Evening star., 1932-07-22

year > AllltIlCdu LedSue
/ race is no easy job. Not for
the Nationals, anyway. Al
though they took II of 18 games
played during the Western clubs
second invasion of Griffith Sta
dunn this season, there was no
real advance in standing by john
sons charges.
On July 7, before entering the
twin bill with the Indians, the
Nationals were in fourth place
and three games back of second.
And that's how they are situated
today.
The Nationals bolstered their WIN
ming percentage by 13 points while the
Wosterncrs were here, but the Athletics
played at such fast pace and the
indians stepped along so well the past
two weeks that the Washington clubs
GIL stride over the same stretch got no
Improvement so far as standing is con-
Cerned.
Two of the four recent series with
the WeSternerS were lost by the Ma
tionals, but two were swept, so for the
1lSL UlIlle tIlS SettSOil III StA 4IlS VI
brushes with the outfits of the inland
sector Johnson's charges got better than
an even break.
Playing the WeSternerS here in May,
the Nationals won five and lost five.
Playing the same lot out West last
month, the Nationals won eight games
and lost eight.
So the IL won and lost record for
this last stand against the West, even
though it brought no position boost,
is no mean one for the Nationals.
WITH all that fine playing against
w the Westerners in the recent
stand against them, the Nationals
did not get back to fourth place until
yesterday, when they trimmed the
Tigers, 5 to f. And they again became
only three games out of second place,
because the Browns, after losing II in
a row, turned and WallOped the Ath-
letiCS.
In the current series in Griffith Sta
dunn the Nationals have an opportu-
nifty to do some gaining, for today and
tomorrow they play the second-place
Athletics.
Johnson's charges must improve their
punch, however, before they may eX-
pect to do much ground-gaining IN the
. race. Their greatest batting splurge OF
the season that got them nine cOnSecu-
tive wins faded when the victory string
was snapped last Monday, and since
there has been no spark in attack.
During the battling yesterday, the
Nationals collected just nine hits off
WhitloW Wyatt, exactly the number
the Tigers got off Monte Weaver. The
Tigers slapped for distance, though,
While the Nationals were fortunate in
that two Detroit errors meant runs.
But win with unearned runs counts
as much as any other in base ball is
how the Washington bail players re-
gard yesterdays triumph.
WITH that victory over the Tigers,
wv Weaver became the leading pitcher
OF the Nationals staff. Monte
now has a record OF IA wins and
losses to be just ahead of Lloyd Brown.
1t also was the fifth victory in row
for base balls greatest mathematician.
Weaver started poorly yesterday for
the Tigers got to HIM for trio of runs
in the opening inning. But thereafter
he limited the Harris horde to five
Safeties and not until the Nationals
had done all their scoring could the
Tigers count again. Monte issued only
one pass and it did not figure in the
making Of an alien score.
Wyatt had two poor innings in each
of which the Nationals combed him for
three hits and two runs. Outside OF
those he was pretty much puzzle to
the home side batters.
Among those hitting Wyatt was
Manush and the single Heinie got in
the fifth inning ran to 20 the consecu--
tive games in which he has batted
safely.
EOUR hits, three of them doubles,
L got the Tigers healthy lead. Davis
tailed when Gehringer lifted a double
over Vests head. Weaver then got
two out, but Walker doubled to score
Gehringer and Rhiel followed with an
other two-bagger to make the inning
total three runs.
The Nationals did their first scoring
in the second session without a hit.
One was out when West lofted to left.
Stone sauntered back to get the ball
in his hands. only to drop It for
three-base error. West taIhed as
Bluege was thrown out.
In the fourth the Nationals pulled
up to even terms with the Tigers.
Cronin singled and took third when
West hit for a base after Kuhel skied
out. West attempted to steal second,
but was turned back and trapped by
Ruels throw to Gehringer. The Sec
ond baseman tried to run down West,
but finally threw to Davis. Had the
first baseman held the ball Sam would
have been a goner AS this occurred,
Cronin got to the plate, and after
Bluege was hit by pitched ball Bergs
scratchy single scored West.
Singles by Manush, Cronin and West
with Kuhel's long fly following the first
two earned two tallies for the Ma
tionals in the fifth. so the run the
Tigers got from Ruel's triple and
Wyatt's infield eraSure in the seventh
only made the game close.
a MONG those present as the Ma
n tionals won to regain fourth place
was William Harridge. president of
the American League. he came to
Washington to talk over some league
affairs with Griffith and also to do
SCme umpire inspecting. Weaver
pitched six strike outs. Davis and
Stone were his pet victims, each be-
ing struck out twice. Walker, after
dashing from center also to the short
field to get Kuhels high one in the
seventh, made a smart play. he i'm
mediately heaved the ball to the third
baseman and Manush trapped off the
far corner was shared for a double
play 1t still was Rice day yesterday
for Sam Rice. he got another present,
a new model shotgun given by the Ma
tional Rifle Association. Ladies day
today. with Crowder pitching against
the AS.