Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-29
LEADERS SERENELY
AWAIT BIG SERIES
HadIey and Liska Held Out
of Set With Yankees to
Annoy Champions.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

with the Yankees tucked
a away, the Nationals are
looking forward to the tussling
with the Athletics due to start in
Philadelphia tomorrow. Well
they might for the four-game set
with the world champions to be
uShered in with Memorial day
double-header will give Mack's
minions an opportunity to under
mine seriously the firSt-place
position now occupied by the Ma
tionals and one may be certain
that the Philadelphia represent
alive in the American League will
battle desperately to seize the OPP
portunity.
However, the series also will afford
the Nationals an opportunity to
strengthen themselves considerably in
their berth at the head. and right now
with the pennant bee buzzing around
them they feel prepared to battle 1t
out with any contender for the league
lead A clipper bunch is this Wash
tngton club at present. 1t believes
in itself 1t no longer stands in awe
of the AS as it did all last season.
times in nine attempts has brought
about a remarkable change.
The Nationals do not overestimate
their strength. They are far from
being overconf1dent. But they firmly
believe their pitchers are better than
those of the AS. at least at present, and
that they are likely to outgame the AS.
Outgaming a club that made so many
winning finishes last season may sound
odd. but 1t has been noticeable this
season that the AS are not 50 peppery
when trailing.
THAT the Nationals might start the
i series tomorrow with the kind of
pitching that has been distasteful
70 the AS, Irving Hadley and Ad Liska
were kept out Of action In the series
with the Yankees here. These are the
hurlers who upset the world champs
IN a twin bill in Philadelphia not so
long ago.
In the first part Of the upset Hadley
gave the AS 10 safeties, but only six
were made off him in the first seven
rounds. It was his second win Of the
campaign over them. In his third start,
though, for once he was lifted after
yielding four hits and as many passes
for three tallieS in six frames. Braxton
relieved, to get the victory.
In the second part of the recent up
Get Liska gave the AS but three safe
ties and shut them out. It was his
f1rst start. but his second appearance
against them. He had once relieved
Jones and hurled two innings
Since that double-header Hadley and
Gska have been In one game each, and
each has gone q route to victory. They
seem in fine trim now and ought to
give good accounts Of themselves
against the AS.
ONE Of the pitchers Connie Mack
" will send against the Nationals
tomorrow is Robert Moses Grove, re-
nowned left-hander. Grove has started
twice against the Washington club this
season. The first time he had to retire
after several innings Of good work and
the Nationals ran away with the game
when Connie set his second stringerS
on the slab. The second time was in
Washington recently. Then Grove got
o 1-to-0 decision over Brown, despite
the latter's fine hurting that yielded
the AS but three hits. Incidentally, it
was only the second time in his major
league career that Grove had gone a
full route against Washington club.
WHILE it would be great to sweep
w the four games with the AS or
take three of the four, the Ma
tionals will be in fine position for the
start Of their initial Western tour of
the campaign If they get nothing more
than an even break. To date only the
Nationals and the Yankees have mauled
the world champs, but probably during
the Western swing Macks minions will
find the going somewhat rougher than
they have in the East. At any rate,
ehey are not likely to make any better
showing than the Nationals In the far
sector. Should the Washington club
return home the latter part Of June
In first place and with as much ad-
vantage over the Athletics as 1t now
holds 1t should be very much in the
pennant running to the finish Of the
race.
D AIN and cold forced the postpone
n ment of the third game of the
series with the Yankees the local
management announced, but when they
made the announcement O. half hour
before noon yesterday 1t was not cold
or had It rained much. In the after
noon there was heavy shower that
would have prevented a meeting. but
when the Yank management called of
hostilities for the day there still seemed
a good chance to swing into action.
When the home club isn't going so well,
however, there's little delay In post
poning match.
agement worried. In his preseason
pitching alignment Shawkey figured on
Pipgras, Hoyt, Sherid and Wells to
carry the burden. So far Pipgras is the
only one Of that quartet who appears
able to go complete game. Out Of the
IS games the Yankees have played this
season only five have been finished by
the same hurler that started them. Not
the sort Of pitching that will keep the
Yankees in the first division, let alone
contending position.
ERECTION OF bleachers in the right
IL and center field of Grifith Sta
dunn is contemplated by the owners of
the Washington club.
A stand that would shorten the right
field foul line about 35 feet may be
built. Not only would the stand add
several thousand cheap seats to the
plant. but it also would afford a fine
parking place for drives propelled by
1eft-handed swingers. Seems as though
all clubs are going home-run crazy these
days
ERAEnNnM5O AIIMF nnIAIc