Evening star., 1932-09-05

Only five games back OF the
second place Athletics,
Johnson's charges now have ideas
of carrying on to the runner-up
position in the American League
race.
Having won IA of their last 20
games in scoring over the AS yes
terday in an 8-to-6 encounter, the
Nationals have high hopes of fin
ishing the campaign in a place
better than they now occupy.
The Nationals have but % games re-
manning on their schedule and 19 are
to be played on foreign fields. On past
performances away from home, the
Washington club might expect to fare
indifferently the rest of the way. AS 1t
has been going recently, though, it hopes
to score signally. A continuation of its
splendid squirt might easily gain the
second money.
The Nationals are hitting in timely
fashion. They are getting better than
average pitching What's more, the
club is, and always has been, good
enough to make headway.
In the swing around the West, which
Is to get under way on Thursday, and
the visits to Boston and Philadelphia,
the Nationals will be fighting for some
thing well worth while to them. And
they have a fine chance to make the
grade.
NNE more win over the Athletics and
~ the Nationals will get an even
break with the club that has been
champion of the American League the
past three years. That victory yeSter-
day gave Johnson's charges an advan-
tage of 10 games to over the Mackian
horde and they still have three games
to play with the present second-place
outfit.
The clubs had to battle with the
weather gods to get to decision in the
Sunday tussling. The game had gone
into only the second portion Of the
third inning when rain which had
threatened to descend from the outset
of hostilities came pouring down and
an hour and "a minutes elapsed before
the fray could be resumed. The play
ing was done under a shower OF moiS
ture
The resumption Of the contest was
accomplished only after the AS pro-
tested vigorously, for they were trailing
by two runs when the Nationals came
up to complete their third batting turn.
The home side got another tally be-
fore the third session ended and when
the AS came up for their fourth trial
at bat they overlooked nothing in the
effort to stall.
The batter strolled from the Phila-
delphia bench to the plate and the sue
ceeding club-swinger did not take his
place in the circle as ordered by league
rule Then, too, there was much ty-
ing of already tied shoelaces and much
knocking of mud from spikes that were
unencumbered by mud by the Mack
batterS. 1t took a great time to get by
the fourth and fifth batting terms OF
the Philadelphia club to assure a. legal
contest under base ball regulations.
At the beginning of the battling the
"A opposing pitchers were the right
handed Alphonse Thomas Of the
Nationals and the diminutive left
handed Tony Freitas of the AS. Neither
lasted. In going three innings Thomas
developed a sore arm and had to turn
the game over to the recruit, Bill NC
Afee Freitas was bumped from the
box in the third, which let the vet
eran knuckle-baller, Ed Ronlmel, I'm
ish.
The Nationals were outhit by the
AS, IA safeties to IL. but three times
they clustered as many as four blows
in an inning to get runs. The AS were
off in the lead, but Johnson's charges
forged ahead in their first batting turn
and. after being matched in the third
round. they Immediately stepped out
to pound Freitas for the advantage
once more.
McAfee was whacked for half OF the
IA hits smacked by the AS, but only
in the eighth session was he mauled.
Then a homer driven over the right
field wall by Mickey Cochrane figured
in the making of three runs by the
visitors.
with Thomas pitching only three in
nings, the victory was McAfee's even
though his side was in the lead when
he assembled the hill.
TWO were out in the first frame be-
L fore the AS found the plate. Coch-
rane and Simmons singled and
Foxx walked to fill the bases. McNair
stepped into one of Thomas fast ones
for double and two runs crossed.
The Nationals came right back to get
three. Kuhel doubled and counted
when Bluege singled. Manush singled.
only to be forced out by Cronin, and
REYNOLDS fouled out, but a tWo-bagger
dropped OH the left field chalk line by
West scored Bluege and Cronin.
With Foxxs triple and Miller's single,
the AS tied the game in the third, but
the Nationals lost no time in getting
ahead again. Manush opened the home
third with a single and crossed as Gro
min tripled. Cronin tailed as Reynolds
went out, then West doubled and FTei-
tas was replaced by Rommel. Kerr pop
ned out. Then came the rain to bring
about more than an hours delay OF
proceedings. When the game was re-
sumed. Spencer singled to score west.
In the seventh. double by Kuhel,
Bluege's sacrifice, Cronin's second triple
of the day and single by Reynolds
meant two more markers.
It was we'll these runs crossed. for IN
their eighth turn the AS with Bishops
walk. Cochrane's homer. Foxxs stroll