Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-29

Fl Washington club is to be
4 in this years American
League pennant race
should be determined in the next
month, when it swings around
the circuit for the first time in
the campaign. This test on for
eign fields so early in the battling
for the flag ought to show clearly
how much the Nationals are to
be reckoned with throughout the
season.
Following the tussle with the Yam
KEGS this afternoon the johnson band
will entrain for Boston and, excepting
two Sundays when it will jump back
here for engagements with Eastern
rivals, 1t will be on the road for rs
games. weather permitting. No easy
assignment for any ball club.
Three games are to be staged with
the Red Sox in Fenway Park, then
the Nationals will return for a Sunday
set-to with the world champion Attn
letics. A three-game series with the
Yankees starts next Monday, then the
club will head West for the first time
this year. There 1t is likely to run
into plenty of opposition, for the West.
ern sector clubs, with the exception OF
the Browns, seem to have improved
greatly since last year.
The tenacious Tigers are to be met
first in the West. They are booked
for four games. Then will come three
tits with the high-class Indians in
Cleveland. After that four-game
series in st. Louis with the Browns.
their showing against other outfits,
always seem able to give the Nationals
a great scrap in Sportsmen's Park. A
trio of tusSles with the White Sox IN
Chicago will end the Western invasion.
After that the schedule becomes a
little freaky before the Nationals nnal-
" get home for a long stand in Grifntn
Stadium. They jump from the West
to New York for a Saturday contest
with the Yanks, then rush home to
play the Red Sox on Sunday. May "A:
From Washington the Nationals Will
hop to Boston for a four-game series
before putting on their Memorial day
double -header with the New Workers
in Grifith Stadium.
That holiday twin bill will inaugu-
rate a lengthy home stay.
ahead of them. One that ought to re-
veal whether they have the makin's
Of champions.
MANAGER JOHNSON revised his.
wi lineup yesterday. withdrawing
Sam Rice, shifting Harry Rice 10
right field and sending into regular ac-
ton for the first time this season sam
West, the center fielder, who mas been
nursing an ailing arm All the change
got the Nationals, however, was lot
Of work that failed to help their cause.
But neither was the Yankee cause help
ed. for when darkness closed in on the
clubs after their 3 hours and 40 min
utes of struggling the score stood al
Tall
It was 6:35 O'Clock when Umpire Bill
MCGOWAN ordered the clubs TO enter
the fourteenth inning. Had he attempt
ed to extend the battle in the niteentn,
it might have been necessary TO turn On
the foot ball floodlights atop the sta
dunn so the players could get TO their
positions afield.
Sam Rice was lifted, Manager john
son explained. because he appeared 10
need a rest after striving desperately 10
attain good playing condition without
doing SO. OF the two Rices, Hurry, VINO
had been holding forth in center, was
the most advanced. in the pilot oPln-
ion. Not only had Harry been batting
well ahead of Sam, but also did better
work afeld. With West accounted
regular from the start and again IN
shape to play after idling from the start
Of campaigning, johnson figured 1t quite
reasonable to make the changes.
THESE Yankees surely give the fans
i their fill Of base ball, but they al
most got away with that game yes
terday in the regulation nine innings
The Nationals went into their half OF
the ninth three runs 10 the PAD, ana
many in the stands. conceding the Wis
itors victory. left for their supper and
thereby missed a rousing Washington
rally that deadlocked proceedings when
all appeared lost.
Roy Sherid. who had chucked pretty
good ball from the start for the Yanks,
got himself into trouble at the begin
ming of the ninth by hurting the ball
against Roy Spencer. Baxter Jordan
got into a championship game for the
first time by batting for Fred Marberry,
but BaXter's best was loft 70 the
Yankees new leftfielder, Fred Walker
Buddy Myer, though, doubled Spencer
home and Sherid ont Of the box Harry
Rice followed with triple of the new
pitcher, Vernon Gomez, 20 score Myer,
and in a squeeze play, with Heinie
kIanush bunting, Harry crossed with the
tying tally.
Then for FIVE innings the left-hand-
ers. Gomez and Carl Fischer, waged
fine duel, with Gomez once getting out
of a tough spot and Fischer Fielding
nothing more than one pass.
Gomezs tough spot vas IN the tenth
when the Nationals had the bases tul!
with only ONE out. West had doubled
and Judge was purposely passed before
Bluege fouled out. Then Spencer
walked. Manager johnson, however,
had no pitcher warming up, so sent
Fischer into bat instead of selecting one
OF the stronger reserve swingers. The
pitcher famed and so did Myer. There
after the Nationals had no good oppor-
tunity TO get over the big run.
ZACH club gathered Is safeties, the
II Yanks getting 10 Of theirs of Sam
Jones, who started only 10 give way
TO Marberry in the sixth. Six OF the
Washington hits were of Gomez, the
second New York hurler.
When Marberry stepped in, the game
was deadlocked at 4-all. but he weak
ened after getting two out in the eighth
TO yield two hits and a run and in the
ninth he was nicked for three hits and
two more tallies.
Again the Nationals were wabbly
afield. They made four errors and three
contributed to the Yankee scoring. But
the New York error also was Of some
help TO the home side.
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