Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-29
PLAY BRILLIANTLY
IN ROUT OF INDIANS
Clever in All Departments of
Game-JoneS Great as
Tribe Is Subdued.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

TT may be because they are
!, playing the Indians, who have
been licked by them in 10 OF
a dozen meetings this season
or 1t may be that they are about
to emerge from the slump that
has had them in the doldrums fol
weeks. Regardless of the cause
however, the Nationals looked
better yesterday than at any time
since they overcame the league
leading Athletics here on July S
and their fine showing in the sec
ond victory over the Indians may
be construed as being an indica-
ton they are about to take a step
forward once more.
They did nothing wrong in that game
yesterday. Their hitting was much
stronger than the eight bingles credited
to them seems to show, their pitching
was of the old master style, their run
ming of the bases left nothing to be
desired and their fielding was of
intelligent order, despite that the lone
error of the game was charged against
a
It was a fine-playing ball club that
represented Washington in that second
game Of the series with the Indians.
It was ball club that came back to
show its patrons and followers that 1t
still is worthy of respect in every way
and one that deserves the admiration
Of all Washington fandom.
: At that, why bubble about a ball
club that has suck In the first division
and been next to the top the past sea-
sons? Every ball club in the American
League can't be the champion ball club,
but it certainly is something to be
around the top. And that's the Wash
ington ball club.
nLAYING yesterday as they did while
burning up the American League,
the Nationals took the measure of
the Indians with startling ease. They
spotted the visitors to a run In the
first inning, Immediately matched 1t
at the first opportunity, then went on
to have a big fifth inning and finished
with an 8-to-l victory.
Sam Jones, the somber squire of
Wcodsf1eld, Ohio, was on the rubber
for the home side and he pitched
virtually a spotless game He held the
Indians to six safeties and three passes
and but for an error by Joe Cronin
after two were out in the first inning
would have BANKED Peck's papooses.
At that i,o G5orin t, bad one Of his , pig
in sensational form and also contributed
much to the Nationals offensive. Joe
socked the Indian pitching for a triple
and a double and his triple was made
when the bases were full.
Clint Brown endeavored to stop the
Nationals and for four frames he gave
Jones quite a battle. Johnson's men
nicked Clint for four hits and two runs
over that stretch, but he fell before
them in the fifth. Then they combed
him for two safeties and he issued an
intentional pass to Heinie ManuSh to
crowd the sacks, preferring to take a
chance with Cronin.
George Connally was rushed to the
slab and Cronln proceeded to sock that
triple which made the day safe for
Washington. OF Connally the Johnson
band got another hit to raise its game
total to eight.
d IGHT off the reel the Indians
n assumed a lead. but the Nationals
matched the alien score at the
first chance. A pass to Porter, a sacri-
fee, an infield erasure and Cronin's
boot Of Morgans grounder accounted
for the Tribal tally in the opening
inning. Myers double, Sam Rice's
sacrifice and Manush's infield retire
nnent Immediately got back the marker.
After two were out in the second
session the Nationals got another run.
Bluege singled and stole to be in
position to get home when Spencer
socked for q base.
Jones took one Of Browns pitches in
the small of the back after Spencer had
been thrown out at thu beginning of
the fifth, but the blow did not take any
speed out of Sam. He scampered to
third when Myer singled and busted
home as Old Man Rice smote a one
baser. Rice's hit moved Myer to third
and Sam reached second on the throw
to the far corner. Here Brown filled
the bases by purposely passing Manush,
then gave way to Connally.
Cronin waited until the new hurler
had two strikes on him, thsn slammed
to right-center for three bases and three
more runs for the home side. One
more came as Joe romped to the plate
after Vests long hoist was bagged in
center.
without a hit the Nationals managed
to get a run off Connally in the eighth
Kuhel, first up, was hit by pitched
ball and there were two on with one out
when Joe beat to third throw from
the shortstcp, who had picked up
Spencer's grounder Came a squeeze
play with Jones bunting and Kuhel
crossed as Sam was tagged.
THERE was much fancy fielding in
i the early part of the game :.
Bluege lungsd to his left to scoop
I'D Vosmik's hot one and throw for a
force-out of Morgan at the middle base
in the first frame West dashed to
the depths of left-center in the second
session to drag down with one hand
Browns great drive In the Wash
ington second batting turn Burnett, In
dian second sacker took Vests bounce
of Browns glove for fast play, then
Jumped to his right for a gloved-hand
grab of Kuhel's liner In the third
Averill tore In from deep center for
Manush's hoist A flashy double
play helped the Nationals cause in the
nth, one of those Kuhel, Cronin-
affairs With one hand Cronin
shared Vcsmik's grounder near second
base and got his man in the sixth .
In the same inning the Nationals short
fielder made sparkling stop of Myatt's
smash back on the grass in left and
barely missed getting the ball to first
ahead of the Indian The long-hit-
ting Nationals kept Averill busy, the
Cleveland center fielder having to take
care Of six chances He did SO in
fine style Marberry and Ferrell to-
day Ought to be a battle worth