Evening star., 1931-06-24

American League lead directly tc
the pace-making Athletics In the
''little world series" to be staged
in Washington early next month
if grim determination makes a
ball club one to be reckoned with
When they opened their secoad
Western invasion of the season
last week JohnSon'S charges were
just two and one-half games be-
hind the Mackian horde, and
despite setbacks in the Cleveland
series, the Nationals today are no
farther back of the leaders than
when they left home.
A chance to pick up more than the
half game they did on the Athletics
Monday taken from them by the Cleve-
land club management that refused to
stage a game though weather conditions
for once were good, the Nationals yes
terday romped to victory over the
Tigers in the first part of double-bill
here then battled brilliantly into over
time for Second-part decision.
All this in Detroit while the Mack
men did nothing more than share a
twin sketch with the Browns in st.
ing outfit that the Nationals are in
this fight to stay. Keyed to an even
higher pitch than was the Harris-led
club of 1924 that got Washington its
first American League pennant, this
present lot of Nationals comedies moth
ing on the ball field.
The way they are clinging to the
coat tails of the fast-moving AS has
the base ball world agog. And 1t doesn't
seem possible that the AS can increase
their gait enough to shake OF this
grirnly determined Washington aggrega-
ton.
Picking up that first game yester-
day was easy for the Nationals. collect
ing 18 safeties off Hoyt. Herring and
Sullivan, the johnson band won, 10 to
g. The game was sewed UP in the sixth
inning when Hoyt was driven from the
hill during a seven-ait attack that net
ted runs. Bcb Burke opened fire for
the Mats. but gave way to Bump Had
ley with none out in the seventh. Bob
was found for six of the Tigers nine
hits and all their runs.
It took superpitching by Fred Mar
berry to beat the Tigers in the second
engagement. for George Uhle, who
turned back Johnson's charges in an
thinning fray in Washington not so
long ago. again was puzzle. Not until
the tenth round did he break, and
then the Nationals went out to win,
4 to 0.
Marberry, starting a game for the
first time since May is, when he was
driven off the slab by the Browns in
st. Louis, displayed plenty Of pitching
skill and a fine courage against the
Tigers. Three times they threatened
to blast him from the hill, but he
fought on doggedly and singled in the
tenth to pave the way to the winning
rally. Then in running to first Fred
twisted that left leg he hurt in New
York some time ago and had to retire,
so Carl Fischer hurled the last round
against the Tigers.
Marberry's leg hurt is but slight, 80
he'll be on the mound again soon.
off Marberry the Tigers collected
~ seven hits, clustering two in the
fifth to make the going bit
rough for him for the first time In the
game. Alexander singled, only to be
forced out, but after Koenig had lofted
out, Brewer got his second hit of the
game, single that sent Stone to third,
then stole second. Here Marberry tight
ened and famed Grabowski
Fred purpoSely passed batter to I'LL
the bases in the eighth with only one
out and did the same thing In the
ninth, then got out of difficulty. Brow
er who had made his third single, and
Grabowski, who had blinted and made
first when Marberry threw too late for
a force-out at second, were on in the
eighth when johnson was Intentionally
franked. Here Walker lined right at
Kuhel, and Joe merely had to step of
first base to complete side-retiring
double play.
One was out in the ninth when Alex
ender singled and went to third as Stone
hit for base. This time Marberry
handed Koenig free ticket to first.
Looking for more speed on the runway,
Manager Harris sent in N1cManus to
run for Alexander and Manager john
son, Tightening his defense, withdrew
Harris from right field and sent Harry
Rice to that pasture. The defensive
move proved unnecessary for Brewer
famed and Grabowski forced out
Koenig.
Over the regulation stretch the Ma
they punched three with an trror by
Brewer to pile up scores in the tenth.
Marberry singled with one out and
gave way to pinch-runner Sam Rice.
Myers double moved Sam to third then,
trying the washington strategy, Uhle
walked Manush to crowd the sacks and
look for plays at the plate. But
Cronin sent long fly to Stone in left
TO get Sam Rice home, then after
Harry Rice walked a single by West |
tailed two more and a tumble by Brewer |
let in the fourth run.
Fischer, in the tenth, yielded but one |
hit, single by Walker after two were |
out.
TN 4I1a 6ret y>ark - 49, &~-.a,. H.,i1 A..
4 Nationals started their counting in |
the third inning, then picking up a |
run with two dinky hits and a sound |
one. West topped pitch down the |
third-base line for single and Bluege |
beat out a bunt to Hoyt. Kuhal's liner |
to right tailed West.
Seven successive hits after one was |
out netted the johnson band six mark |
ers in the sixth Spencer, Burke and |
Iyer singled with Spencer crossing;
Manush's double scored Burke and
Cronin's one-baser showed over two |
more runs. Harris doubled to count |
Cronin and chase Hoyt from the slab.
Dave, who had taken third on the |
throw to the plate that failed to nab |
Cronin, got home when West greeted |
Relief pitcher Herring with a single. |
Then the Tigers crashed the scoring
Hayworth, Herring and Walker |
reached Burke In the sixth for doubles |
that meant two markers. 'Alexander's |
walk and Stones single in the seventh |
brought Hadley to Burke'S rescue. After |
Bump got two out Hayworth singled |
over third and last home side run.
Cronin got pass OF Sullivan, third |
Tiger hurler, to open the Washington
eighth and following Harris sacrifice /
and Vests infield erasure stole home
rs Bluege swung for q second strike.
Kulael opened the Nationals ninth
with his third homer of the season, .
drive into the bleachers back Of right