Evening Star Newspaper, September 28, 1924, Page 59

SPORTS | / The Sunday Sta WASHINGTON, D. €, SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 28, 1924. Griffs Now Need But One Victory for Title : Giants Win National League Flag BEAT RED SOX TO REGAIN 92.GAME LEAD OVER YANKS Recruit Wade Lefler’s Pinch Hit dleafing Bases and Relief Hurling of Triumph Over the BY JOHN B Zachan"y Feature 7-t0-5 Fohlmen in Boston. B. KELLER. OSTON, September 27.—After 38 barren years in organized base ball Washington is on the verge of winning a championship. One more victory for the Nationals in the two games they have yet to play, or one more defeat for the New York Yankees in their pair of engage- ments with the Athletics in Philadelphia and above Clark Griffith Sladxu{n in the National Capital will flaunt the pennant, emblematic of the Ameri- can League championship of 1924 With their backs to the wall following their loss to the Red Sox here Friday, the Nationals today rallied gallantly :when their cause again was threatened and heat back the C carned carly by the Red Sox was rimson Hosed hoarde.. An advantage swept aside and the club piloted by Stanley Raymond Harris, serving his first term as a major league manager, carried on to a 7-to-5 triumph. The victory, scored as the Yankees, in a mad rus! i i iccessive pennant, were overthrown by the Mackmen, regained for the toward their fourth Nationals a two-game lead in the flag race with each of the two con- tenders having only a pair of engagements remaining. Tod: battle was indeed a des- Perate one. At the outset, the Na- tionals performed as real champions, but mediocre pitching lost them a first-inning lead that Howard Ehmke, premier hurler of the Red Sox, made difficult to regain. But what the N: at bat the reserve force did, and when poor pitching again threatened to rob the club of victo the reserve, drawn upon again. saved the day. Wade Lefler, recently recruited the club from Worcester of the League, and Jezebel Tecum- hary, veteran southpaw slab- man, pulled this game out of the fire for the Nationals. Lefler was called upon for his bit as a pinch batter in the fifth frame, when the club, two runs down to the ted Sox, had managed to fill the bases, but with two men out and Pitcher Fred Marberry, a weak bat- tef, due at the plate Wallop Scores Three Runx. The Iastern League draftec re- &ponded with a two-base crash past ke Boone to deep right field, driv- ing three Nationals to the scoring block. Lefler's hit put his club front never to be headed again In the fray. The Red Sox managed to tle the score in the same round, but that timely blow proved just the kick the Nationals needed to spur them on to success. Zachary's big part in the proceed- ings came in the eighth inning when the Fohlmen seemed about to spoil the afternoon for the pennant-hunt- Ing Harrismen. When Allen Russell lost control of his pitching and crowded the sacks with Crimson Hosed runners after two .had been retired prospects of a happy game- ending for the Nationals were not so bright It was Pitcher Ehmnke's turn to bat, | but Manager Harri tute hitter would plate. He had Walter Johnson warming up since the start of the inning, and when Manager Fohl sent Danny Clark~—a left-handed clubswinger of /consider- able ability in to bat, Harris called the southpaw Zachar\ to the slab. Much Strategy Employed. The Red Sox, anxious to make the Nationals play out the string and earn their victory that no cry of dishonest base ball be raised after the league champiouship rice is ended, had withdrawn from the base paths the slow Steve O'Neill, pient of Rus- sell's last pass, substituted Val Picinich, that there might be more speed on the runways in the event of & hit from the pinch batsman. And when Manager Harris brought Zach- ary t) the hill Clark was taken away from the plate and Howard Shanks. a right-handed batter, sent