Evening star., 1933-07-06
FASTER HOME GAIT
DEMANDEDOF CLUB
Must Speed on Own Lot to
Offset Likely Rise of New
: Workers.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.


TLUSH with victory, the pen
r. nant-driving Nationals nev-
d i ertheleSs maintain a keen
sense of balance. They well
realize the continued existence of
the Yankee menace, despite any
disheartening effect that double
beating on July 4 may have had
on the New Workers.
At home for a long stand, the
Nationals understand they must
maintain swift pace to keep
their heads up in the flag quest,
for the Yanks, too, have long
stay in Yankee Stadium ahead
and they are well-nigh unbeat-
able on their own lot.
Through 16 days, starting Saturday,
the Nationals will do their pennant
bidding here, with a great opportunity
to get themselves far ahead of the
rest Of the pack in the championship
chase. They'll be meeting the same
clubs over which they swept to 13
victories In 16 games out West re-
Gently. 1t will be up to the Nationals
to play quite close to that pace. II
not equal it, in Grifith Stadium, it
appears, If they would stick around
the top.
The Yankees still have power-plus
and they also have a habit of moving
down the Western clubs when the lat
ter visit New York. Joe Mccarthy s
on its home lot this season. Four
Of those were dropped to the Nationals,
who have swept their battles In New
York, and two to the Browns. Five
American League outfits have been un-
able to crash through to victory in
Yankee Stadium in the current cam
paign.
The Yanks may reasonably be ex-
pected to carry on TO another fine rec
ord in their II games against the West.
That certainly puts it up to the Ma
tionals to move along this time at a
far faster gait than that Of .613,. which
has marked their play at home here
tofore.
A pennant may virtually be tucked
away by the Washington club this
month If it matches its play abroad
in the Griffith Stadium stand.
IN the impending invasion Of the
i Westerners, the Indians, the White
Sox, the Browns and the Tigers
will appear here in the order men
toned. The Browns are booked for
I'VE games, rain having prevented one
scheduled contest when they were here
in May. Each Of the other outfits
Is down for four engagements. WASH
1ngton fandom should get a wealth Of
entertainment out Of this program,
When they were here In May, the In
d1anS and the Browns were beSted by
the Nationals. The Indians gave the
Cronin crew a real tussle before drop
ping two Of three games, but the
Browns were rather easily beaten in the
two tilts they played. The Tigers and
the White Sox produced much good
aggregations bagged two Of three games
put on. Since, the White Sox have
begged down and are not apt to be so
troublesome in Griffith Stadium this
time. But the Tigers showed plenty of
kick when the Nationals played them
last week in Detroit and right now are
the class of the West.
1t looks as though the Nationals as
they battle the West here this time
ought to fare far better than they did
in May. Most Of the Western clubs
have shot their bolts, while the Wash
ington club Is in full stride, playing
smart and aggressive base ball.
The Nationals, on their game at
home, should make rapid progress In
their pennant pursuit.
ITO maintain their edge, Grifdth's
i hands, after a day of relaxation,
were at Griffith Stadium this
morning for long batting and fielding
drill and are scheduled to go through
another tomorrow. For more than an
hour today, the players toiled under the
direction Of Coaches Altrock and
Schacht, assigned to the duty by Man.
ager Joe Cronin, who did his bit for the
American League in the Battle Of the
Century In Chicago today.
All hands should be in fine fettle for
the invasion of the WeSterners that will
begin Saturday with double-header