Evening star., 1932-07-09
JOE, BACK AT FIRST,
HAD TIMELY PUNCH
SuppIants Judge, Out With
Trick Leg-Tribe Topples
Johnson Band Again.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

TOE hOf1EL 4S pdCh db AhoO
base for the Nationals and
~ should the youngster carry
on extensively as he did last
season he'll provide some of the
punch so greatly needed by his
club. AS a fielder, Kuhel will not
mar the Washington defense.
Kuhel hit only .269 in the 1881
campaign, but he had the happy
knack of hitting when it meant
runs. He was among his clubs
best at driving over scores.
Kuhel crashed the lineup yesterday
when the veteran Joe Judge pulled
leg muscle as he headed for first base
after making an infield tap in the
opening inning. The young initial sacker
probably will be in the game for some
time too. as the leg Judge hurt is the
one that gave the veteran SO much
trouble several seasons back. It's not an
injury apt to heal quickly, according to
those in charge of the Nationals;
In l39 games last year, after he TOOK
over the first-base job when Judge was
stricken with appendicitis, Kuhel col
lected 141 hits. Not such lot, but he
hit for distance frequently. He made
home runs, 8 triples and "a doubles.
And he drove across IS runs nesloes
scoring TO-
His total of s5 runs batted in got him
a tie with Lew Fonseca for eighteenth
place among the American League pat-
ters showing over tallies But kunel
really deserved the eighteenth position
to himself, for Fonseca, playing with
the Indians and White Sox, was IN
eight more games
Only Toe Cronin. Ossie Bluege and
Sam West drove across more runs than
did Kuhel for the Nationals last sea-
son.
FUDGE. forced to retire after starting
in all of the II games his club has
PLAYED this season, has been as brill
liant afield as in other seasons, which
means ne has been one OF the top
notchers of the majors around the in
Itial sack. He has performed remark
ably considering he is 38 years old and
has been in professional base ball 18
years. II with the Nationals.
The veteran hasn't been the power
at bat this season, though, that he was
over a long stretch. Up to the current
campaign Judge had a major league
career hitting mark of 800 even. This
season in n games he has hit for only
.262 No great strength there.
However, Judge has managed to drive
across 80 runs this season and only
Heinie Manush, Carl Reynolds, Cronin
and West have excelled this total. Well
down in the batting order the greater
part of the campaigning, Judges total
is more than fair.
The injury suffered yesterday is the
first serious one for Judge in some time.
Several years ago Judge hurt the same
leg and for three or four seasons there
after it caused him much annoyance.
He generally was out of commission 10
to 20 games each of those seasons.
Finally Judge decided it might be wise
TO exercise his legs before a game Just
as ball players always exercise their
throwing arms. The veteran began jog
trotting about the field before going
into the daily fielding drill and it helped
his underpinning remarkably.
But the old trick leg failed him yes
terday and this time it is apt to be
slow in healing.
lust by the halfway mark of their
campaign and in fifth place, two and
half games out of the first division OF
the American League. That's the situa-
ton in which the Nationals find them
selves after the 6-to-5 licking they took
from the Indians yesterday in Griffith
Stadium.
Even worse. perhaps, for the johnson
band now is but one and half games
ahead of the sixth-place Browns.
The loss was the third in row for
the Nationals and the fifth in succession
for Dick Coffman since his transfer
from the Browns to the Washington
curving corps. Dick has yet to score as
a National Looks as though that deal
sending the Ieft-hande6 Carl Fischer
and a bundle of cash to st. Louis for
Cofman will not pan out so well.
The win was the fourth for the Tribe
in eight meetings with the Nationals
this season and the first in three starts
against the johnson outfit for Wesley
FerreIl. ace moundsman of Peck's pack
And the defeat was the seventh by
one run for the Nationals in their last
10 tussles.
ZACH side got 13 hits yesterday, but
IL the Indians were helped by one OF
Cronin's two errors and also by
failure of the Washington defense 10
seize two double-play opportunities
whereas the Nationals got just one
break OF the game.
Twice the Nationals were in the van
Myer walked and Manush doubled then
Cronin hit a two-bagger to account Tor
a brace of first frame tallies. With
Averill's triple, singles by Vosmlk ana
Morgan and Myatt's long fly, the In
dians created a tie in the third. now
ever. Washington came back IN the
same round to score with Vests single
and steal and a hit by KuheL but
Cronin's tumble of Myatt's grounder
let the Tribe tie again in the fifth.
Peck's pack went ahead in the sixth
TO stay. Kamm walked and Ferreu sac
rificed Porter lined to West, and win
Kamm heading for third good throw
by Sammy to Cronin would have meant
a side-retiring double play. But west
threw wide of second and Ksmm got
back to the bag safely TO tally When
Burnett singled
with one Indian out and one on in
the eighth, Porter rolled to Myer and
a force play at second followed. Cronln
didn't get the ball away fast. so
double play on Porter at first was mar
rovlv missed Burnett followed with
double. so Coffman purposely walked
Averill and crowded the bases Along
came Vosmik to single and the Indians
had two more runs.
The Nationals got their one break in
the eighth Myer doubled, took third
as NIanush became the second out, then
scored when West singled. Here Cronin
looped the ball to short center, and
when Cissell bumped into Burnett, who
had his hands on the sphere, 1t fetl
safely TO become a double, tallying West.
Harris gave the ball fine ride, but
Vosmik grabbed it in the left field cor
ner
The Indians got nothing more than a
double off Boo Burke, who hurled the
ninth. but Ferrell stopped the Nationals
cold in their last turn.
CARNERA BOUT 0KAYED
NEW YORK. July 9 GP).-The New