up to face the portsider. It seemed the irony of fate that Shanks, who had toiled faithfully for the Nationals for many seasons be- fore being traded to the Red #ox. should get the opportunity to snatch from the grasp of his former team- mates a victory in a game so impor- tant—perhaps keep from them a league champi hip. But Shanks at the plate, ready to substi- the and knew a e rushed to had Zachary took his stance win for Boston, though a win really meant nothing in the way of position to his team - Zachary, though his work tional much of a chance to over- throw the league leaders, He curved a strike across the piafe, then lieaved the ball in close to the bats- man. Shanks met the second pitch, but on the handle of his bat, and. it rolled to Roger Peckingpaugh at shortstop. an easy chance tor an easy out. Zachary had stepped futo the game in the crisis and virtually saved the day. A Nerve-Wracking Affair. The game was a nerve-wracking affair, with National pitchers gen- erally unable to aueil Red Sox bat- ters or even keep them-off the bakes when they could not hit, and the pennant aspirants in the early part of the struggle finding Ehmke a com- plete puzzle when an effective clout was needed. - Ehmke and George Mogridge, the latter a left-hander, were mound op- ponents at the outset of hostilities, but Mogridge's term on the slab was of brief duration. A two-run lead earned off Ehmke in the first frame was quickly swept aside by the Red Sox in their opening round against Mogridge. George, who has failed to last a game started by him- during the present trip, got through two- thirds of the inning with but one runner on, then lost his cunning al- together and the end of the session found the Red Sox a pair of tallies to the good. Fréd Marberry, young Texan, who has been a most valuable pitching as- set to the Nationals this season, checked the Red Sox during the next three innings, but Ehmke, following his poor getaway, was almost air- tight in his pitching in pinches in the meanwhile. The Boston ace did not keep men off the paths, but his slabbing was of such a fine order that seven Nationals were stranded on bases in the first four frames. Ehmke’s Slip Is Costly. Then came a break in Ehmke's work that paved the way to a Na. tional lead and incidentally brought about Marberry's retirement in favor of a substitute batsman. Allen Rus- sell followed Marberry and® was reached almost immediately for a ty- ing run. But Ehmke made a flelding slip in the sixth session that restored the Nationals to the lead, although he went on to pitch well through the eighth. Zachary and the venerable John Picus Quinn were pitching op- ponents in the final frame. was too clever in in | to afford the erstwhile Na- | \ | | LOST GRCUND REGAINED £l oS cecccomN~Eamnud Tideer 1a: | Bluege, 3b,.00. 710 Peckinpaugh, ss. | Ruel ; Mogridge. p. | Tater Lemmert .- 0. Russell, ‘p..". | Zachary, - ... | Totals . R ERTI T *Batted for Mogridge in tecond inning. tBatted for Marberry in Afth inning. | _BosToN, 4B. R H PO. Willims. of. 59 Wambsganss, Veach, 1f.. | Boono, el | T Harris, ib. | Ezell, “3b..... | Lee: ss. O'Neil, | Picinich, e feHiiuabusvbmnal | co0000mo0mmmmn? ssiniaesLsusnel ~ooooo~wsoOOwO P | " Llisaavesssaranst o 25, clarke ” | Shankst . Quina, p... | Totals . | *Batted for Ehmke in tBatted for Clark in eighth inning, | Washington..... 2 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0—7 Boston. -4 0001000 03 Two-base hits—Rice. Goslin. Leffler. | base hits—Judgoe, Booue. Stolen bases—Ezze (2). Les. Bacrifioe—Pockinpaugh. |y Hars to Judge. Left on Base— ashington, 8; Boston. 7. Bases on balls— | OF Mogridge, 1; off Marberry, I; off Russell, off Ehmke, 3. Struck out—By Mogridge, | s by, Marberry 1 by Ehmke 4. Hits—Off | Mogridge, 4 in 1 inning; off Russell, 2 in 2% | inmings; of Ebmke. 