Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-06

of the contenderS didn't
break running through
the stretch. says Clark Griffith,
big boss of the Washington base
ball club. eve have nothing to
worry about because the Athletics
are so far ahead of us now. Keep
at their heels and they'll have to
do all the worrying. Wait for the
break and go ahead"
That's the way the Nationals
chief owner figures this race for
the American League pennant,
and perhaps he is right. It's
tougher for the front runner than
any other entrant in race.
And the Nationals in past perform
ances have demonstrated that only they
have the power and ability to challenge
the Mackian horde's right to supremacy
in the circuit I'VE have the one club
to give battle to the Athletics" declares
Griffith, land give battle to them we
will to the finish. I am confident we
are in this race for the championship
to the end of the campaign"
The Nationals certainly showed their
mettle yesterday in turning back the
AS In the 4-to-2 opener of the three
game series, which Is expected to nave
much bearing on the outcome Of the
chase for the flag. Pushed back at the
outset Of hostilities by the Mackmen,
the Nationals later took the bit in their
teeth and ran along to nifty decision
to reduce to four and one-half games
the gap between them and the leaders.
The Washington clubs victory was all
the more impressive in that for the last
two weeks it has been taking 1t on the
chin from the lowlieSt Of the league.
It was almost matter Of do or die
for the Nationals yesterday and they
rose to the occasion magnif1cently.
GONE years ago Fred Marberry was
- regarded as the greatest relief
pitcher in the American League,
If not in both major circuits, be-
cause he was able to pitch high,
hard one"-a remarkably fast ball
in other words. But time took its
toll of Fred's arm and the great speed
he possessed diminished. SO the husky
Texan had to rely on his noodle more
than his arm
1t wasn't long, though, before Mar
berry revealed plenty Of pitching intel
ligence He took the measure of OPP
posing clubs with regularity and he did
it with a splendid change of pace. 1t
was this change Of pace that Marberry
employed yesterday to battle the leaders
of the league
The Athletics outhit the Nationals
eight safeties to six, in the opening
brush of the little world series" that
was watched by $1,000, but Marberry
so spread the hits and was so def in his
handling of batters in pinches that he
covered his mound rival, the right
handed George Earnshaw, like tent.
After the first inning, in which he
was somewhat unsteady, Marberry
never made false move in his hurting
to the Philadelphia batters, who have
been prone to NOV down opposing hurl-
ers regardless Of their speed and curves.
TT was a hit by the overpowering
i AL Simmons that sent the AS away
10 a lead in the Sunday tussling.
With one out in the first inning, Mule
Haas had cracked a single and made
second base when Marberry uncorked
a wild pitch to Mickey Cochrane.
Mickevs hoist to Sammy West didn't
help. but Simmons. after being busted
off by Marberry. came back to rifle a
one-baser to right that got Haas home.
until the third frame. when the Ma
tional's stepped out in front. Joe Kuhel
bounced a double down the right-fleld
line to start the rally and Roy Spencer
singled After Marberry put down
nifty sacrifcial bunt along the third
base stripe. Buddy Myer singled to push
over two tallies.
In the next inning the Nationals
tucked away the game. Joe Cronln,
first up, drove a single by Jimmy Dykes
at third base. Vests grounder was
fooled by Jimmy Foxx, and Earnshaw,
covering first dropped throw from
the initial sacker who finally retrieved
the ball Cronin pulled up at third
base and West was safe at the starting
corner. Ossie Bluege's left to Simmons
didn't help. but Kuhels fly to Bing
Miller enabled Cronin to count and
West to reach second. A single by
Spencer got West home.
Cochrane's drive over the right-f1eld
fence at the outset of the sixth inning
netted the AS their last marker. 1t
was his tenth homer Of the season.
THERE always is last-minute kick
l. in the AS. however. They reserved
it yesterday for the eighth. Haas
orened the round with a single, but
never left first base. 1t was due mainly
to sparkling play by Harry Rice that
he didn't.
Cochrane, who had been troublesome
to Marberry all the way. smote wicked
one toward right-center, and it looked
as though it would be good for two
bases at least Rice got away for the
ball at the crack of the bat. but it ap
peared he had misjudged the drive. 1t
was more the wind twisting the ball
away from him than a misjudgment by
Rice, though. and the gardener with an
extra burst of speed speared the smash
In front Of the scoreboard.
Bing Miller opened the ninth with
double, and he stuck at second base.
Connie Mack rushed in three pinch
batters, Cramer. Todt and Moore. and
they were helpless before Marberry. 1t
was a fitting finish for well pitched
ball game