Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-20
AIDS IN MAKING IS
OF CLUBS Is RUNS
Catcher Shows Great Gain
at Bat-Red Sox Are Easy
for Johnson Band.
BY JOHN B.. KELLER.

)OOD pltcnlng mas done
much to put the Wash
~ ington ball club at the top
of the American League,
but a great factor in its splendid
progress thus far is Roy Spencer,
its No. l receiver.
This catcher, who sold himself
to the Nationals just before the
start of the 1929 campaign for
$4,000, for two seasons was moth
ing more than a catcher, although
a high-class one at that. Now
he hobs up as big cog in the
offensive machine to do more
than any other National in the
business of producing runs.
In the five games to date Spencer
has been the greatest help in attack in
addition to performing brilliantly on the
receiving end of the battery. The Ma
tionals have Tailed IS times, and Spen-
Ger has driven across runs besides
scoring himself. When a player fig
ureS in the making of Is of IS runs,
he's a remarkable part Of his clubs
offensive.
Last season Spencer hit for an aver
age Of only ass. To date In the current
campaign he has hit for .444. In 10
times at bat he has clouted safely 8
times. One Of his hits was a double and
another q triple. He has missed hit
ting In only one game, but most Of the
other batters failed to solve Lefty Grove
that day.
He drove home three runs in the
second game of the series with the Ath-
letics and one in the third game. In
the opener of the series with the Red
Sox yesterday while the Nationals were
winning, 8 to O. Spencer drove home
four runs He trfpled to send two over
in the second inning and singled two
over in the third.
OF course, Spencer cannot be expected
to maintain his present batting pace,
but he seems on the way TO a pretty
good year at the plate. He has made
no change in his stance, but is swinging
more freely and vigorously. 1t must
be the change in swing that accounts
for his improvement In hitting.
Spencer seems to be displaying more
confidence at the plate these days, and
he says he feels his action at bat is
better than ever. He's looking for a
great year and rather confident of hav-
ing it.
MANAGER JOHNSON is making q
lv1 change In his pitching program
because Bump Hadley, who hurled
so smartly against the Athletics last
Wednesday, has developed an arm sore
ness The pilot plans to use Al Crow
der instead of Bump as one Of the
hurlers in the current Red Sox set.
However, johnson says Hadley's all
ment Is nothing serious, but merely
cold in the limb that should be quickly
eradicated by the baking treatment the
pitcher Is being given by Trainer Mike
Martin. Hadley Is to rest now. though,
that he may be in tip-top condition 1or
service when the AS are played IN
Philadelphia this week.
IF the early crowds mean anything, all
attendance records for Griffith Sta
dunn will be shattered this>year
The FIVE games played were watched
by a total Of 10000. The Philadelphia
SERIES attracted $4,000, with two fne
attendances OF $4,000 and 1900. AND
Yesterday. as on Saturday, there was
turnout of 1900.
That's what good ball club does for
its owners.
TOMORROW the Nationals will show
here for the last time this week.
The Red Sox again will be en-
countered. with Fred Marberry possibly
starting a game for the first time this
season for the home side. He may be
opposed by that erstwhile National, HOO
Lisenbee, who has done mucn COCO
chucking since he transferred 70 tne
Red Sox
The club. after a four-day Sojourn In
philadelphia, during which 1t will help
the Athletics pry the lid on the Amer
ican League season In that city, VIII re-
turn to start a four-game stand against
the Yankees. This early schedule gives
the Nationals one tough tussle aiter
another.
THERE was little to the Red Sox
series opener yesterday other than
the Nationals. With Lloyd Brown,
who went the route on the hill, hurting
under wraps. the visitors were held
scoreless while the home side concen-
trated its attack in two rounds for
flock Of runs and then rested on us
laurels
The Red sox got 10 hits, as many as
tho Nationals collected cff Danny Mac
Fayden, ]. Benson Brillheart and Wal
ter Murphy, rookie. Nothing was
made of Ed Morris, Boston boxman;
Who hurled between Brillheart's and
Murphy's turns. Whenever the RED
Sox got on the runway, though, Brown
frightened and refused 10 let It net them
anything worth while.
MacFayden and Brillheart were
reached for the Washington runs. a
double by Cronin and Judges single
were followed by Spencer's triple IN the
second inning to give the Nationals a
two-run start. Spencers drive was wen
hit, but 1t might not have landed safely
had Rightflelder Webb judged 1t trine
better.
ming. 1--WE crossing after two were out
Myer began the attack with single ana
sam Rice walked. Manusn lotted out,
but Cronin singled Myer home. Judge
walk filled the bases and after Harry
Rice fouled out pass TO Bluege forced
sam Rice over the counting block.
SDencer's single scored Cronin and
Judge and brought Brillh cart TO Mac
Fayden's relief.
Brown singled of the left-hander to
tally Bluege and Myer, up for the sec
ond time in the inning, got his second
hit of the inning, single that sent
Eroencer home Then Sam Rice 1ouleo
oi,t and the Nationals were through In
n scoring way for the day.