Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20

the Nationals are LOOKING ava
n tough time. That st. Louis
u referred to as the City of Pests must
not be regarded by the inhabitants Oh
the metropolis Of the Mississippi VsiieS
as an affront.
They are wonderful people, but their
American League ball club is Just a
main in the neck to all members Oh tne
washington club The Browns, desplte
their loWly standing, are the only IoiKs
to hold an edge over the NatlonalS 1oi
the season. They have licked the Ma
tionals 6 times In IL starts ana Maoe
the johnson band like 1t.
In their first two series with the Ma
tionals the Browns triumphed. Tney
grabbed two of three games played III
Washington in May, ana the C1rlIs
ended their first invasion OF the west
this wear by0 dropping three OF tour
games contested. It was different In
Washington not so long ago, however.
Then the Browns, after coping tne
first game, were licked in the next three
of the set. But In taking their beatings
the Browns managed 70 make the Wa
tionals work desperately.
This time the Grlffs are going INTO
st. Louis for series of four games.
Johnson's charges are not quite as spry,
nerhaps.. as they were when last they
faced the st. Louis aggregation. still
they probably are in much better trim
than the st. Louis outflt. The broWnS
have been In the depths recently. Tney
have not hit, and their pitching mas
been spotty. Only Friday did they
come out OF q losing sueak t1as 11ao
run TO seven games.
II seems though, that no matter how
uoorly the Browns have played against
other clubs, they manage to show plenty
of flair and flash when they encounter
the Nationals. Washington anticipates
no easy time in Sportsman'S Park In
the series starting Sunday.
YzoP the initial clash with the Browns
Manager johnson plans to send to
the pitching hill General Alvin
Crowder. who since transferring from
the st, Louis to the Washington ciup
little more than q month ago, mas
turned In six victories in eight starts
and gone the route each time. CroWder
took his first licking as q Grinman
after the transfer, from the Browns,
hit he pitched well then and was
beaten in the ninth by an outf1eld error.
THE General Is in fine fettle and this
time has O great chance TO Turn tne
tables. Besides the Browns, though,
he must contend with that st. Louis
jinx.
LEW in big league base ball can adorn
the bench day after day then step
into action at moments notlce
and play q whale OF q game. the ma
tionais are fortunate in possessing one
of these few. He Is Jack Hayes. utility
infielder. Prevented by his light hit
ting from being o regular, the Unlver"
sity of Alabama product, nevertheless,
is mighty valuable member OF tne
washington club. When BUDDY Myer
slunped afield and at bat after TOLL
ing strenuously since the start OF the
campaign, Manager Walter johnson did
not hesitate to call upon Hayes to MI
the bill at second base, and Hayes re-
sponded nobly.
He's a great fellow, this Hayes, great
as a fielder, great as an inspiration 70
his teammates and great. in disposition:
Never ruined, Jack Is on his game all
the time and though by no means
stalwart hitter ne often delivers iImaE =. a
HAYES has filled in In the infield
from one flank to the other. When he
first came up to the Nationals he was
employed at shortstop. Later he moved
to second base. He covered third last
season, when injury put Ossie Bluege
out of commission, and this year he
put UP a pretty good game at FIRST
base when Joe Judge sprung charley
horse. Now he Is at second again. And
the washington inner defense certainly
is no weaker because he has temporar.
lily supplanted Myer.
MANAGER JOHNSON has about de-
Nl cided not to relieve Sam Rice, that
the veteran outfielder might get
brief rest. Sam has picked up in his
outfield play the past two days to such
an extent the pilot believes the tenn
porary lay-oh unnecessary. For a time
Rice was covering little territory In the
right pasture. Lofts in short right he
ordinarily had caught were falling for
hits and drives to his left were soaring
by for extra-baSe blows. Sans UNDER
pinning seemed out of gear. But the
ancient legs apparently have regained
their speed recently. The old spring Is
in them again and Rice is rowing his
garden like q colt.
AS there has been no serious slump In
Rice's batting, johnson now sees no
need to remove Sam. Should there be
a recurrence Of the fielding slump,
though, the manager will likely change
his mind.
HEINIE MANUSH is on the mend
/ i and may get back In the game
during the series in st. Louis.
Manager johnson and Trainer Mike
Martin this time are right sure the
Nationals hitting and outneldins star
udII ha available fnr saryfcA again be.