10 in 8 innings; off Mar. |beny. 2 in 2 inningy: of Zachary, 0 in 1% innings; off Quinn, -0 in 1 inning. Hit by | ritchar—By Eh luege. Ruel). Winning | pitchsr—Russell; losicg pitcher—Eimke. Um. piree—Messts, Owens and G-amolly. Time of | same—2 hours and 10 minutes. 8l omououmunmon: Zol Z ol cooccoommmeonro! @l ccocoomuwenom- 5l o & 3l cocccomonnuo! %l voowon~woroned |l coomooroonscol h ig] & E | during the aftérnoon. all at the ex- pense of Ehmke. Goose Goslin and Joe Judge led the attack, Eetting a two-bagger and three sin | gles in five trips to the plate to drive in a pair of runs in addition to scor- ing two, while Judge gleaned a triple and a brace of singics off the Hub moundsman. ' Eight bingles were re | the Red Sox, half off Mog opening inning. Marberry gave up |two, spread through two innings | while Russell had a pair clustered against him in the sixth. Six passes were handed the Red Sox, Russell | being the most generous of the Na- tional hurlers, while three Natlonals | were walked by Ehmke. The Boston | flinger also hit a couple of batsmen. | Grifis Play Well Afield. The Nationals plived well afield, although Goslin had an error charged against him when he allowed Denny Williams' single to slip by and gave the hitter an extra base In the sec- ond inning. The Red Sox fielding was not so good. Boons and Dudley Lee let fly balls drop. through their hands and Ehmke made a hectic heave that practically gave the Na- tionals two runs. There were no startling plays in the field, but Homer Ezzell, Red Sox third sacker, brightened the game with some stellar base running. With Dudley Lee he engineered a double steal while Mogridge made a slow ind up in the opening inning, and £lid to a score. In the third inning, while Marberry was on the mound | he pilfered third base neatly, sliding in well ahead of Muddy Ruel’s throw. The Nationals opened the game with a rush, shoving two runs across after the first two batters were re- tired. Sam Rice clouted to right field for two bases and Goslin poled a similar hiteto the same territory to d.ore his team mate. Judge followed with a triple to left center and Goose romped home. Joe was stranded, though, for Ossle Bluege sent a roller to Ezzell. Sox Double Thix Total. Finding Mogridge easy, the Red Sox went the Nationals two runs bet- ter. George slipped a third strike past Williams, first batter up, but | Wamby singled to lcft. Veach fiied to Rice in short right, then the storm | broke over Mogridge's ‘head, Boone's short single to right advanced Wamby a base_and Joe Harris was franked to first, loading the hassocks. Ezzell bounded a one-baser off Peck's gloved hand that scored Wamby and Boone, but Harris pulled up at second. He did not remain there long, for Lee pushed a single to right, counting Joe and moving Ezzell fo third. As the first pitch was served to O'Neill, Eazell and| Lee began their double steal, and Homer easily siid under Bucky Har- ris’ return to Ruel. O'Nelll ended the rally with u grounder to Peck. Boone's muff of Ruel's fly and a pass to Bennett Tate, who batted in place of Mogridge, put a palr of Nationals on the paths in the second inning after one was out. but Nemo Leibold and Bucky Harris could do nothing for them. Nor could, Veach and Boone .aid Williams, who had singled, and Wamby, who had walked, in the Red Sox part of the round. Thre were two gone in the third when Judge singled and Bluege was hit. by a pitched ball. Peck's best Wwas a fan, Ezzell, who had singled after Joe Harris' retirement, got as far ‘as third base with two out in the Red Sox thifd, but Marberry fanned O'Neill. Harris Fans in Pleah. Ruel walked to -open the Nationals' fourth frame, Marberry attempted to sacrifice, only to bunt a pop foul to O'Neill; Lee muffed Leibold’s pop to, tered by ge in the the former | HERE ARE THE BOYS WHO ARE STRIVING TO PUT WASHINGTON OVER THE TOP BLURGE P York Yankees the game, 4 to T NATIONAL PHOTOS LRIBOLD 'BUSH’S WILD PITCH HELPS