Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-14

hasn't started game Tor
the Nationals since May S, when
he took licking in New York,
will open fire in a contest again
before his club finishes this West
ern invasion, says Manager Wal
ter Johnson, provided he contin-
ues for several days to show in
workouts the fast ones and hooks
he has been flashing lately.
Withdrawn from the regular turn
mound staff after his poor showing in
New York, Hadley was ordered to prac-
tice daily that he might perfect his
pitching to the extent he would be use
ful once more as a starter. In the
meanwhile Manager johnson planned to
employ him only occasionally in relief
roles. Hadley has toiled faithfully and
last Sunday against the Tigers in De-
troit gave a good account of himself in
his two innings.
Then he pitched the seventh and
eighth innings Of nip-and-tuck game,
and while the Tigers scored once at
his expense. he yielded but one hit,
hunted single, and retired in order the
last flve batters to face him. The run
on him was due to faulty support
rather than any pitching weakness. His
fast one had plenty of smoke and his
curve broke sharply.
With AL Crowder still an uncertain
quantity, johnson is more than eager
to have Hadley round into effective
form quickly. For several seasons Had
ley has revealed enough to make a
winning pitcher so far as natural abil-
ity is concerned. But always he has
lacked confidence in himself. Manager
johnson, however has an idea that
once Hadley becomes selfconfident he
will be one OF the hardest in the league
to beat.
Hadley pitched a great game against
the Athletics the second day of the
season, holding the world champions
to four hits. Then 1t was believed he
was ready for a big year. After that,
though, in three starts he failed Rath-
er than so discourage the chunky pitch
er he might be of slight worth to his
club for some time. johnson decided to
Lift him from the regular-turn staff.
But with Had4ey showing so much in
his workouts and doing such a good
turn of relief pitching against the
Tigers, the Nationals manager has con-
cluded the hefty Highlander is about
due another chance as a starter. And
If Hadley after getting back on the
regular staff should bag two or three
wins IN a row, johnson believes the
the remainder of the campaign.
IL Hadley keeps on as ne has been
going in practice recently, johnson soon
Will experiment with him again.
TOMORROW the Nationals are slated
i to open four-game series with the
Browns in st. Louis which ought to
be pleasant for the Nationals, consider
ing the Browns are fioundering at the
bottom of the league. But there never
has been anything pleasant for the
Nationals in their visits to st. Louis so
johnson and his men are not counting
their chickens before they are Matched.
Last year the Browns were nothing to
brag about and finished a poor sixth in
the american League race, yet we're the
only lot to take series from the Ma
tionalS, who wound-up their campaign
Ing in second position. The Browns in
1880 trounced the Nationals, IL games
TO 10. You can't figure base ball, espe-
clally when 1t comes TO a series in St
Louis between the Browns and any
club wearing the Washington livery.
The Browns on their record are not
30 good this season. but they still have
Walter Stewart with them And that
left-hand pitcher is enough to make the
Nationals pause and think. Five times
last year the johnson band attempted
TO lick Stewart, but got nowhere. The
In Washington and twice on his own
lot in Sportsmen's Park. Something
ought TO be done about 1t and the Ma
tionals hope TO do something this
season.
In the st. Louis series johnson has
said he will look TO Fischer, Crowder
Marberry and Brown to start the games
on the hill. In all likelihood he will
open tomorrow with Fischer This left
handler appeared to advantage against
the Tigers in Detroit last Monday
Fischer puts plenty on the ball, but his
control often is of because he works
too fast. At times it seems Carl hardly
has the ball back from the catcher be-
fore he cuts loose with pitch. Coach
Charity, who handles the recruit hurl-
ers, and the catchers are looking after
Fischer in this matter, and he soon
may be pitching with more ease and
hnesse
Whether the four games in St Louis
will be played in three or four days
Isn't known yet by the Nationals. Be-
cause Monday crowds and in fact other
week day crowds, have been slim at
american League games in Sportsmen's
Park the Browns are permitted to move
up Monday home games to make Sun
day double-headers. They may do this
while the Nationals are their guests.
A CCOMPLISHING two things I'M
"A usual for them, the Nationals yes
terday vanquished the Indians
easily. in the belated opener Of the
series here. The score was TO 3, and
the Tribe was outclaSsed by the johnson
band more than the score indicates.
One strange accomplishment Of the
Nationals was the early Establishment
Of a comfortable lead for their star
left-hancer, Lloyd Brown. Since the
start CT the season until yesterday the
Washington club only once had given
Brown good send-of. That was in
the Boston game in Griffith Stadium
on April 1s. At other times the left
handler was permitted to waste a lot
Of excellent pitching because his club
was helpless at bat. With the early
advantage over the Indians handed him,
however, Brown simply breezed to vic
tory.
The other strange accomplishment
was the routing of Wesley Terrell, the
right-hand slab ace of the league. For
two seasons Terrell had waved his magic
wand over the Nationals with dire re-
suits to them. Nary a licking could
they hand him in his four turns against
them. He beat them once in Washing
ton and three times in Cleveland. In
yesterdays game he was hammered
from the start and after being hit BIZ
the first three batters TO face him in
the fourth frame Terrell voluntarily re-
tired, well beaten pitcher.
Backing Brown well and pounding
Ferrsll soundly, the Nationals at the
end Of the game found themselves lifted
to third place In the league standing.
EIGHTEEN hits were collected by the
- Washington club. Ten OF the hits
-