled, and another great
catch by him Sunday kept victory from
Washington.
The other Tigers also sparkled on de-
tense. Even in world series such de-
fensive play as the Harris horde put
forth to check the Nationals has been
rarely witnessed.
HEINIE MANUSH was out in uni
i i form yesterday and INDUCED in
light workout. He announced after
the exercise he was ready to resume
his position in the lineup whenever
asked to return Ind that despite a
right shin still sore from spiking SUI
fered more than a week ago and an
Infection in the upper left leg that Is re-
spending to treatment slowly.
There seems little chance OF Manush
being pressed into service regularly
again until the latter part Of the cur
rent series with the Indians, II then.
When in trim, Manush is so valuable
to the Nationals that their manage
r1ent is not willing to risk having him
set back for some time by using him
before he is fully fit. Heinie Is quite
willing to take the chance, but Man
ager johnson is not.
CARL FISCHER, young left-hand
~ pitcher, bought only last Monday
from the Newark club of the Inter-
national League, went through BRIEF
drill with his new outfit yesterday and
pleased his manager no little by the
emoothness of his delivery. Fischer
evidently has all the speed that has
been claimed for him. He certainly
tipped the bill through and with plenty
on it. too, in his drill with Roy Spencer
and Pat Charity. The veteran Char
ritv declares Fischer is about the fast
est pitcher he has looked over since
returning to the big show last year
The newcomer does not reveal much
of a curve ball, though. With his
strength of arm and speed, however
those in charge Of his development pc
lieve he soon will have deceptive
bender. .,-.
Even without a curve 1T is thought
Fischer with his great speed Woulo
make q short-term relief pitcher now
He should be able to throw 'em by bat
tiers for an inning or two IN an emer'
gency.
MYTH Fred Marberry pitching his
wv best game of the season, the Ma
tionals took the Tigers into caml
yesterday in the series final, 10 y
Fred yielded but five safeties and TIT
Tigers made but three scoring threats.
johnson opened their first round witt
a single, stole second as Funk was a
bat and went up to third on Gehrin
gers sacrifice loft. There he was lef
Vhen McManus forced out Alexander
who received the Washington pitcher
only pass. Thereafter not Tige
reached third base and but two NOR
got as far as second.
Stone singled at the outset OF tn
second inning and went TO the mlodi
sack when Hayworth hit for base witt
one out. Hoyt then drilled into doubl
play.
Gehringer singled with two gone Il
the third, but Alexander could not helE
Hayworth began the fifth with
double. the only extra-base hit of Mar
berry. A great play, Judge to Bluegt
nipped Hayworth when Hoyt buntec
And johnson, who forced out Hoyt, wa
caught trying to steal
Cronins error gave Stone life wit