MACKS BEAT YANKEES, 4-3 HILADELPHIA, Pa., September 27—A wild pitch by Joe Bush in the seventh inning of today's fray with the Athletics cost the New 3, and made their chances of over- coming the Senators’ lead practically nil. Had is not been for this wild heave, the Yanks’ scoring of two runs in the ninth would have tied the score. The bad pitch came with Jimmy Dykes on second, and before the husky Wally Schang could retrieve the ball Dykes had scampered across the plate with the fourth and what proved to be the winning tally. Rommel pitched a strong game from start to finish although he weakened in the ninth, when he was solved for three hits. Bush’s shaky start in the first inning Harris, while Boone made a good run- ning catch of Rice's long foul fly. The Red Sox went out in order in their half. Ehmke and Williams loft- ing to Goslin and Wamby popping to Peck. Goslin started a National the fifth with a rally in single to center. Joe Judge laid down a bunt along the @irst base line and got to the sack ahead of Ehmke's heave. Bluege's sacrificial bunt followed. Peck fanned for the third time in the game and it scemed the Nationals' left-on- base total was to be increased at least two. But Ruel took one of Ehmke's pitches in the side and the bases were jammed. Then Lefler socked the ball past Boone for a cou- ple of bases to put his club in front. Wade tried to stretch the hit into a triple, only to be tagged out. The Red Sox quickly evened the score. Veach, first to face Russell, fouled to Judge, but Boone lined to center, and his drive when misjudged by Leibold was good for three bases. Ike had to remain at third after Lei- bold caught Joe Harris' loft to short center, but was pushed home by Ez- zell's third single of the fray. ERmke Digs Own Grave. Ehmke brought about his own downfall in the sixth session. Lei- bold, leading off for fhe Nationags, strolled. Harris bunted and had a hit to his credit because there was no ne at first to take a throw from Ehmke, who had flelded the ball. Joe Harris had run in and Wamby had not moved to_the initial sack to cover. But Ehmkc threw, nevertheless, and the ball sailéd against the grand- stand barrier. The wild heave let Leibold score and the hitter reach the far corner. Harris could not count Ehmke tossed out Rice, but Gos- lin's single tallied Bucky. Goose died stealing before Judge lifted to Veach. The Red Sox went out in order in their sixth, and Bluege, who began the Nationals' seventh with a one- base blow got to third before Rus- sell became the final out of the round. Wamby walked with one gone in the Red Sox sevgnth. only to become a double-play victim. But three batters faced Ehmke in the eighth, then Russell proceeded to throw a scare into his own camp. Boone lofted to Leibold to start the Red Sox eighth, hut Joe Harris and Ezzell walked and Bluege, after tak- ing Lee's slow roller, could make a play at first base only. Then O'Nelll's stroll filled the bases and brought Zachary to the slab. The red- thatched southpaw, stopped the Hub- men cold. shiort left amd there were Nationals on. the first two sacks. Ehmke The Nationals could do nothing against Quinn in the ninth, but the The Nationaia collected 10-safetics. tightened, though, and.faned. Red Sox. were-helplestedaie .. when he was blasted for five singles and three runs, proved his most dis- astrous session. From that inning on he allowed but three more hits, one by Hauser in the sixth and two by Lamar and Miller in the eighth. Rommel struck out but one batter, but he singied out Ruth for this doubtful honor and the “Babe” was resting his bat on his shoulder when he was call- ed out. When Ruth realized the significance of the umpire’s decision, he tossed his bat high in the air to demonstrate his disgust and then paused at the plate to make a few remarks to Umpire Holmes. Umpire Holmes stood his ground, and Yankee players persuaded the home run king td take his place in the outfield and the incident was closed. The capacity crowd that completely filled the stands and bleachers cheered vociferously as the gan@ finished and let out still a louder whoop as the Senators’ 7-to-5 victory was hung up on’the scoreboard. Second Baseman Dykes was presented with an outomobile after Philadelphia sporting writers had decided he was the most valuable player on the Philadelphia team. N d ABILOAL Phila. AR.H.0.A. 4710 Bl meomsmnnnn al woorsrmmos! rowno0000 .2 ninth inning. 