Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-15
GR|FFS BOW TO AS,
|. FAILING IN P|NCHES
President Among $4,000 to
See World Champs Take
Opening Game.
GAME of lost opportunity fol

n augural yesterday in which they
were toppled 5 to 8 by the
world champion Athletics in II innings
of tussling. They had several fine
chances to tuck away the contest in
regulation time and in their first extra
inning had a golden opportunity for
victory, but could not make good for
the $4,000 faithful, among them the
Nations first fan, President Herbert
Hoover, that filled Griffth Stadium to
overhowing.
1t was a nip-andtuck battle from
the start with the Nationals immedi-
ately matching the Athletics first
inning run and forging ahead In the
lucky seventh, only to have the visitors
arise in their might in the ninth after
one was out and tie up the affair. The
Nationals continued fighting and offset
the Mackian run that crossed in the
tenth, but that two-run handicap the
AS hung up in the eleventh proved too
great.
Lloyd Brown and George walberg
were mound rivals at the outset and the
Washington left-han0er was much bet
ter than the Philadelphia southpaw, yet
he got no better results with his pitch
ing Following that single-run flrst
frame, in which he was nicked for two
safeties, Brown did not yield hit until
the ninth, when the AS combed him for
two mere and q tying tally.
Walberg In wild.
walberg, who toiled eight innings
before giving way to pinch-batter,
yielded seven hits and four passes.
George was even wilder than the four
passes indicate, for he had to pitch him
self out to almost every man who
stepped to the plate. Yet the Nationals
two Of the five chances he gave them.
Brown, after giving up the ninth
inning run. was supplanted by Fred
Marberry. who disposed of Al Simmons
for the third out right away, but did
not do so we'll in the tenth. Then he
was reached for q brace Of singles and
a pass that put the. AS ahead. Bunt-
ing Bob Grove, who had taken up the
Mack hurting in the ninth, the home
side in the tenth jammed the bases
with none out, but got nothing more
than q tying run and after Al Crowder
had been found for three hits and two
markers in the eleventh they were help
less before Connie Mack's mound ace.
The Nationals matched the AS at
hitting, each getting nine safeties. They
them for total bases, too for
each side cracked two doubles. The
Nationals were handed six passes and
the AS got only one, that OF Marberry.
And each side made one error. But
the AS made good every time they had
a chance while the Nationals were too
prone to let opportunities Tor scoring
go by.
AS Start Scoring.
A double by Haas, Cochrane's infleld
eraSure and Simmons single netted the
AS run right OF the reel, but the Ma
tionals countered In their first batting
turn with Myers walk, Sam Rice's sac
rifice, Manush's infield out and Gro
Minis one-baser.
Harry Rice and Bluege singled in
succession at the start Of the second
inning and Spencer sacrificed, but
Brown famed while Myer popped out.
Spencer opened the fifth with single
and after Brown took q third strike
Myer walked. Sam Rice's out advanced
both runners, then Manush's pass
crowded the sacks. but Cronin put up
a feeble one for Bishop.
The seventh was a scoring round Tor
the Nationals. Then Spencer doubled
and following Browns Whit, Myer
two-bagger. Nothing came
Of O hit and o pass in the eighth,
though. Cronin began the inning with
q single, Judge sacrificed and Harry
Rice's infield retirement moved Cronin
to third. Bluege drew Q base on balls.
but Spencer hoisted TO the second
baseman.
It was o single by Bishop, q double
by Haas and Cochrane's hoist to Manush
that got the AS their tying tally in the
ninth. With one out in the visitors
tenth, Miller found Marberry for a sin
gle TO right and swept on to third as
Sam Rice let the ball get away. Dykes
walked and Boley slapped single that
put Miller over. It was an earned run,
despite Sans error, for the walk would
have pushed Miller TO second, from
where he could have counted easily
when Boley hit.
Lose Chance In Ninth.
Looked as though the Nationals might
con in the ninth. when with one down
Myer walked and swiped second, but
Sam Rice took a third strike and
Manush, who walked, was forced out
by Cronin. But the home side stirred
up the fans in the tenth when Judge
started with single. Harry Rice beat
out a bunt and Groves poor chuck after
picking up Bluege's bunt hlled the
plate, but Harris picked up Marberry's
bat to send a fly to Haas deep enough
to get Harry Rice over and move Bluege
to third There Ossie remained, Tor
Myer famed.
Three successive singles OF Crowder
after one was out in the eleventh spoiled
the day for Washington They were NIT
by Cochrane, Simmons and Fox. JIM
niy'S blow scored Cochrane and Sim
mons ran home from third after Myer
backed into right field and gathered
in Miller's archer.
Sam Rice was able only TO ground 70
third base at the outset Of the Nation
ais eleventh turn. while both Manush
and Cronin sLccumbed TO Groves last
stuff, each tanning.
President Hoover and most OF his
party remained until the tenth inning
was under way. With the President at
the game we're Mrs. Hoover, their young
or son. Allan. and Mrs. Herbert Hoover,
ir. Many of his cabinet of1cerS sat
with the President
Lots of flowers for the Nationals,
among them q huge floral horseshoe,
the gift of the Chamber OF Commerce
of Biloxi, Miss, where the club trained.
The presentation Of this piece was made
by Anthony Ragusin, secretary OF the
Biloxi organization, and Paul T1blier