Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-18

- at the WOrlQ champions,
Washington fandom the
next three days will see in
action here the American Leagues
chronic last-place outfit, but an
outfit that seems to have more
kick in it than usual. Despite the
lickings they have been taking
from the Yankees in New York,
the Red Sox, more peppery per-
haps az result of the addition of
much new talent, in their three
game series opening here tomor-
row are likely to force the Ma
tionalS to fight to the last ditch
for victory.
In the series in New York the Boston
bunch, under the guidance OF their new
manager, Shane Collins, once member
of the White SoX outfield when that
aggregation was winning league pen
nants and world titles, has battled the
Yanks tooth and nail all the way. The
Red SoX appear to have more power IN
attack this year and they still possess a
pitching staff calculated to MAKE trouble
for any opponent.
For several members of the Boston
club the visit here will De a return to
the scene of former efforts while wear
ing the livery of the Nationals. Harold
Ruel, who seems destined to get plenty
of work behind the bat under Collins
direction, is in his first season out CT
Washington uniform after wearing it
through 10 campaigns Other REQ Sex
well remembered as Nationals are Bobby
Reeves, now playing regularly a second
base, and Hold Lisenbee and Milt Gas
ton, pitchers of high class.
Then, too, the Red SoX will have with
them j. Benson Brillheart, left-hand
pitcher who first broke into big time as
a Washington player. That was some
years ago. Since, the Virginian, who
majors several times. The Red SoX
bagged him from Minneapolis during
the past Winter Another eX-National
in the Boston lineup is Earl Webb,
hard-hitting outfielder. who was with
the local club only short time.
Something of an ''old home series"
for this Boston bunch.
THIS year the Red Sox management
L seems bent upon bolstering pitch
ing staff that was by no means poor
last year. In 1880 the pitching was by
far the best thing the Boston club had.
The hurlers performed nobly, but they
could not Offset their clubs weaknesses
at the plate and afleld.
The club is carrying IL pitchers,
among them five newcomers. These
added moundSmen are, besides Brill
heart, Bob Kline. Walter Murphy, Frank
Milliken and Wiley Moore. Kline last
year toiled for the Erie club Of the Gen.
trail League, winning % games and los
ing g. Murphy, a 21-year-old Chicago
boy. was with Rock Island Of the Missis-
sippi Valley League. He won IL games
and lost S. Milliken was picked up from
Bridgeport of the Eastern League, and
Moore, the old campaigner who had one
good season as a relief man with the
Yankees not so long ago, was brought
back from st. Paul.
OF this lot of rockies Kline is regard
ed an excellent prospect to help such
sterling veterans as Castor. LiSenbee,
the bespectacled Danny MacFayden,
Jack Russell and big Ed Morris. The
Red Sox have carried over from last
season Ed Durham who, with Moore, is
to assume much Of the relief-pitching
burden. OF the entire pitching staff
Brillheart is the only left-hander.
TN the Yankee series the Red Sox have
i used two new men, Marquardt at
third base and Van Camp in the
outf1eld. Last year Marquardt hit .324
for Nashville. Van Camp, a rangy fell
low, was with Des Moines the past sea-
son and batted 344. They are calcu-
lated TO add to the punch of the Red
Eox.
When Gene Rye is rid Of leg injury
he is expected to crash the Boston out
field. Only feet inches tall, he is of
stocky build and weighs around l65.
Reports credit him with having plenty
of power at bat and speed afield when
in trim He socked for an average OF
1857 with Waco last year.
Creeden and Winsett, new men, are
being carried as pinch batters. while the
Red Sox still have Berry and Connolly
behind the bat Miller Rhyme. Sweeney
and Warstler for the inf1eld and Oliver,
Rothrock and Scarritt for the outfield.
Rothrock also may be used in the inner
defense, while for utility purposes the
club has in John Lucas a good-looking
player who last year batted .347 for the
champion McCook club Of the Nebraska
State League.
There's much new talent on the Bos-
ton pay roll. Some of it is apt TO
boost the club, according to the Bean
town base ball scribes.
NATIONALS and Athletics wind up
IN their four-game series this after
noon with Sad Sam Jones on the
hill for the home side and Bob Grove
nlaybe-left-h handing for the visitors.
Although Sam West, listed as regu-
lar center fielder for the Johnson band,
apparently is in good trim once more
after suffering slight flu attack, Harry
Rice is quite likely TO be seen in the
middle pasture This newcomer to
Washington ranks has been going too
well to lose his job right now.
The Athletics, with Jimmy FoxX, one
of their stars out of action because OF
an injury, are not so steady at present,
but still strong enough to put up a
grand battle. To make 1t three out OF
four in this opening set Of the season
the Nationals this afternoon will have
TO carry the fight to the invaders all
the way. The AS have a nasty habit
of arising in the ninth inning and
doing things unpleasant to their foe.
CLIFF BOLTON did some heavy
~ clouting yesterday at Annapolis as
the Nationals defeated the Mid
shipnen in a 4-to-1 exhibition contest.
The rookie catcher in four times at bat
accounted fer a homer. double and two
singles. Bob Burke, string bean left
handler, went the route on the slab for
the big leaguers. holding the Navy boys
TO fve hits. TWO were punched in the
ninth inning when the Midshipmen
put over their lone tally.
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