001000 23 130000010 x4 Runs—Pipp, - Meusel, Scott, Hale, Lamar, Hauser. Dykes. Errors—Bush. Hale, Hauser. Two-base * hit—Pipp. _Sacrifice — Galloway. Donble play—Rommel, Gallowsy and Hauser. Left oo bases—New York, 7: Philadelphi Bases on balls—Off Bush. 1: off Rommel.,3. Struck out—By Bush, 4: by Rommel, 1. Wild Pitch—Bushs Umpires—3fessrs. Holmes, Dineen and Nallin. Time of game--1 hour and 35 minutes. *Batted for z o5 ol ononuormee g 0S| haonismmmm _— MEMPHIS TEAM HALTED BY FORT WORTH, 11 T0 3 FORT WORTH. Tex., September 27. —The Fort Worth team, Texas League champions, . today defeated Memphis, Southérn Association win- ners, 11 to 3, in -the Dixie title series. Memphis has won two games. { AMERICAN: ASSOCIATION FLAG GOES TO ST. PAUL ST. PAUL, Minn., September 27.— St. Paul clinched the American Asso- ciation pennant today, when it defeated Louisville, 6 to 3, in the second game of a double-header, while Minneapolis was_winning from Indiznapolis, 3 to 1. St. Paul had lost ‘the first contest. Foot Ball Results LOCAL. Maryland, 23; Washingtgn College, 0. “George Washington, 34; Blue Ridge College, 0. SOUTH ATLANTIC. West Virginia, 21; Wesleyan, 6. Wake Foreat, 7; North Caroliaa, 6. North Carolina State, 14; Trinity, 0. South Carolina, 47; Erskine, 0. Randolph Macon, #; Newport News Apprentice School, 0. Virginia, 13; Hampden Sidney, 9. Virginia Poly, 2%; Richmond, 0. Mount St. Mary’s, 0; Camp Meade Tank Corps, 0. Willlam and Mary, Firemen, 0. V. M. L, 30; Emory and Henry, 0. ‘Washington and Lee, 34; Roaneke, 47; Norfolk SOUTH. Auburn, 7; Birmingham Southern, 0. Tulane, 14; Southwestern Louisia; corgia Tech, 19; Oglethorpe, 0. Georgia University, Alabama University. Davidson, 15; Presbyterian College, 3 Clemxon, 60; Elon, 0. Citadel, 12; Southern, 0, Furman, 14; Newberry, 0. Louisiana State, 7; Spring Hill, 6. Maryville, 103; Union, 0. South Dakota State, Vinta, 3. South Dakota, 14; Yankton. 0. Oklahoma Aggiex, 9; Southwestern State Teachers, 0. arson Newman, 63; Weaver, 0. Jacksonville (Ala.) Normal, Chattanooga, 13. East. Holy Cross, 13; Catholic University, 16; Buen 14; Cornell, 56; St. Bonaventure, 0. New Hampshire, 27; Colby, 0. Bucknell, 6; Western Maryland, 0. Niagara, 6; Rochester, 0, Allegheny, 7; Dickinson, 0. Penn State, 47; Lebanon Valley, 3. Dartmouth, 40; Norwich, 0. Middlebury, 20; St. Michaels, 0. Pennsylvania, 34; Ursinus, 0. Amherst, 18; St. Lawrence, 3. Gettysburg, 40; Juniata, 0. Duquewe, 0; Broadus, 0. Bowdoin, 8; St. Stephens, 0. Williams, 27; Hamilton, 7. Frankiin and Marshall, 21; Albright, Columbia, 29; Haverford, 3. Rutgers, 14; Villanova, 0, Syracuse, 35; Hobart, 0. ‘ Lafoyette, 13; Muhlenbers, 0. Bonton College, 47: Providenecs, Wesleyan, 3; Union, 0. Carnegie Tech, 14; Dayton, 3. Connecticut Aggies, 12; Massachu- setts Aggies, 10. Mid-West. Wooster, 17; Ashland, 0. Slippery Rock Normal, 25; Union, 0. Ohio Wesleyan, 40; Capital Univer- sity, 0. - Oberlin, 41; Himm, 0. Ohio, 10; Rio Grande, 0. Wittenberg, 4¢; Olivet, 0. Miami, 7; Georgetown (K7.), . Columbia,' 13; Wisconsin School of Mines, 2. Baylor, 10; Simmons. 