Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-12


ish battling the Yankees In
Washington on July 6, Manager
Walter Johnson and his charges
will be we'll pleased with them
selves. What's more, they'll con-
slider themselves in fine position
to drive for the circuit champion
ship.
ITS not sticking at the head
Of the race in the first half OF the
season that makes a pennant
winner" johnson reasons, rather
1t is sticking near the top and re-
serving strength for the big fight
in the last half of the season"
says the pilot, land that's what
we hope to do.
While the Nationals haven't been
winning frequently of late, the club is
by no means discouraged. and its man.
ager Is confident it will save the power
to fight back when the time for the big
push arrives.
1--WE have been losing more than we
should lately" declares Walter. but we
haven't been playing poor base ball:
Half o dozen of our recent defeats could
easily have been wins for us with just
o little break in our favor, that's how
close the games were.
ball the Washington club has been play
ing lately and gets licked it has little
to worry about If we continue playing
the same kind of base ball there's
bound to be turn for the better, and
when we get to going good again the
others will have to watch out for us.
There's a lot Of spirit as well as ability
in the Washington club" the manager
contends, and I am sure we'll soon be
stepping along at a pace about as lively
as that we set in early May
Prefers the Hit-andRun
There has been some criticism of the
Washington clubs persistence in EN-
ploying but one style of attack, the hit
and-run, instead of varying this with
occasional use of the sacrif1cial bunt
and straight-out hitting. This is not
disturbing johnson, however. He be-
lieveS firmly in the value of the hit
4nd-run system and, though he does
not disdain the hunted sacrifice he
contends the Nationals are apt to get
much more from the offensive they
have been employing since the start of
campaigning
Results speak for themselves" says
walter. I'VE adopted the hit-and-run
ut the outset and have done pretty well
with it. I know we have resorted to the
bunt infrequently, but when we have
used it We haven't gained much. pre-
fer the hit-and-run because 1t keeps the
opposing infield more unbalanced than
does the bunt. When a club is using the
hit-and-run its opponents center line of
defense always is unsettled. And when
that center line Of defense once gives
way 1t Is no easy matter to brace 1t
again"
I'm for the l1it-and-run rather than
the sacrifice. OF course, there are &C.
casions when think bunting is the
better, but generally 1 believe the Wash
ington club should employ the other
system Of attack"
WITH only four more days remain
w ing in which to make trades with
other clubs in the American
League, the Nationals apparently have
no deal under consideration. Before
they came to Chicago it was thought
there might be transaction that would
put on the Washington roll a right
hand hitting outfielder to be procured
in exchange for pitcher, but those
connected with the White Sox say they
have not entered into negotiations with
washington and Manager johnson de-
clares he has heard nothing from Presi-
dent Clark Grifnth concerning any pro-
posed trade.
Because Billy Evans, general manager
Of the Indians, was in Chicago yester-
day 1t was rumored he sought Benny
Tate Of the Nationals to bolster the
tribes catching staff, crippled the other
day when Luke Sewell had a finger
broken. Evans, while visiting President
Barnard of the American League. ad-
rnitted he was looking for a receiver,
but said he had not asked help of the
Washington club. In addition to Glenn
Myatt, now slated to do most of the
catching until Sewell is able to 60 be-
lind the bat again, the Indians have
rover Hartley, who has been trans
eSrred from q coach to player status,
. veteran receiver, and a youngster
named Frank. Evans, though, plans to
visit two or three American Associa-
ton clubs in quest of another seasoned
catcher.
DEBATING the White sox yesterday,
- 2 to l, in the opener of the series
here the Nationals now show $3.50
record for their Western swing to date.
The victory also ended losing streak
that had extended to three games after
the johnson band had began its first
invasion of this sector this year with a
brace Of victories.
The game was a well contested affair,
with Bump Hadley and the Left-handed
Dutch Henry putting on fine mound
duel. The Nationals got to Henry early
for one run, but this was matched by
the ChisoX when Hadley weakened in
the eighth. Then Garland Braxton
was hurried to Bumps relief, and as
Che Grifls put over another counter in
! The ninth the southpaw received credit
for the win.
TEN hits were made by the Nationals
i and fve by the Chisox Four of
the Chicago hits were of Hadley,
one being yielded in the third inning,
one in the seventh and two in the
eighth. Bump also issued five passes,
and it was the last of these that led
to his removal
The Nationals had combed Henry
for run in the fourth, Cronins single
and Myers double, after two we're out
accounting for it. With Hadley going
along well it seemed that marker would
be sufficient. But Bump showed signs
of weakening in the seventh when with
one out he was found for a single by
Cissel and walked Clancy and Metzler
who batted for Jeffries, to fill the sacks.
He got out of this hole when the next