Evening star., 1933-05-29
MUST TAKE SERIES
. TO GAIN TOP BERTH
Fighting New York Outfit to
Open Play in Double Bill !.
Tomorrow.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

n be helped by the occasional
n mauling of the Yankees by
other clubs, the Nationals
tomorrow will be strictly on their
own in efforts to narrow the gap
between themselves and the
league leaders.
For about the 'steenth time this
season Clark Grifith's hirelings
will have a grand opportunity to
close in on the front-running out
fit as they encounter McCarthy's
larruping legion in a Memorial
day double-header here.
A double win in tomorrow's twin
sketch due to get under way at 1:30
o'clock wouldn't get the Nationals a
tie so far as percentage points are con-
cerned, but it would make them even
with the Yankees on games-won-and
lost basis and afford them a chance to
assume the league leadership by win
ming Wednesday in the series finale.
While the Nationals still will have IA
games with the New Workers after
this weeks three-game set, it might be
a good thing for them to get the edge
on their great rivals in the impending
series. Heartened by their remarkable
winning rally Saturday, the Yanks car
ried on yesterday to mop up with the
White SoX in bargain bill and unless
they get really severe setback here
they're likely to maintain a dazzling
pace for some time.
On the other hand, success in the
series should serve to inspire the Ma
tionals to greater effort, changing them
from the unsteady aggregation they
have been to a brilliant, battling band
their makeup indicates they ought to
be.
MCCARTHY will have his Yankees
1V1 here in full force. He will send
against the Nationals the same lineup
they have defeated in four of five
games. But these Yanks may have a
trifle more punch this time than before,
and they were no weaklings at bat in
the April encounters. At last the great
Babe Ruth seems to be swinging into
true hitting stride and in that the big
fellow is bad news to any pitcher he
faces.
The Bambino cracked his seventh,
eighth and ninth home runs of the
season yesterday and these long hits
provided the Yanks' victory margins
in the two tussleS with the White Sox,
Ruth wasn't meeting the ball very
well when the Yankees played here be-
fore and wasn't so good when the Ma
tionals invaded New York, but he'll
bear watching-and a lot of it-this
time.
The Yankees have just finished their
home stand against the Western clubs
with a record Of eight victories against
three defeats. They reeled off three
successive wins to conclude the stand.
With the Nationals, Athletics and
White Sox pressing them, they stoutly
defended their laurels
It'll be desperately fighting band
of Yankees the Nationals will face this
time.
WHILE feeling between Yankees and
wv Nationals still runs high, there is
little likelihood Of another fare
up between the players of the clubs
such as that. in Griffith Stadium on
April 25, when Buddy Myer and Earl
Whitehill of the Nationals and Ben
Chapman. Vernon Gomez and Dixie
Walker Of the Yanks were involved in
rumpus that narrowly missed becom-
ing free-for all. The BOYS will be
watched closely by the officials of the
game in this series. and at the first
threat of trouble the offending athlete
will be bounced from the ball yard.
Both Myer and Chapman will be in
the series, but the umpires will be look
ing carefully at plays at second base.
FTnO nl1ph flashing Nf cniRnc hu tho
speedy New York base runner prob
ably will draw warning from the
arbiter on the runway. They'll be
watching Heinie Manush, too, who some
clubs allege is trif1e too rough in his
progress around the base paths.
And the umpires will be looking over
the play of the Nationals in general
Bill Harridge, president Of the Amer
lean League, has an idea the Washing
ton players have been a bit too rowdy
in their tactics and he is out to curb
them through his officials on the field
With such strict supervision, the heat
Of battle will not be apt to have the
contestants giving vent to their feelings
by other than dirty looks.
MANAGER JOE CRoNIN has said
1V1 he will send to the pitching peak
for tomorrows double-header the
left-handed Whitehill and the right
handed Al Crowder A full-route win
has been scored over the Yanks by the
southpaw. The right-hander has
victory over them to his credit. but he
got in while filling relief role.
Russell Van Alta, the young left
handler who easily beat the Nationals
here the day of the battle of Griffith
Stadium. probably will be one of the
Yankee starters. Charley Ruff1ng, right
handler, may be orGered to the hill by
Manager Mccarthy even though he
worked nearly three innings yesterday
as a relieVer.
For the Wednesday game. the Ma
ti0nals will have in line Monte Weaver.
The professor took the measure of the
L.. L..