6. Indiana, 65; Rose Poly, 0. Franklin, 28; Indiana Central, 0. Butler, 21; Hanover, 6. St. Louis University, 5i Southwest- ern Teachers’ College, 6. Michigan Aggles, 33; ern College, 0. Wisconsin, 25; North Dakota, 0. o. Mount Northwests LONE RICHMOND RUN DEFEATS WATERBURY RICHMOND, Va., September The Richmond, Va, League cham- plons broke the post-season winning streak. of the \\'&lerbuq Eastern League pennant winners here to- day when they the second game of the two-game series be- tween the clubs, 1 to 0, in 11 innings. Frank Dodson, who reports to the Giants training camp next season, held the conquerors ofthe Baltimore Orioles to five scattered hits, walked one man and struck - out five. Dodson's single, Graham's error and Klein's double accounted for the only tally. won - BIG LEAGUE STATISTICS AMERICAN LEAGUE. NATIONAL LEAGUE. 15(11/12(17/91/611.699 Now York.... (14| 9[1313/13 4/ T7 G601 612 Now York....| 9/—| 9/12/12(14(17/16/69/63/.586 Brooklyn .....| 8/—{13/12/1215/17/1491/63.585 Detroit 1 8 13/—/ 9[11/16/16/14]8667] Pittsburgh ..[33] 9/—110|14/16/13115/89162].589 8t._Louis 11310/18/—1 9[11/11] 8/74/78| Cincinnati .| 9/10/12/—/18(18/16/10/82 89].543 Priladelphia | 7| 8/11/18/—(11/10{11/71 Chicago ~1 9/10) 6] 9/—15/16/1580/71.530 Cleveland 111 8] 7/11111i—] 8,11 67/86/.4 § St Touls ....[ 9 7 7 8 7—1016/64/88.431 Boston .......| 81 5| 6i11/12(14/—110/66/86] 434 Shiladelphia | 6] 5| 8 b/ 6/13/—12/5496/.360 Ohicago ......| B| 6/ 7/13/11/11/18/—|65/87/.438 Boston_.......| 6| 7| 7,12] 6//6/10/—(5/199].349 Games lost . |61163/67/78|81 86186/87|— —| Gumes lost . |69/62]62/69(71/6896/99'—I—| YESTERDAY’S RESULTS, ‘WASHINGTON, 7; Boaton, 5. Philadelphia, 4; New York, 3. Detroit, 10; Chicago, 8. Cleveland, 12; St. Louis, 1. et CAMES TODAY | GAMES TOMORROW. S.L. at Cleveland. New Toa"at Fada YESTERDAY’S RESULTS. New York, 5; Philadelphia, 1. Boston, 3; Brooklyn, 3. Pilttsburgh, 3; Chicage, 2. Cineinnati, 10; St. Louls, 1. SAMES TODAY Phils. at New York, Boston at Brooklyn. McGraw Gain: Fight of His Club N here today, 5 to 1, while Brooklyn w No other National or American cessi ambition for four straight pennant out his Giants in a September finish The championship is McGraw's any other National League manager By taking his fourth straight pen- | nant, McGraw gained one of his most Icherished goals and set ‘a major | ANOTHER RECORD GOES PHILADE! Sand | Mokan, . vo. | P | 1 e . L 0 0 o | | s 0 | | Holke. 0 Henline 3 | | Ford. 2h | | 3. Wilson g | Ring, p.... s | | Carison, Wendell® | Leacht ] Touase. | *Batted for Willlams in ninth. tRan for Wendell in ninth | NEW YORK. AB. R | Lindstrom, 3b S 0"Connell. cf 0 | Young, re. 70000 I Kelly, 2070000 0 Terry. b { L. Wilson, | Jackson, | snyder.” ¢ | Beatiey, 5.’ T s 1 Tot: Thiladelphia. ... 1 0 0 0 0 | New York...... 0 0 1 1 1 | _Two-base hits—0"Connell, Terry Wilkon. Stolen bare— Lindstro hits— Lindstrom, _Kelly. fo Jackion fo Terrs | York. 9: Philadeiphi O Beatley, 2: Ring. 5: by Carison, |95 | mings | Messrs | zame B 5 o Lindstrom Sacrifive Double play—Ke Left on s N First bas Hitx made innings; off Carlson, | Toning pitcher—Ring | Moran, 0'Dlay and Quigley. Time of 1 hour and 41 minutes | | the fi BREAK PRECEDENT OF 49 YEARS WITH FOUR IN ROW One of His Most Cherished Goals and Sets a Major League Record Due to Game Despite Injuries. EW YORK, September 27.—The New York Giants today broke a precedent of 49 years and won the National League champion- ship for the fourth time in succession by defeating Philadelphia as losing to Boston. League club ever has won four suc- ¢ pennants. Manager McGraw of New York was thwarted in his winners when the Boston club beat 10 years ago. 10th, twice as many as were won by s. league record. Back in the 70s, in the old National Association, Boston won four straight pennants, while in the American Association, a decade later, St. Louis won four straight, but no American nor National League club ever has won more than three in a row The Giants' finish this season, de- spite the handicap of injuries that forced Groh and Frisch, bulwarks of the club’s inner defense, out of the line-up, ranks among the most sen- sational