Evening star., 1934-06-19

~ I blowing hot one day,
w cold the next, not So
long ago, a much-wor-
ried Joe Cronin was only hope
full that they would stick near
enough to the heels of the for
ward runners in the race to be
in good position to drive toward
the front when an opportunity
came along.
The Nationals have done as
their pilot hoped they would do
and in the next four days their
opportunity to haul down one
of the hottest clubs in the Amer
ican League will be at hand.
Tomorrow the Tigers are coming in
for five-game series that will wind
up with twin sketch Saturday, pro-
vided play runs according to schedule,
and at present it looks as though the
set will afford the Nationals a great
shot at second place at least in the
rabid pennant race.
Only two and half games back of
the pace-setting Yankees this morn
ing, the Nationals were apt to be in
itors after finishing with the double
header winding up the set with the
Indians.
Crowder to Hurl Opener.
S THE Nationals go into the
n tussel with the Detroit outfit,
Manager Cronin will gamble
with his pitching. He will send to the
hill for tomorrow's engagement Al
Crowder. The Highlander who in
each of the past two seasons scored
20 victories has yet to prove his hurl-
ing ability this time. But the Gen
Stabbed fine game against the Tigers
in Detroit last month and Cronin has
an idea the veteran can repeat.
Cronin has great respect for this
Tiger crew, under the guidance of
Mickey Cochrane. He realizes there
is spirit and hustle in the Detroit ag-
gregation. There has to be- for this
is the first time in more than decade
that the Tigers have been as high in
the league standings so far into the
campaign.
With the Nationals going along at
such a pleasing pace these days, how
the Tigers will be beneficial to his
club. If his pitchers can stop Geh-
ringer, Goslin and Cochrane-and he
has faith in his curving corps - the
young manager feels certain the Ma
tionals will finish on the better end
Of the set.
Stopping Cochrane at bat may not
be so difhcult But stopping Gehring-
er and Goslin is something else.
Gehringer was no great problem for
the Washington pitchers the last time
they encountered the Tigers, but
since this great second-sacker has
matched his fielding with his batting
He is near the top of the majors these
too. Is keyed to a high pitch at the
plate. Not only hitting in high gear,
but also hitting when hits mean runs.
Has Faith in Pitching.
CRONIN is confident he has the
pitching these days to battle
the Tigers, however. After
flinging Crowder at them tomorrow,
he will have in line Al Thomas and
Bob Burke. The southpawing Burke
trimmed the battling Bengals with
ease in Detroit last month. And for
the double header Saturday, the
Washington manager will have at
hand Monte Weaver and Walter
Stewart, the pair that was to face
the Indians this afternoon AS they
have gone recently, sturdy pitching
parade.
Excepting Dave Harris. the Nation
ais will go into the series in great
shape Harris will be available for
batting in emergencies, but not for
service afield. In last Saturdays dou-
ble-header he did more damage to a
leg that already was severely charley
horsed. So Jack Stone will have to
take care OF right field even though
the Tigers fire a fork-handed hurler
at the Washington club.
Stone has been in a serious hitting
slump, slump that has dragged him
below the 800 mark. But his slip at
bat has not affected his fielding at
all as such slip often does with a
player afield. All told. the Nationals
are In pretty good condition for the
trying series. They'll have no alibis
If they fail to take the Tigers.