Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-22
HELD SWIFT PACE
ON WESTERN TRIP
Team Is Saved by Reserves
in EmergenCieS-Manush'S
Hits Beat Sox.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.


4 / ness of keeping within fair
striking distance of the
league-leading Athletics, the Ma
tionalS are transferring their ac-
tivitieS from the Western to the
Eastern front. Tomorrow they
face the Yankees in New York in
the first of 10 games to be played
in as many days with two rival
clubs OF their own section.
If Manager walter Johnson's
charges maintain against the Eastern
ers the pace at which they swept
Through the West they should be right
at the heels of the world champion
AS when they entrench next mnoth to
withstand the WesteneTs first inva-
sion of Washington this season.
The Western tour that ended yester-
day in Chicago was by far the best en-
joyed by the Nationals in several sea-
sons Eleven Ct IA scheduled games
were played and the johnson band was
victorious in nine of them. Not Sc
ries was lost. The club showed much
Improvement over its Eastern perform
ances. Hitting was stronger and more
timely, the defense was better, the
pitching was of higher grade. In every
way, too, the Naticnals played smarter
base ball.
The club scored signally during the
tour despite the loss OF two first
string players through injury. Buddy
Myer was away from his second base
post the greater part of the time
while Joe Kuhel, right after blossom
ing into high class substitute for the
Ill veteran, joe Judge, at first base, was
forced out Of four-game series In
Jack Hayes and Baxter Jordan, how
ever. the Nationals had good men to
fill the gaps and as team continued
to function smoothly. Excellent proof
that the reserve is OF fine quality.
In the East the Nationals played only
500 base ball. No pace for q club ex-
pected to bid strongly for the pennant
in the American League. In the West
the Nationals played at an .Sl8 clip
More like It, and they must maintain
this pace or play close to it against
the East this time to keep their heads
above water.
TT does not seem that the East will
i be troubled much by the West this
season. While both Detroit and
Chicago appear to have improved over
last year, the inland clubs still are well
below the three Eastern leaders in
every department of the game. Ath-
too strong for the Westerners.
The White Sox have g0ed chance
to make a Drawer showing than they
did last season. Manager DOME Bush
apparently has an up-and-coming club,
but it still needs much strengthening
before it may be seriously considered
an important factor in the chase. The
Sox have pretty good pitching, more
batting strength than before and seem
okE4
Even with much improvement over
1880. however, the Chicago club stih
would be out OF the pennarlt-contend-
ing class. 1t was a very poor outfit
last year.
In Fonseca. Jolley and Reynolds the
White Sox have three batters who are
likely to meet the ball frequently and
meet it hard They are always dan
gereus at the plate. OF this trio,
though, Reynolds is the only polished
fielder. Fonseca Is not so brilliant
either at first or second and Jolley
never has been very good in the out
field. But all three can sock that ball
The infield that besides Fonseca, in
cludes Blue at first, CisSel at short
and Jeffries at third at present, Is SUI
perior to last years White Sox inner
Gordon. Blue is putting up his custo-
mary clever game at the initial sack
and thus far has been helpful hitter.
CtSsell again is at his best position IN
the short field, while Jeffries looks
good at the hot corner. There's not so
much attacking power in CisseH and
Jeffries. though Eichrcdt is good
Nv hawk in center field, but is not
consistently strong at bat
For their pitching the White SoX
have an excellent staff OF starters IN
Lyons. Thomas, McKain. Frazier. a re-
cruit from Dallas, and the left-handed
Caravan. For <elief work Bush de-
pends mainly en- the elderly spit ball
ers. Faber and BraZton, the former
Washington southpaw. Much good
pitching should be provided by this lot.
but a great deal of IL is likely 10 De
wasted because the remainder OF the
club is not strong enough to give It's
mound staff sufficient help IN batting
and fielding.
II looks like another second division
year for the White Sox.
HEINIE MANUSH's batting was Of
i great help 10 the Nationals yes
terday as they scored 4 To
win over the White Sox To sweep the
two-game series. He socked his second
homer OF the season, also triple ana
q single. These blows accounted for
all the Washington runs.
The Nationals got but seven hits,
I'VE off Al Thomas who pitched the
first six rounds Harold McKain, who
finished, yielded one OF the four tai
: Bump Hadley essayed TO stop the
Sox. but Bump was too wild for the
task. He allowed only four hits These
old not mean any scoring. but three OF
his six passes helped the White Sox 70
a run After iamming the sacks IN the
sixth, Bump threatened TO force run
over by throwing three vide ones 10
the batter. Fred Marberry was rushed
to the rescue Of Bump and he got his
side out Of trouble.
The lone hit of Fred was Jeffries'
home run in the ninth.
THREE runs were picked up by the
i Nationals before the White Sox
counted. Sam Rice and Manush
collaborating 10 bag them. Sans double
and Heinie's triple were good for the
first marker and Sans walk followed
by Manush's homer meant two more
scores in the third.
Hadley's wildness was responsible for
Chisox tally in the third. He filled
the sacks with walks, then Blue counted
as Fonseca forced Reynolds for the
second out. In the sixth Hadley went
wild again, this time throwing himself
out Of the game.
with one down. Jolley doubled and
Eichrodt singled, but Jolley was nipped
at the plate. Then Bump walked Tate
and Jeffries. With the sacks crowded
he threw three wide ones to Fothergill,
who had grabbed Thomas bat. That
meant the "out" for Hadley. Mar
berry came On "a Difcb a strike then