in National League history. Threatened by both Pittsburgh apd Brooklyn, the make-shift McGraw team rallied in the final week, put the Pirates out of the race by de- feating them three times in a row, and clinched the pennant toda imming Philadelphia while Brook- 1yn lost to Boston Except for a brief interval when Brooklyn, the dark horse of the race, gained the top, the Giants have set the pace ali season. Their triumph, how- ever, was gained by the closest mar- gin of a New York machine McGraw has led to the front. They held & margin of two-and-a-half games to- night, with two games yvet to play with Philadelphia, while Brooklyn has but one more with Boston. Bentley today found the Philadel- phians easy picking and held the visitors to four hits. A muff by Jack- son gave Philadeiphia its only run in st inning. The Giants bunched hits on Ring and scored their runs one at a time. Ring was driven out of the box in the sixth inning. Holke was spiked ry and was obliged to retire 'BUCKS BATTLING GAMELY B OSTON, September 27.—That 7 | Harris to pull his club through to the it is, they are quite likely to take th Monday and clinch the laurels. The strain on the club during driving has been terrific. | in the 18 games played since leaving handicap the Bucks have been work With a pitching corps of really only two dependable hurle and a relief man, the Bucks have had to fight dcsperately for ever: bit of ground in the home stretch of the most stirring race the league has known since 1908. In most of their games they have had to overcome leads gained early Ly opponents, and that kind of battling tells heavily even against a club of champion- ship caliber. Friday’s loss to the Red Sox was a severe blow to the Bucks, becausc it put out of commission probably until Tuesday one of their pair of dependable hurlers. With Walter Johnson gone there were many of the more timid in the ranks ready to acknowledge the race lost. They saw only Jez Zachary remaining as a starting pitcher likely to give the Red Sox a good argument, and the team that had overcome Johnson might be well able to overcome Zach- ary, they figured. Harris Spurs Them On. It took every bit of the fine spirit of their manager to spur the Bucks into action today. Their gameness had not left them, but they were staggering under the strain of the drive when they reached Boston and that defeat in the first game, while the Yanks were beating the Macks, was like 2 blow between the eyes to a sick man. The Bucks were not “down” so much as mora] courage was concerned as they were mentally and physically. They could not think quickly, act quickly or fight quickly. This dull- ness was only too apparent after that first inning this afternoon, when George Mogridge was slammed and their early lead was dissipated. They did not seem the same Bucks that had fought their way through the trying league race to enter the home stretch in the lead. There was no brilliancy. no snap in their work. They appeared on edge in every play and went about their work sluggishly. It seemed for a time today that the club was about to crack, and crack badly. Just one more knocK and it would be out. But it barely managed to stagger to the finish a winner this afternoon and probably a pennant was saved to Washington. It is a different out- fit after the emgagement. The men this evening are bright and cheerful and there is no talk of the Yankees beating them out. They were on the brink of the pit this morning, but tonight are ready to give Washington its greatest thrill in base ball history. All Credit Is Due Harris. Bucky Harris is the one man who has kept the fight in his club this long. He never for one instant de- spaired of ultimate victory in the race after leaving home with his team two games in front of the Yanks. When reverses were met in Detroit and the Nationals reduced to a tie with the Yanks he encouraged the