Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-14
KERR, HITTING .3l4,
AN ASSET TO CLUB
Fine Form Shown by Sub
stitute May Delay Return
of Joe CrOnin.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

ut. LOUIS, June 14.-This year
the West is the hot spot of
~ the American League and
the Nationals, already Sc
verely scorched since invading
this sector of the circuit, are
about to leap from the frying
pan into the fire.
Through with the sizzling
Browns today, Johnson'S charges
will move on to Detroit where to-
morrow they are scheduled to
begin series with one of the
hottest numbers out this way, the
flaming Tigers.
-Four games in five days-therel be
no fitting Friday unless rain necessi-
tates postponement of an earlier sched-
uled engagement-are listed with the
outfit piloted by Bucky Harris, the man
who led the Nationals to two American
League pennants and world cham
pionship.
This set Of contests ought to provide
plenty for the johnson band to do.
Although the Tigers we're trimmed in
the two games they played in Washing
ton last month they are man-eaters
these days and prepared to put up
grand fight against any crowd that
tackles them.
MANAGER JOHNSON will have all
lNl eight of his hurlerS in readiness
for the battling Bengals, and very
likely he will need the entire lot. too.
The Washington field general also will
have in trim for service his regular
short fielder, Joe Cronin. Joe may not
be sent into action regularly for a
day or so. however. as his understudy,
Johnny Kerr. has been going great guns
the past week.
Not only has Kerr played sparkling
game at short, but he also has been
great help to his club in offense. In
nine games Johnny has batted at .3l4
clip. well above most of the other Ma
tionals. His hitting has been timely,
too. He has driven across seven runs
in addition to scoring five. A good man
In the lineup right now.
Greatly discounted in the early pen
nant-race calculation. the Browns have
made themselves a club to be reckoned
with in the figuring on the flag chase
Recently they have moved along faster
than any other club in the league, hay
ing won 10 of their last Il games.
At last Manager Killefer appears to
have put together formidable club.
At the third base only are the Browns
wabbly. Neither Storti nor Grimes
measures up to the standard set by the
remainder Of the outfit.
THESE Browns certainly have been
i plain poison to the Nationals. In
seven tits they have trimmed the
Johnson band six times, which puts
them five up on the club representing
the National Capital. Given four of
those six games dropped to the Killefer
crew, Manager Johnson's ambitious
athletes today would be right on the
heels of the leading Yankees. 1t was
the Browns who first put the skids I'M
Ger the Nationals this season. Before
the st. Louis club was encountered the
Washington club had played 1872 base
ball. 1t had won 10 games and lost but
five. Then came May Is and the four
game series with the Browns in Wash
ington
Those four games were lost by john
sons men. and they never have re-
covered their winning ways. From May
Is on the Nationals have played at a
mere 4l9 pace. They have dropped 18
of their last 81 engagements.
However, five other clubs which today
are prominent factors in the struggle
for the championship streamer have
run into rough spots during the past
four weeks. so there still is lot of hope
for the Nationals
THIS morning the Nationals were to
i have their eight-man pitching staff
"all present and accounted for
Al Thomas. recent purchase from
the White Sox. was to report to Man.
ager johnson Because of words
that passed between them during Sum-
days fitting Al Schacht. Griff coach,
and Carl Fischer, erstwhile Washington
hurler now with the Browns, were ex-
pected to do some fist f1inging The
boys haven't entered the ring yet
The left-handed Walter Stewart again
Is bad medicine for the Nationals
In two of his three starts against them
he has pitched Is scoreless innings, al
lowing but seven safeties :. He wasn't
so good in a washington start. though
when he tried to come back with only
two days Of rest :. Weaver is likely to
open fire for the johnson band tomor-
row against the Tigers in Detroit.