Evening star., 1935-07-26
SQUAD WEAKENED
BY MANY INJURIES
Series With Loop Leaders
Holds Little Hope of
Success for Mats.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.
n YEW YORK, July 26.-From out
M of the inky depths of the
VI American League, Bucky Har-
4 ' ris' hapless Nationals today
find themselves blinking in the base
ball spotlight, principals, overnight,
in the American League diamond
drama.
They are not overjoyed, however,
by their new Importance in the base
ball sun. Whipped in OF IL games
this season by the Yankees, even
when full strength was available, the
Griffs face the extremely unpleasant
prospect Of playing martyrs as they
open a three-game series with the
league leaders today In crippled con-
dition.
For one thing, they must face the
Yanks with only pair of young and
inexperienced Gathers to bear the
brunt of what hurting the Nationals
will receive during the current set.
Cliff Bottoms sore toe still is too
painful to permit anything more
strenuous during the New York series
than pinch hitting, thus leaving the
Washington catching up to Jack
Redmond and Sam Holbrook.
Kress Opens at Short.
EQUALLY as distressing from
Washington viewpoint is the
prospect of going through this all
important set without the services OF
Cecil Travis, hard-hitting young third
baseman. Pulling the muscles of a
leg early In the week, Travis barely
is able to navigate through batting
practice. This necessitates an infleld
shift, in which batting power, at
least, probably will be sacrificed:
Ossie Bluege, veteran shortstop
was to start the series on third base,
with Red Kress playing short.
To top it all off a big question
mark hangs over the head of Jake
Powell, crack centerf1elder. Stricken
with another attack of severe muscle
cramps in the legs Wednesday against
Cleveland, the young outfield star is
available for duty against the Goth
amites, but it will be with some mis-
givings that Manager Harris sends
him into action.
Usually Powell is given several days
of rest after one of his singular at
tacks, but so important is this Yankee
set, at least to New York and other
clubs in the circuit, that Harris was
expected to start Powell, although
this only increases the chances for
more trouble in Jake's underpinning.
Griffs' Invasion Welcomed.
HERE the arrival of the Washing
l. tons is welcomed. With their
team crippled and a record of four
consecutive defeats behind them, the
Nationals are looked upon as potential
soft pickings for the desperate Yam
KEGS, whose once big lead has been
whitfield down by the oncoming Tigers
to .0004.
While the Tigers are battling the
improved Indians in Cleveland, gain
for the Yanks generally is predicted.
AS they go into today's game the
New Yorkers actually trail the De-
troits by half a game, although they
lead the loop in percentages, .6071 to
.6067.
Yesterdays shower, which prompted
President Clark Griffith to call of the
final game with Cleveland at Wash
lngton, has caused shift in Manager
Harris pitching program in the Yank
series. Ed Linke, instead Of Buck
Newsom, was to open today, while
Newsom will be sent against the Yanks
tomorrow.
To wind up the set Sunday, Harris
will send Earl Whitehill to the slab.
Some Hope for Griffs Held.
DOTH Harris and Griffith hold out
some hope for the series, in spite
Of the long odds against them. Linke,
batted out of the box when he started
against the Indians earlier in the
week, is the perfect type of hurler to
whip the Yanks, it is claimed, since he
perfected his knuckle ball.
! New York is murderous club to
fast-ball pitchers and if Linke can
control his knuckle ball and augment
1t with curve and an occasional fast
ball, Manager Harris believes he will
make trouble for the leaders.
I Newsom, while essentially fast
ball pitcher, will be ordered to go easy
On his speed. Whitehill's large-break-
ing curve always has given the Yanks
trouble.