Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-30
CASUALS AGAIN FIT
FOR SERIES IN HUB
Spencer Due Boost in Bat
ting 0rder-HarriS Aids in
Third Win Over Yanks.
BY DENNfAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor, The Star.

Sports Editor, The Star.
HOSTON, northernmost port
X of call in the American
- League and a marrow-chill-
ing spot in the Spring, to-
day will be the scene of the Ma
tionalS' activities, and, consider
ing what they have accomplished
under conditions prevailing in the
Capital for the past four days,
they should further improve their
position in the pennant race as
the result of a trio of battels with
the Red Sox, the first of which is
scheduled for this afternoon, with
General Alvin Crowded billed for
mound duty.
There is no assurance there will be
any battling at the Hub, for the Cham
pion AS have been frozen out every
afternoon beginning last Sunday, but If
the Boston management will consent to
stage the games w. Johnson's Eskimo
marathcnerS will be right in their ele-
ment among the frigid breezes that
sweep Feuway Park, especially II the
contests last about twice as long as an
average tilt
Their qualifications for pastiming at
great length under semi-arctlc conol-
lions were conclusively demonstrated by
the Griffmen in the quartet of Jousts
with the Yankee here which ended yes
terday with a third victory by to 5
count and boosted them into undiSputed
possession of second place, game and
a half back of Cleveland's faSt-traveling
Indians.
In the matter of low temperatures.
high winds, number OF pitchers USED
and extent of time consumed the set
with the Gothamites established some
thing Of q record.
In the initial setto on the Sabbath
which resulted in Washington win by
to Z. seven hurlers were used over
period of two hours and thirty-two min
utes the eight and a half innings con-
sumed.
Monday. when the Nationals COPIED,
9 to 8, in twelve rounds. seven singers
again saw service in the three hours
and nineteen minutes of fitting.
Tuesday. which brought Tall dead
lock for fourteen frames five mounds
men performed in the course OF three
hours and forty-six minutes, while yes
terday's affair brought forth another
quintet Of boxmen, with eight and one
half innings reeled off in a snappy two
hours and twenty-nine minutes.
DEsPTTE minor ailments which
- caused a revision of the lineup
in each of the last two games
here, Johnson's outfit set sail Tor the
Hub last night in good physical trim
with every member of the ensemble aple
to function should occasion require.
Sam Rice, who pulled up with lame
back following the Monday fracas Que
TO an accidental nudging OF the rlgnt
field fence, reported ne was reaoy 70
carry on, while Sam West, who mace
mis- seasons debut as hychaser IN such
sensational style in Tuesdays tnt,
claimed hts slightly twisted left ankle
again was ready for heavy duty. 1t Is
likely. however, in view of the effective
manner In which Dave Harris pun
meled the pill yesterday and the steady
pace Harry Rice has been maintaining
that the latest outfielding trio may De
continued in action for another couple
of days. at least.
Starting a game Tor the IrSt IlIIie
this wear Yesterday Harris. with lusty
double and a ringing single drove in two
runs and paved the way for thlrd'
while adequately taking care OF the
chores in right field. If one of the two
SANS is restored to action shortly 1t
probably will be West, for Rice has
been hitting far below his usual pace
thus far this season.
A CHANGE that Pilot johnson might
n make with good effect, for time
at least, would be the lifting OF
Manush who is having as much trouble
as Sam Rice in getting ms oattlng
sights adjusted. Assigning Harry Rice
to left. with West in center and Harris
In right would considerably bolster the
attack Of the club until such time as
the veteran pasturemen regain IheH
humping touch.
OR. If johnson Is proceeding on the
theory that the quickest way TO get
Manilsh cut of his slump is TO let MN
STAY in there and keep swinging. ne
could drop Heinie in the batting oroer
and elevate Spencer to third place.
Roy is setting the pill for .400-plus
average f4ld is leading the team at pro,
ducing Tallies, having batted IN total
of is y date.
Sn.ncer. OF course, has ben doing
better than he knows how during these
first three weeks OF the campaign, out
as long as he is doing II the club Woulo
benfft il he were coming up IN the spot
Mickey Cochrane occupies with the AS
OSS BLUEGE, who, singularly enough,
~ has been one Of the chief tally pro-
ducers Of the Nationals to date, de-
spite his lowly failing PERCENTAGE, not
only failed signally yesterday in couple
Of spots pregnant with possibilities, put
uncorked a bum chuck that threatened
for a time to halt the new winning
sjT.ak. which now has attained the dig
nifty Of thrce in row. TINS was III
the second inning. when with OSsleS
wild heaye deleted the Yankees woulo
have been retired Scor9less, but as
result OF which they got of TO four
run lead.
In that same frame, with mates on
third and first and one out, Bluege
nopped foul TO Catcher Dickey, ano
again in the following frame, with CO.
workers on third and second, he cid the
same thing, while in the sixth he took
a third strike with another rally under
way. Ossie succeeded in drawing a pass
that was converted into marker In the
fifth. however, and contrived TO get hit
witc a pitched ball during the eighth
inning uprising
Aside from the four unearned t lilies
handed the Yanks early in the fray,
when a single and two doubles followed
the first of Browns two passes and
Bluege's error, the sturdy left-hander
pitched quite ball game TO notch MS
second victory of the season in four
starts. What Is more, he Travelled the
entire route, a feat accomplished by no
THAE IT,, h.