Evening star., 1936-06-02
FINE CHANCE SEEN
|NSTANDA HOME
Harrismen Shine Here, but
Need to Brace Against
Top Division Clubs.
by FRANCIS E. STAN.

ICKING up the tnread OF CIleH
American League campaigning
on home turf today, the Ma
l. tionals once more find oppor-
tunity knocking at their club house
door. Advantageously placed in the
remnant race despite their ups ana
downs. the Harrismen, in opening
ls-same stand at Griffith Stadium,
hardly seem able to miss a climb into
the first division if they have half as
much on the ball as their more optl-
mistic followers are inclined to believe.
AS they squared off against the
Browns today in the opener OF
three-game series, WaShingtons dia-
mond forces we're resting in fifth place
with a 500 record for A games. A
game and a half ahead Of the Ma
tionals are the Detroit Tigers, VINO
fail to bear the earmarks of cham
pions able to repeat The Indians, in
third place, are only three and one
half games ahead of the home side
despite a five-game winning streak.
While the Griffs are entertaining
the Browns during the next coupe OF
days, the Tigers will be in Phlladel-
phia and the Indians will be plying
their wares in Boston. If the Nationals
cannot make headway during the cur
rent series, they at least will have
plenty of opportunity Immediately
thereafter, for a schedule that seems
to give Washington all the best OF 1t
calls for Detroit to follow st. Louis
into Griffith Stadium and Cleveland
to move in next. The White Sox, only
club to play as many as four games
here, will wind up the home stand on
June IA.
Easy for First Division Clubs.
GO FAR, in looking back over the
~ fortunes of the Nationals, only one
thoroughly discordant note is struck.
The Harrismen must be given credit
for maintaining a 500 percentage
during the trying first month and a
half of play, but in achieving this
measure of success they have not
done their share toward making the
paths of the acknowledged contenders
any harder.
The pair of black eyes hung onto
the Nationals last Saturday by the
Yankees was something to think
about, inasmuch as it marked the
fifth and sixth consecutive victories
for the New York club over the Griffs.
The Washingtons have won two out OF
eight games from the Yanks and they
were recorded during the first two
days of play.
With the Red Sox a better record
has been compiled, but it has been
nothing outstanding. The Nationals
and Bostons have broken even in 10
games. Against Cleveland the Griffs
have dropped three out of five games
and against the Tigers the home side
has lost four of six,
Bluntly, Washington hasn't been
able to lick first-division teams.
Briefly, the Nationals have won only
II games from the leading quartet
and have dropped 18 for .379 pace
AS, Browns Soft Pickings.
ITO NULLIFY this series of defeats
L the Nationals have done well
against the other second-division
clubs. but those victories, while well
come, do not serve to boost the Griffs'
stock for the forthcoming hand-to-
hand battles with the Tigers and In
dians. If it's only the second division
club that is to be beaten regularly by
the Nationals, then Bucky Harris band
may as we'll acclimate itself to It's
present f1fth-place surroundings.
The Athletics have helped the Ma
tionals more than any other bunch OF
ball players to achieve their current
position. In eight games this year
the Philadelphia entry has been able
to win only once And then the Wash
tnetons had to kick the decision
away.
The Browns, now the guests OF the
Griffs, have been met and defeated
four times this year. The only other
second-division club, Chicago, has
beaten Washington in all three meet
tngs, but despite these setbacks the
Griffs are able to show II wins in
IS games against the second flight
of American League entries, for per-
Centage of 1888.
The habit of losing to first-division
clubs. however, is something the Har-
rismen may get out of their system.
The Washington club looks to be too
strong a team to consistently lose to
the Yanks, Red Sox, Indians and tt
gers and during the current home
stand it may find remedy.
The Nationals haven't exactly
burned up the league while playing
at home, but, at that, they've been
better in Griffith Stadium than on
the road. At home Washington has
played ST. ball, with IL wins and 9
defeats. Away the Griffs have won
In and drnnnad Ia for A2s clin