Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-12
BEAT TIGERS, 14-4,
IN TAKING z OF 3
Fischer HurlS Well, Mates
Slug, Against Harris
Improved Outfit.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

played mere II Cne 1HulduS IldNS
improved over last years form as
have the Tigers. Roger Peckin-
paugh's pack gave all foes plenty
of trouble in the past campaign,
so if they have picked up like
Stanley Harris outfit they should
be real good this time.
Although the Nationals took the
Tigers in two Of the three engagements
in Detroit, ending the series yesterday
by routing the foe, IA to 4, Harris men
showed enough to indicate they Will
have something to say about the dis
position of the 1881 American League
championship.
In every way the current collection OF
Tigers looks better, much better than
those of 1880. And Washington fan
dom probably recalls how the Detroit
club. after poor start last season,
played brilliant base ball in the closing
weeks of the campaign. The Tigers
finish last year was somewhat similar
to Washington'S IN 1929. Then the
Nationals got nowhere worth while, but
they showed they might have to be
stepped out last season and proved their
late 1929 splurge no idle gesture.
A VERY noticeable improvement in
"A the Detroit club is seen in its out
field. Manager Bucky is employ
ing four gardeners, alternating his Gen.
terf1elders according to the kind of
pitching the opposition uses. Against
southpawS Harris has in the pasture
Stone in left. Doljack in center and
johnson in right. Against righthand-
ers, Hubby Walker. who swings from
the portside, goes to center.
Stone and johnson proved their
worth last season. They seem even bet
ter now. Both Doljack and Hubby
Walker--Hubby's brother Gerald, also
an outfielder, is with the Tigers-are
faShy fielders The entire outfield,
whichever combination is used, is fast
on its feet. exceptionally fast, and every
member has good arm. Right now the
outfield is regarded the best fielding
combination ever possessed by De-
troit club
1t has power at bat. too. although in
attack it does not compare with its
fielding ability But Stone and johnson
are dangerous at the plate any time
Each is likely to pole a long one and
break up ball game. Hubby Walker
looks lot more natural batter than
Doljack, but Doljack often contriveS to
RA~ANSS q nS~ASA AAb'
WITH Owen, purchase from Se-
w attic, playing at short and Alexan-
der doing better at first base, the
Tiger infield is far superior to the inner
Gordon the club had last season, This
Owen is quick as a cat, has a great pair
Of hands and can throw strongly and
accurately. He looks far better at short
than Cronin did when he first came I'D
IN the NaffNf1a1e
Alexander is nothing like the clumsy
player around the initial sack he was
only year ago. And McManus still is
the same steady third baSeman, a great
player at the hot corner.
This trio with Koenig, former Yankee
playing at second base, is doing fine
work now. When Gehringer, for some
time regarded one Of the best second
basemen in the business, gets back to
his regular post Detroit viii possess a
high-class infield beyond doubt. Geh-
ringer still is nursing an injury suffered
in game in st. Louis, but Manager
Harris says his star middle-sacker soon
VIII be able to return to action. Watch
the Tigers speed then.
IN the veteran Schang the Tigers have
i mighty valuable catcher. Despite
his years, Wally appears superior to
Detroit backstopping. And with Bridges,
an up-snd-coming rookie, supporting
the veterans Hoyt, Sorrell and White
hill, with good reserve mound cast,
Harris seems well fortified In the pitch
ing department. Whitehill looks fine.
The same Whitehill that stepped out
the middle of last season after doing
mediocre work and hurled to
splendid consecutive victory record.
The club seems faster and smarter
than Detroit clubs of recent years. It
Is club that will not have to bat over
all its runs as was the habit with so
many Tiger outfits. 1t moves intelli-
gently on the bases and afeld. Harris
has his players on their toes and his
club ought to make a name for itself
this year.
HOPING on Bridges and Sullivan
i for six hits and as many runs in
the opening inning yesterday. the
Nationals took all the wind out of the
Tigers sails. They had the game in
the bag before Harris bunch knew
merely matter Of the johnson band
pecking away at all Manager Bucky
rushed TO the hill, while Carl Fischer
Kept the situation in hand regardless
OF streakS Of wildness.
Eighteen safetieS leaped from the
Nationals bats, two OF them homers.
Cronin hit enc off Hogsett in the fourth
frame while Bluege got another off
Herring in the seventh. Each came
with runner on the paths. Both hon.
ers were slams over the left-fleld wall
Everybody except West hit safely and
every hitter except Spencer got more
than one safety. Bluege helped him.
self 10 four. seeking double and two
singles in addition to his homer. He,
Kuhel, Cronin and Spencer each drove
three runs across. Fischer surprised all
hands by making two hits. His second,
a double, bounced off the scoreboard
back Of left center; had 1t been
Strengthened little it would have clear
ed the left-field barrier.
A N eight-run lead was held ny the
\ Nationals before the Tigers counted
and with Fischer limiting the
Harris horde to seven Safeties and
two runs in the first seven innings the
washington advantage never was in
much danger of being Offset. In the
final frame the Tigers got two more
runs and four hits to raise their safety
total TO IL. Fischer did not seem to
bother how he pitched then, however.
Carl had a lot Of smoke on the ball,
but his speed often marred his control.
He passed six and his wildness twice
had him with three Tigers on and only
one out. Each time, though, he got
out Of the dificulty nicely.
The extent Of Fischer's wildness is
seen in the statistics Of two OF the
Tiger innings. In the sixth, after the
first two batters had hit quickly to pro-
duce a'run Carl went to a three-and-
two count with each Of the next four
Eaters. Two walked and two popped