Evening star., 1932-04-17
CROWDER IS VICTIM
OF MACK|AN FLA|LS
Cramer, Simmons, Cochrane
Hit for Circuit-Grove
Shows Fine Form.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

i Athletics firing at long range
the Nationals today were
easily repulsed in their first eff
fort this season to storm the
citadel of their arch enemies.
The count against the johnson band
at the end of eight in
nings Of battling in wind-swept Shibe
Park was to 2 and circuit drives had
accounted for all but one of the league
champions tallies.
Doc Cramer, sent into the Mackian
lineup only Friday to replace the aging
Bing Miller in right field; Al Simmons,
the American Leagues batting ace and
generally plain poison to the Nationals,
and Mickey Cochrane smote the homers
In order. Each drive started an inning,
the powerful punches coming in the
second, fourth and seventh.
Crowder Mound Victim.
Gen. Al Crowder was the victim of
this long distance firing. In all he was
pounded for 10 safeties in his seven
sessions on the hill. Lloyd Brown fin
ished well after a pinch-batter had
eliminated Crowder. The General
started badly, but got out of a ticklish
spot in the first frame. Thereafter he
had only one really good round, the
third.
Strategy miscarrying in the sixth
inning accounted for the only Mack
marker not resulting from home run
smack. Then Crowder reSorted to a
pass to fill the sacks with one out. but
after registering a second retirement he
could not find the plate and forced a
run across.
The redoubtable Lefty Grove was on
the firing line for the AS and he made
q good job of it. After a first inning
double that an error converted into Il
run the Nationals never touched Lefty
again until the eighth. In their last
two turns against him they collected
five hits, three in the eighth when they
did their last scoring.
He had one wabbly frame, the fourth,
IN which he issued three passes. But
he got out Of that trouble neatly.
Both Crowder and Grove were in a
strikeout mood The General famed
six and Lefty seven. But Crowder had
no long-range artillery to help him
such as Grove had at hand.
Cramer Helps and Hurts.
Cramer helped the Nationals get
away to fair start, then put the AS
right back in the ball game The
rightfielder kicked Manush's double in
the first inning just enough to let Heine
reach third. The run crossed as West
was heaved out But Cramer opened
the home clubs second by blasting the
ball to deep center then racing around
the circuit to slide over the counting
block well ahead of Cronin's relay of
Vests return.
The AS had booted a scoring chance
In the first session, when Bishop
doubled and Haas got a single with
bunt as Crowder rolled over the turf.
The next three batters were stopped
cold by the General.
The Nationals also kicked a tallying
opportunity in the fourth, when they
drew three passes from Grove. The
third filled the sacks with two out and
Bluege's best was force-out Of Judge.
Simmons took full advantage of his
chance to get the AS ahead in the
same round. He stepped into one of
Crowder's pitches and sent the ball
soaring to the top of the left-field
stand for his second homer this season.
But Simmons was stopped when he
came up in the fifth, with Grove and
Cocnrane on the runway by virtue OF
singles-yes, Grove had lined one clean
ly to center. All Al could do was
force out Mickey to end the session.
Cramer Again in Picture.
A dinky hit by Cramer in the sixth
inning helped the AS toward their
third marker. After Foxx had whacked
q natty single, Cramer dropped the ball
In front of the plate and Spencer could
not get to it in time for a throw. Fol-
lowing Dykes sacrifice Boley was pur-
poSely passed. This crowded the sta
tions. but Grove obligingly famed.
Bishop didn't. Instead he went to a
three-and-two count, then walked to
force run over.
Cochrane caught the home-run fever
in the seventh and lined the ball over
the right-fleld barrier. 1t was his sec
ond four-baser of the young season.
That Washington run in the eighth
was a gift from the wind. Spencer sin
gled and Myer doubled, but Manush
famed for the second out. West also
seemed ready to strike out when he
popped the ball high toward third. The
brisk breeze waited the falling sphere
toward the plate with Dykes hot after
it. Jimmy got to the ball in front of
the block, tumbled as he grabbed it
and it rolled from his hands to let
SneHrpr'c rroscinO cOIIpt