Evening star., 1932-07-18

1 \ depths, the Nationals this
week have a great chance
to better themselves.
So established in fourth posi-
ton are Johnson'S charges that
the Tigers, present guests in Grif-
fifth Stadium, can pull them back
only by taking at, least four of the
five games of the series that was
to get under way with a double
header this afternoon.
And the last two days of the
week the Nationals will carry
their fight for advancement to
the Athletics, present occupants
of the third berth in the American
League.
A spirited stand against the Tigers
and the Nationals would have a glori-
Gus opportunity to overhaul Mack's
minions The AS now are so slightly
ahead of the Washington club that a
game against them and game for the
latter would mean an exchange Of po-
sitions.
This is the week in which the Ma
tionals might help themselves greatly.
A continuation of the fine play that
has marked their last nine games
would start them on their second in
yasion of the West no worse than
third-and perhaps runners-up to the
league leading Yankees.
NINE straight now after that 9-to-2
~ triumph over the Browns in the
Sunday tussling in the Georgia
avenue ball yard. That consecutive
win record ties the league mark for
the season. The Indians established
it early in the campaigning and
the Yankees matched it in their first
home stand against the Western con-
tingent.
Oddly, the Nationals haven't had
such classy pitching to tie the league
record for consecutive wins. In just
five of the nine games has the start
ing Washington hurler been able to go
a route In other respects, however,
the Nationals defense has been superb.
Hard hitting, though. has marked the
winning streak In the last nine en-
stung the opposing pitching for 130
hits. 1t has averaged at bat $3.50. And
this savage attack has resulted in the
scoring of SO runs during the string
of victories.
The Nationals have flashed more
power in attack than at any other
time this season. And their hitting has
been done at the expense of some OF
the star pitchers of the circuit, too.
TN the series ended yesterday. the
/ Nationals got sweet revenge for the
treatment accorded them by the
Visited Grifith stadium this year, the
st. Louis pests took all four tits OF
the set. They had to battle desperately
to take the first two games, but made
the Nationals look silly in the next two.
This time it was the Nationals all the
way
Nothing the Browns sent against the
Nationals in a pitching way proved
effective and the st. Louis batters who
were so effective here in May found
in the second invasion of the Wash
ington ball yard lot of hurting they
didn't relish
Such batters as Goslin. Schultz,
Campbell and Levey were subdued re-
peatedly at critical moments. They
were thrown about everything they
didr<t like-and made to like it.
The Browns still have quite an edge
over the Nationals for the season bat
Ting. They have won seven of the
dozen games played with the johnson
band. But they aren't that good. They
never were, even though they looked
so. And they should be trailing the
Nationals plenty when the campaigning
ends.
TWO Jinxes we're laid low Yesterday
i by the Nationals. In beating the
Browns that had drubbed them so
severely before this last series John
sons charges also took the measure
of Walter Stewart. one of their pet
aversions. The left-handed Stewart
had licked them twice before this sea-
son, but in the series wind-up yester-
day he was mark for them.
They gathered 10 hits and passes
off him and had the game in hand
before the second inning was over
Kuhel and Myer, left-hand hitters, and
Harris, right-hand swinger, were the
batterS to punish Stewart severely.
Kuhel helped himself to a double and
single, Myer to triple. double and
single and Harris to a home run and
single. The trio scored runs and
between them Kuhel and Harris drove
across g.
Monte Weaver opened fire for the
Nationals, but the heat must have af-
fected him. He was wabbly from the
outset. He gave up only three hits, but
he granted seven passes. He yielded
three walks in the sixth when a double
play got him out of trouble. but after
walking Stewart at the start of the
seventh Monte was yanked and Fred
Marberry went in to finish the game.
Fred allowed five hits and twice dou-
ble-plays helped him.
THREE runs were made by the Ma
l. tionals in the second session when
two Of Stewards passes and Berg's
single crowded the sacks. Kuhel dou-
bled to send over the scores. With four
singles the Nationals got two more tai
lies in the fifth. In the seventh after |
ush registered both with a single, then |
Harris lofted his fifth homer of the sea-
son into the sun parlor back of left.
The Browns did their tallying in the
third and eighth rounds. Harris's fun
BILE of fly, walk, an infield eraSure
and an outfield loft accounted for the
score in the hitless third. In the
eighth, Goslin's double and Scharein's
single off Marberry with Manush's FUN
bic of a liner sandwiched between
meant run.
After two were out in the ninth the
Browns, with two singles and pass
crowded the sacks, but Bengough drill
ed into a forced out.
West, in the second inning. made one
of the finest catches ever seen in Grit
fifth Stadium with Farrel on first
base as a result Of a pass, Melillo hit
the ball far over the centerfielder's
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