Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-01

. - Whether a club finishes
second, third or any other
place back of the lead in a
major league race may not mean
much to the general run of base
ball fandom, but position means
plenty to the club that is striving
to hold the runner-up berth in the
already decided American League
pennant fight.
To the Nationals this struggle to
finish second in the race is grim
affair, and II the great scrap they gave
the third-place Yankees in New York
yesterday was indicative of what may
be expected OF the Johnson band until
the issue is decided one way or another
some stirring ball games will brighten
the waning season.
In Washington on Sunday the Ma
tionals in beating the AS served notice
that they aren't through by long
shot, though many of their followers,
glooming over the clubs recent drab
Western tour, feared nothing could pre-
vent further skidding. In New York
yesterday the Nationals were rs full of
fight as at any other time this year,
and. given fair break by their pitch
ers in the two games to be played here,
they should make a brave showing,
indeed.
Fer the pair of matches with the
Athletics Manager Walter johnson has
nominated for the pitching the VEN
cradle Sam Jones and the much less
venerable but still quite experienced
Fred Marberry. Jones was to take the
hill this afternoon. Marberry is slated
for duty tomorrow.
Jones has been no shining light on
the hill for some time. but Johnson was
hoping the vet might surprise EN-
Marberry seems right. though, and is
apt to get away with game at any
time.
Whatever their pitching. however,
look for those Nationals to be in there
with all they have in this brief series
here. Therell be a deal Of difference
in the amount of jack the players will
get for finishing second instead OF
third in this years pennant chase. And
the Nationals are eager to feather their
nests as protection against the rigors
of long, hard Winter.
MUCH of the color, the thrills, the
WI tenseness of clubs tussling for
league leadership was packed into
yesterdays set-to between Nationals
and Yankees in Col. Jake Rupperts
vast base ball plant in the Bronx For
fcur-and-a-half innings it was just
ball game. Then the Yanks stepped far
out in front and Immediately the Ma
tionalS launched a counter offensive.
Thereafter the clubs were at 1t hammer
and tongs with the battling SO vigorous
that few of the $4,000 in the stands at
the start Of hostilities departed before
the Nationals left the field, to 5
victors.
Each side rushed three pitchers into
action. Lloyd Brown, who started for
the Nationals, left after the fifth
inning in which he had been slammed
for Lou Gehrig's thirty-eighth homer
of the year following the filling Of the
bases by purposeful pass to the great
Babe Ruth. Herb Pennock southpawed
five good rounds for the Yanks tnen
suffered four-run jolt in the sixth ana
gave way to Ed Wells, another SOUTH
paw, before the round was over.
Wells too his pounding In the sew
enth to become the losiIt, slabman, but
Bump Hadley, who had relieved Brown,
lost control after getting one out IN tne
eighth walked two batters and turned
the mound task over to Marperry: me pc
third Washington pitcher managed TO
walk a batter with two out and bring
I'D Ruth with the stations crowded.
There euSued a stirring duel between
batter and pitcher with the pitcher
finally getting the break.
Charley Rufing hurled the ninth Tor
the Yanks and the Nationals coulont
do a thing to Marberry in their last
batting turn.
The Nationals collected 10 safeties
with Harris and West the most i'm
portant figures in the attack. 1t was
Harris who drove over his clubs flrst
run and also the tying tally. while west
came through with blow that sent
over the decisive marker.
The Yankees got eight hits, all but
one off Brown, with Gehrig, Of course,
doing the most for them.
r ARY's single, Dickey's walk and
- Lazzeri's one-baser in the second
meant a run for the Yanks, then
they hoped on Brown in the fifth for
fine lead. Pennock opened this inning
with a surprising double and after Byrd
went out Cronin, with an error, aided
the New Workers considerably. Brown
took Sewells grounder and trapped Pen
mock off first then chucked to Cron1n.
The shortstop, trying to throw to Bluege,
bounced the ball off the runners back
and all hands were safe. Brown then
walked Ruth deliberately. but Gehrig
wouldn't fall in with the plans. In
stead, he lofted the ball into the right
field bleachers.
Myer started the Nationals sixth with
single only to be forced out by Manush
and the scoring chance was not SO
bright after Cronin hoisted out. But
Harris tripled to tally Manush and
knocked down to put over another run:
After Bluege walked singles by Kuhel
and Spencer meant two more markers
Exit Pennock. Hayes went up to bat
for Brown but the best he could do OIL
Wells was pop to the first sacker.
Myers single opened the seventh.
Manush tried to sacrifice only to pop
o. In Mt hiIf
field hit and Harris doubled to put
Myer over and deadlock the game. West
followed with single that tailed
Cronin with the big run Of the fray.
Looked bad for the Nationals IN the
eighth when Hadley walked Lazzeri and
Combs batting for Wells, after one was
out. Looked worse when Marberry
walked Sewell and filled the sacks with
two out. This makes great spot LOT
Ruth, but the Babe with a two-and.
two count after fouling of block OF
fine pitches lofted harmlessly TO Harris
In right.
WHEN Harris swiped the middle base
w in the second inning the YanKS
howled that Bluege had inter-
fered with Dickeys throw, but Ump
Ormsby wouldn't listen to 'em The
Yanks tried some stealing themselves In
their second turn, but Dickey was trap
ped on the way home from third and
run down, although Lazzeri went from
first to third during the play That
homer of Gehrig's in the fifth put him
! up on Ruth this year and it was the
second time in three days that Lou
belted for four bases with the sacks
full Chapman recorded his fifty
second and f1fty-third stolen bases OF
the season The flying Yank Is the
best cushion -thiever in years Two
Alp on the Yankees now and the
Nationals Will have great chance to