timid and so Inspired his club that it “came back” with vim in Cleveland. All through the troublesome St. Louis and Chicago series he kept his players in hand. Some had to be patted on the back, others had to be admonished sternly that flagging spirits were harmful to the club. “Buck up,” sald Buck, “there’s more fighting ahead than you have dream- ed of. This is to be a fight to the finish, and only the:good ones will get to the finish, not the weak sis- ters.” But Bucky had to keep on-his forces continually. sign of ‘“nerves” in- an a sharp eye At the first athlete he terday just about kept the Nationals in the pennant fight. they been trounced by the Fohlmen, even with the Yankees losing to the Macks, it probably would have been difficult for Manager Bucky DESPITE TERRIFIC STRAIN BY JOHN B. KELLER. -to-5 victory over the Red Sox yes- Had American League championship. As e necessary game from the Red Sox the past three weeks of intensive That they have kept pace with the Yankees home is remarkable considering the ing under. would take him in special charge and soon have him battling again. But while one was being encouraged by the fiery manager, others would be- gin to give way, and when the club met with defeat yesterday, dire dis- aster threatened. Harris, though, was equal to the emergency. He whipped .his forces into fighting form at a meeting prior to the game today and when the game was not going so well his sharp commands made the players realize the battle must not be lost unless all was to be lost. They rallied gamely under his leadership and forged ahead If Washington gets the pennant, and it will get it barring another spiritual relapse in the club, it will owe a vote of thanks if nothing else to Stanley Rgymond Harris. Zach May Pitch Tomorrow. Zachary, who finished today’s game in such splendid form, probably will toe the slab for the Bucks tomorrow afternoon. He may be opposed by Fred Wingfield, who belonged to the Nattonals early this season, or Curtis Fullerton. Manager Harris sent Nemo Leibold to centerfield today as the pastures in Fenway Park are rather sunny and Earl McNeely is troubled. con- siderably by old Sol. Leibold likely will retain the job through the re- mainder of the serfes. In the first inning Lee ran across the infield almost to first base to take Leibold's' pop. The sun inter- fered with Wamby and Joe Harris, both of whom were staggering under the ball. Lefler mow hax a pinch-batting av- erage of .750 since becoming a Na- tional, his timely double that drove in three runs after two were out In the fifth inning being his third safety in four times at bat He singled in two runs in Cleveland in his debut as a National, grounded out in St. Louis to no effect and knocked in the Bucks’ only run here Friday with a two- bagger. ‘When Leibold put up a pop to short left with Ruel on first base in the féurth frame-the latter ran nearly to second base until he saw Lee under the ball—then started to scramble back to the initial sack. But Lee muffed the catch, and Muddy had to hustle to the middle station to’ escape being forced out. Boone nnd Peek made good catches in the fourth inning. Ike.ran far to get Rice's foul fly, while Peck. scur- ried into left fleld near the foul line to bag Wamby's loft. In the sixth session, O'Neill slammed a wicked grounder directly over see- ond base, but Harris went back to the grass for a stop and threw out the Red Sox catcher. Leibold misjudged Boone's.liner in the fifth and the drive went for three bases. Nemo darted in for a catch, then had to run back and just missed a stab above his head. Fans watching the score boards in Washington for the last two games here will not have to get to- their points of vantage until.an hour later than they did this week. Daylight saving time goes out\in Boston to- morrow, so the games Monday and ‘Tuesday will begin at 3 o'clock stand- ard time.