Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-08
SHOULD STEP OUT
NEXT THREE DAYS
Boston's Visit Gives Griffs
Chance to Recover From
TussIing With AS.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

BY JOHN B. KELLER.
HANG COLLINS and his Red
Sox of Boston will be in
~ town the neXt three days
for a series with the Ma
tionals, and playing a club that
while sixth in the American
League race is not very far ahead
of the last-position outfit ought
to afford the battered Johnson
band some relief.
For nearly three weeks-eyer since
they went through that dozen-game
winning streak in June-the Nationals
have played poorer than 500 base ball
and the rough going has Slapped them
considerably. The three tits with the
Red SoX in as many days may prove
a "breather" series, however, and get
them in good trim for the remainder
Of their long home stand.
The set starting tomorrow opens the
second half Of the annual series with
Nationals took the measure OF the
Red Sox times in IL engagements
beating them in three of four games
here. The Boston MUNICH generally
showed the Washington club some good
pitching, but Washington generally
managed to stage big inning to cop.
It was hitting and hitting well when
1t played the Red Sox. Lately there
has not been much power in the Wash
show Johnson's charges to be pretty
good swatters. 1t would seem the Ma
tionals are just about due to pull them
selves out of their attacking slump
and get going in great style once more.
DESPITE their lack of punch the
- Nationals have managed to give
the league-leading Athletics a
good battle in the current series in
Griffith Stadium. but they have been
unable to pick up a bit Of ground On
them What they gained with their
victory Sunday was lost yesterday in
the 7-to-3 decision against them and
JohnSon's henchmen were to enter the
rubber of the series this afternoon five
and one-half games behind the cir
cults pace-setters.
Until Ossie Bluege made wild chuck
In an effort to run down Max Bishop
in the seventh inning yesterdays tilt
WGs a nip-and-tuck affair with the
Nationals twice in the lead. But
B'uege's misplay put the AS two runs
to the good in the twinl1ling of an eye,
hid much to do with the elimination
CT Al Crowder who had held the visit
orS right well, and in general took the
fight out of the Washington hopefuls
During the seven innings he was on
the hill Gen. Crowder gave big George
EaInshaW, surprisingly sent back to the
series by Connie Mack after taking q
licking only two days before, quite an
argument. Up to the time of Bluege's
fateful error the AS had found Crowder
for z hits, 3 passes and 2 runs. The
Nationals had combed Earnshaw for
S hits, a pass and runs. And they
looked as though they were ready to
finish.
But that wild chuck was dishearten-
ing to the club in every way. Crowder
issued another pass, then got out of the
inning through the medium of f1ashy
double-play, but Carl Fischer, who
hurled the last two rounds, blew in the
ninth to be found for walk, 2 triples
and a double, in addition to uncorking
a wild pitch. This so boosted the
Athletics' score that while the Nationals
in Their last three batting turns man
aged 10 get to Earnshaw Tor more
hits there was nothing formidable about
their offensive and only a useless ninth
inning run was registered.
TOR a time it seemed the Nationals
j. at last would treat Herbert Hoover,
President of the United States, to
home victory. He was there among the
10000 in the stands and so was Albert
C. Richie; Governor of Maryland Most
citizens of the great free State OF Mary
land look upon the Nationals as their
big league club. But. as on other occa-
sions with the President of the United
States looking on, the Nationals took
it on the chin. And the Governor OF
Maryland almost did so, for ball
fouled from the bat Of Jimmy Foxx,
fellow Marylander, battling for the
Athletics cause, as it fell in the grand
stand narrowly missed striking his
excellency.
The Athletics opened briskly against
Crowder. Bishop beginning the first
inning with double and Simmons the
second with a similar hit. But Max
tried to stretch his hit and was tagged
at third base, while Al never left second
base after his hit, SO firmly did Crowder
bear down.
First plate -denting was done by the
Nationals in the third round, when
Spencer's double, Crowder's sacrifice
and Harry Rices single produced a run.
But the AS. still specializing in doubles,
knotted the game in the fifth when,
with one out. Boley and EarnshaW
smote successive two-basers.
Again in the sixth the Nationals
stepped out in front. Myer singled
only to be forced out by Harry Rice,
but Manushs one-baser sent Harry TO
third and a squeeze-play with Cronin
bunting brought in the score. Once
more the AS got right back In the game
Boley began their seventh batting turn
by walking to first and reached third
when Bishop singled after Earnshaw
famed. Here Haas got fiuky hit,
grounder toward Myer that looked
side-retiring. double-play ball until 1t
took an odd hep and glanced eff Bud
dy's chest to right field for single
scoring Boley with tying tally ana
sending Bishop to the far corner.
T7HAT foozle by Bluege followed to put
l. the AS in front to stay Cochrane
drove directly to Kuhel and the
irst-basemans throw to Spencer
caught Bishop almost fat-footed on the
way home. But when Spencer Instead
of rushing the runner heaved to Bluege
the Mackman began lodging along the
basepath until finally Ossie chucked
the ball against his back. AS the
sphere bounded off to the granSstand
wall Max scored and 50 did Haas.
Cochrane reached third on the at
xnr,pfad rim .dnu,, and error then SIM