Evening star., 1931-05-16

the early games of the
championship campaign, these
Nationals are proving world beat
erS at bat on their first Western
swing of the season. In the six
games played on this tour through
the Western sector up to today the
JohnSon-led band has Smacked
the ball for a cool average of .343,
which is high-class hitting whcth-
er at home or abroad at any time
of the flag chase
What Is more surprising is the power
the Nationals have displayed in their
punch since getting into this half of
the American League OF their 46 hits
made in 251 legal times at bat, % have
been for extra bases. The Washington
batsmen in the half dozen engagements
in this sector have socked ~ doubles,
2 triples and 2 homers. Some Wallop
Only twice have the Nationals failed
to bat into double figures in a game
They amasSed only nine hits in their
first game at Detroit, which they lost,
and in Cleveland on Thursday they
collected only nine safeties. They have
had two games in which they slammed
18 hits and two games in which they
garnered 16 hits.
Small wonder that since coming West
the Nationals have sprung their record
winning streak Of the campaign-five
games.
PARTICULARLY pleasing on this
trip is the Nationals success
against certain pitchers who for
Had lot -
them. At Cleveland two days ago they
disposed OF WeS Ferrell, who had stop
ped them cold for two successive sea-
sons, and here yesterday they over
came the left-handed Walter Stewart,
who had held q spell over them since
early in the 1929 campaign.
Perhaps much OF the magic these
hurlers worked upon the Washington
club was due mainly to the attitude of
the Washington players when they
went into games against them. It
seemed that merely the announcement
that FerTen or Stewart was to take the
hill for the opposition was enough to
Stcp the Nationals. Having overcome
this complex in decisive manner, John
sons charges may be expected TO re-
gard Ferrell or Stewart as simply an
other pitcher from this time on and 60
about their business accordingly.
TT was big eighth inning that chased
i the Stewart jinx yesterday in the
Nationa S first tussle of the year
with the Browns.
Up to that frame the Washington
club appeared hopelessly beaten. 1t
had been unable to do much with
Stewart outside the second inning when
1t stepped into two-run lead, and that
lead had been swept aside when Fred
Ia 49,
two batters up in the third inning, was
found for fVe successive safeties that
netted the Browns four tallies.
Especially CALLING was the fact that
1t was homer bounded of the roof
of the right-field bleachers by Goose
Gosiin, erstwhile National, with two
on the runway that put the Browns
ahead
When the Browns went on to an
other run in the fifth, with Goslin
again batting over the run, 1t seemed
the Nationals were through for the day.
It was after this hit, q single, that
Marberry gave way to Hadley.
Hadley stopped the Browns cold. only
two hits to raise their game total to
IL being cleaned OF him. One was
made at the start of the sixth ses-
sion and one after one was out in the
ninth. He looked as good yesterday as
he did the second day of the season
when he easily upset the world cham
pion Athletics.
TIP to the eighth inning the Ma
~ tionals garnered exactly seven
safetics of Stewart. In the eighth
they wlackcd him for six hits. all
singles. before he ga"c way 10 Chad
Kin1sey. When Stewart left the hill,
though, the Nationals had passed the
Browns
Sam Rice opened the eighth with
single and checked in At third when
MGnush hit for base Cronin's one
baser tailed Rice and put Manush at
the hot corner. West, vino had made
two hits, did nothing more than dribblc
the ban TO Third Bsseman Kress and
Manush was nailed ct the plate. Then
came trouble for Stewart and profit
for the Nationals.
Bluege beat out high bounder TO
Kress, filling the sacks. Here Manager
johnson lifted Jordan, subhing for the
injured Kuhel. Jordan had struck out
twice and once rolled to the second
baseman. He, a left-hand batter seem
ed mark for the left-handed Stewart
Up to the plate was sent the right
hand-hitting Harris. Dave picked one
10 his liking and sent 1t soaring toward
the bleachers back of right-center.
The runners tore away from their
ho5c PA44-N Ap ILiCd HdEk. IL
looked as though the high archer might
be caught by Jenkins, the Browns right
fielder. But the ball hit the bleacher
wall above jenkins head and Cronin
dashed home from third with a score
West, who had gone back TO tag sec
ond, headed for third and made it
easily, but there he pulled up. Bluege
after racing to second clung to that
sack Harris, figuring he had made
.cmething more than single, never
h27its ted at first base.
Jenkins, who recovered the ball
quickly, heaved it 10 Melillo standing
net 50 far back OF second base and
Es1gis was trapped on the runway.
Ncst quick 10 take advantage of the
tua ton, waited until Melilio started
his throw to FIRST Baseman Burns in
IN effort 10 get Harris then headed
f1r home. He crossed unnaolested with
the tying tally.
single b. Spencer scored Bluegs ami
chased Stewart. Kimsey the relief
pitcher, was Immediately hit by Hadley
for a single, and Spencer. who had
gone TO second when Melillo made a
wild throw trying TO head off Bluege
at the plate tailed.
The Nationals got another run they
didn't need in the ninth from two
singles and another error by Second
Easeman Melillo.
ZOE KUHEL get into the GENE 70,
two innings yesterday, despite his
injured knee. He went TO first base
after Harris batted so successfully fol
Jcrdsn in the eighth. Kuhel was not
expected 10 start today's game at thc