Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-16
BAG IS VICTORIES
IN EASTERN T|LTS
More Than -fifthS OIL
Wins This Season Are
Scored in Section.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

w YHAT a team the Nationals
M have been in the East
v this season. Just about
champions when play
ing along the Atlantic Seaboard.
They have engaged in "a games
here and in Philadelphia, New
York and Boston and their record
for the lot shows So victories
against 26 defeats. More than
four fifthS of their wins have
been scored in the East. That's
moving at a real championship
pace. Too bad they must play
some games in the West.
In Grifhth Stadium the Nationals this
season have played 81 games. They
have won 43 and lost Is. The Athletics
only have played to as good as an even
break with the johnson band on the
local lot They have battled the Ma
tionals to four-all count. The YanSs
have been licked seven times in eight
starts and the Red Sox seven times in
nine starts.
To date the Western group is far be-
hind the Nationals here. The Indians
and the White Sox have completed
their washington stands, each club
having been beaten 8 times in II en-
gagements. The Tigers, slated to open
a four-game set this afternoon, have
been trounced five times in seven
games, but the Browns have held the
Nationals to a four-and-three standing.
In Boston this season the Washing
ton club has won six OF seven games
PLAYED. In New York it have taken five
Of seven tits. In Philadelphia, how
ever, the Nationals are on the wrong
side of the count OF nine games played
in Shibe Park, they have won but four.
WHILE his Nationals idled yesterday,
w President Clark Griffith motored
to Frederick to watch the Blue
Ridge League game between the Fred
erick and Hagerstown clubs. The prexy
wasn't after talent, but merely looking
over some Washington-owned stock now
playing with Hagerstown. He was par
ticularly interested in Gordon Phelps,
the Bowie big boy sent to Hagerstown
after his trial with the Nationals at
training camp last Spring.
Until yesterday Phelps, who came to
the Nationals as a catcher, had played
in the outfield for Hagerstown, but
with President Griffith looking on Cor
don was sent back of the bat. Gr1fnth
SAYS Phelps caught a good game. con-
sidering that it was his first effort IN
months. But Phelps, who swings from
the left side, was facing left-hand
hurting and was unable to do anything
at bat.
TOE ENGEL, lone scout of the Ma
tionals, still is combing the minors
for an outflelder who swings from
the right side and can really sock the
ball. Joe, it seems, has been around
several leagues in search of such play
er, but has seen nothing that looks
nearly so good as Dave Harris, the one
right-hand hitting outfielder now pos
sessed by the washington club. Presi-
dent Grifith declares he is beginning
to believe the Washington club is quite
fortunate in having Harris, so scarce
are the good right-hand swingers
around the country.
MANAGER JOHNSON was apt to re-
wi turn 10 the Nationals this after
noon and assume command OF
them in the battling with the Tigers
He has fully recovered from the stom-
ach disorder that kept him away from
his club a few days and seems eager to
get back into the game.