Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-24


ANXIOUS to return his many
casuals to active duty. of
course. but while Walter John
son, Bucky Harris, iris speaker, sam
Rice and Joe Judge are among the all
ing. the prexy of the Nationals is
learning much about the strength of
the flock of husky recruits so1ournlng
at his expense in Florida.
When Judge yesterday developed a
muscular strain that, although slight,
was enough to cause Trainer Mike
Martin to order q rest for the regular
first sacker, four rockies were sent
into the lineup that faced the Dodgers
at Clearwater. and the makeshift team
was good enough to break three
game losing streak with 4-to-2 VIC
tory.
One of the recruits, in particular,
distinguished himself. He was Ollie
Tucker, purchased from New Orleans,
who came to the Nationals with a
fine reputation as a hitter, but was
not considered any great shucks as a
fielder 10y the bosses of the Washing
ton organization. Yet Tucker, sub
shutting for the injured Rice in right
field, a sunfield at Clearwater, took
care of that garden in spectacular
manner in addition to knocking
homer when a teammate was on the
runway in the first inning and knock
ing a single that drove another run
across in the fifth,
Tucker Brilliant Afield.
Tucker had four chances in the right
pasture and took care of all of them
brilliantly. His first opportunity for
a play came in the third inning when
Merwin Jacobson was on first base
with no one out. Arnold STATE sent
hoist to short right, mean Topper
that seemed certain safety. Ollie
came tearing in, only to lose the ball
in the sun as he was about ready to
grab it. But down he went with the
falling sphere and clutched 1t as he
did a nose-dive. He was up in a trice
and his fine throw barely missed beat
ing the scurrying Jacobson back to
first base.
The recruit from New Orleans came
right back in the fourth inning to
make another remarkable catch. Hank
Deberry lofted a foul fly toward the
right field corner and Ollie started
across his garden at the crack of tho
bat. Right into the sun he sprinted
for a shoe-top grasp that ended the
round.
1t was his catch in the seventh.
though. that perhaps saved the day
for his club. There were two Dodgers
on the runway with one out when
STATE sent a terrific drive that seemed
likely to crash against the fence back
to right center. Tucker raced far to
his right and back and leaped to get
the ball barely yard away from the
barrier. In a flash he heaved TO
Buddy Myer. who had run not so far
behind the second sack to get the re-
turn and Myer attempted to complete
q doubleplay that would have retired
the Dodgers scoreless for the frame.
But Buddy's throw to Nick Cullop at
the initial station was SO wild that
Charley Corgan was able TO tally from
the middle station and Butch Henline
moved from first base to third.
Makes Smart Running Catch.
Again STATE provided the oppor-
tunity for another good catch by
Tucker at the start of the ninth in
ming. Arnold banged the ball toward
deep right. causing Ollie to turn and
dash well back for a smart running
grab.
fuckers contributions to the Ma
tional's offensive were made at the
expense of DaZzy Vance. speed-ball
specialist, who started on the Hill for
the Dodgers. and Bill Doak, spit-balI
artist, who went through four innings
after Vance had completed three.
Emmett Mccain was on first after
taking one of fance's pitches on the
left arm and one was out when Ollie
came up in the opening frame. He
had count of three and one in his
favor when Vance attempted to WhizZ
one through. Tucker met the ball
cieanly and sent it soaring over the
fence back of right center field.
IN the third inning fuckers best
on Vance was a long fly to Left
tlelder STATE for the final out, but in
ms one turn against Doak he again
helped the Nationals cause. Bob
Reeves. batting for Al Crowder. sin
gled and scored when Babe Herman
overthrow third base in trying to flag
the former Georgia Tech bow after
Third Stacker Bob Barrett made a
futile heave following the fielding of
Sam Vests hunted single. West
reached second on the error and Nc.
Cam sacrificed. Tucker then drove
a one baser through Barrett to gel
West home.
Tucker became an infelder when he
batted against the left.handed Jess
Petty. who pitched in the eighth in.
nlng for the Dodgers, and did not have
turn against Jess Barnes in the
ninth. But he had done a fair DAYS
work for his club. Manager Harris
certainly will have to think twice be-
fore letting this hard hitting and fast.
helding product of the New Orleans
club slip away from the Nationals.
Other Recruits DO Well.
McCann, Cullop and West, the three
other rockies who crashed into the
lineup as result Of injuries to regu-
lars, did well afield, but were not 50
startling at hat. Mccain. although he
failed to hit safely In his two legal
turns at bat, seemed quite at home
around the second base. Culop, who
does not care to cavort around the
Initial station and admits he knows
nothing much o. the job, neverthe-
less got along fairly well. He got
one hit, a double in his four trips
TO the plate. West had little to do
In center and produced hunted single
in four batting efforts.
Altogether. though. the Nationals of
fensive was a worthy one. considering
mat they were stacking up against
the Dodgers four best bets in the
pitching line For hatters swinging in
mld-season form 10 face the hurting
or Vance, Doak Petty and get away
with victory is quite creditable. But
Tor batters who have yet 10 swing into
their true strides to score over these
capable moundsmen. who seem pretty
well advanced In their training, Is
indeed remarka bic
The Nationals got only five hits IN
addition to three passes off this Mitch.
ing quartet. but the Dodgers got only
three safet!es off the trio of hurlers
they faced. Al CrowGer was first 10
take the hill against Robbie's men
and in his four innings he did not al.
low bingle. Crowder looked any.
thing but the sick man Of the pa 81
h.