Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-02
CAN FINISH SEASON
WITH NINETY WINS.
0utshone Only by Macks and
Yankees Since July 4.
Beat Champs, 81.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

4 been moving at any last
clip the last eight weeks, the
Nationals have a great chance to
wind up their campaign with 80
victories, which would be no mean
total for a club back of first place
in the American League this year.
Including today'S engagement
with the AS here, the Johnson
band has q more games to COM
plete it's string 1t needs only IA
more wins to reach the 80 mark
Little better than 500 base ball
would make It,
The Athletics have made such a run
away of the American League pennant
chase the last two months that fans
generally have overlooked the progress
OF the other clubs. The Nationals have
moved along at a better pace than any
below them excepting the Yankees. The
New Workers put on a mild squirt for
time to cut from five games to one
the advantage held over them by the
Washington club, but 1t looks as though
they must plug bit more If they would
get into the second notch.
Since July 4, the start of the second
half of the championship campaign,
the Nationals have Travelled at clip
better than .535. They ought to cop
90 for the season. And the Nationals
having come back for three successive
victories after taking three jolts on
their chinS in a row, wrestling that
runner-up berth from them may not
prove any soft task for the pesky Yanks.
4 HAPPY combination of effective
"A pitching by Sam Jones and their
free hitting got the Nationals
Stool victory over the league-leading
III to- Ia at
the two-game series here. Sad Sem
came through with his first good bit
OF hill work in five weeks, while his
club gathered 10 safeties off the left
handed hurting of George Walberg dur
ing the eight innings he graced the
mound for the world champions.
the AS got to him for 10 hits. But
they waited until two were out in an
inning before doing most of their hit
ting. Seven of their SafetieS came that
way. Once they managed to cluster
two hits with only one uot, by which
tilcy averted a shut-out.
The Nationals jumped into lead
right OF the reel and wele on the run
Uay in e;ery inning except the niHtn,
I'h-n they wee retired IN order b.
George La nshaw. They Te.e a sr~pQj
Let, running bases 1ashily, and once
pat.-ng across dual theft that meant
score.
Sam Rice, who went to right field in
the ninth and did net have a turn at
bat, and OSsIe Bluege were the only
Nationals not TO crash the hit column.
Buddy Myer was the leader of the Of
tense with three safeties that sent over
the attack with his twelfth hore run
of the year, loft that landed in the
upper lett-field stands near the foul
line. No one was on when Joe hit.
A THOUGH Myer and Joe Kuhcl
"A made fine plays, fielding honors
went to Williams, Mack shortstop.
He handled eight chances and narrow
ly missed engineering triple play.
With Nationals on first and second
bases in the fifth, West lined to VIII
liams, who hustled to touch second
before Cronin could regain the base.
The shortStop wasted no time in heav-
ing to Todt at first, but Harris managed
to scra rble back to that station barely
ahead Of the ball.
At the outset the Nationals took quite
o liking to Walbergs pitching and got
two runs before the first inning ended.
Myer singled, only to be forced by
Manush, but after Cronin hoisted out,
Harris and West singled to get a run.
Harris got to third as West hit, and the
pair negotiated a double steal Harris
Tailed easily. Bishop not having
chance to return from second to catch
Cochrane'S wide throw.
Cronin'S homer at the start of the
third was matched by an Athletic run
in the fifth. Then, with one out. VIII
liams and Walberg singled and Bishop
walked to load the stations. Williams
counted as Cramer was thrown out.
Jones got into trouble while pitching
to Cochrane, then purposely passed him,
hlltng the bases once more. Moore,
though famed. The Nationals came
back in the sixth for two more markers.
Kuhel and Spencer singled and Jones
sacrificed. Myer singled the runners
home and after he was caught trying
to steal, Manush singled and Cronin
walked, but Harris struck out.
No serious scoring threat thereafter
COME low-down on the AS.
~ Haas left wrist is so severely in
jured it is not believed he will get
back to the game this year Which
would have that ex-p,tcher, Cramer, in
center field for the American League
champs in the world series Sim
mons has very sore ankle, but is ex-
pected to be back in action soon .
The star left fielder and batter has had
trouble with his underpinning ever
since he joined the AS This time
after swelling in the joint set in an in
faction developed causing an eruption
that covered the ankle Supposed
to be better now, though Cochrane
Is In fine fettle again That Cleve-
land beaning which put Mickey out OF
commission for time failed to affect
his batting eye and he's catching es
we'll as ever. too But he isn't
regular was lost yesterday when Jimmy
Dykes, third sacllcr, fastened to his
home in a Philadelphia suburb imne-
Giatsly after receiving a message an
ncuncing the critical illness of his
mother. who resides with him
Dykes left the game at the end of the
third inning so Jimmy FoxX was moved
to the far corner and Phil Todt went to
first base George Earnshaw's
pitching arm is in excellent condition
once more, according to those close to
the Philadelphia club and Groves