Evening star., 1932-06-23
EX-bR0WN HUR[ER
FLOP IN 3 STARTS
al Thomas Named to Pitch
Game Needed to Obtain Even
Break in West.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

" around the West this sea-
son, the Nationals today
needed a victory over the Indians
for an even break in their 16-
game invasion of this sector of
the American League.
Al Thomas, one of the two
pitchers acquired by the Wash
ington club during this tour, was
to make his first start for his new
outfit. Manager Walter Johnson
was hopeful this new hurler would
fare better than has the other,
Dick Coffman.
Thomas certainly could not fare worse
Coffmsn, picked up from the Browns in
exchange for the snuthpawing Carl
Fischer and generous amount Of cash,
has been bitter disappointment to his
new club thus far. Highly touted as
clever slabman after several seasons OF
experience with the St. Louis club that
got him from Washington in a trade
some years ago, Coffman has been any
thing but that with the Nationals. He
has started three times and sustained as
many defeats.
MOT only has Dick been beaten badly
~ as a National, but he also has taken
his beating early in each OF his
efforts. In his three games, he has
pitched a total of only seven and one
third innings. In them he has yielded
Is hits for % bases. 6 passes and IA
runs. 13 of them of the earned variety
Coffman lasted only four innings When
he faced his old club. the Browns. They
battered him for four runs in the fourth
and the Nationals never were in the
running thereafter. He went but one
inning against the Tigers. Then he
gave up four runs, handicap too great
for his club to overcome. Against the
Tribe yesterday when the Johnson band
was licked. II to 2 and tumbled into
fourth place. Dick toiled but two and
one-third innings to take a four-run
slamming in his portion of the third.
While Coffman's control has not been
Of the best. it hasn't been Wildness par
ti"ulcrlv that has hurt him. He hasn't
pi. he'd himself cut to many batters.
IcSte2d. most of them have swung
aTainst his first or second pitch and
Cf tie lot He simply has yet to show
ANYTHING that might foil the opposition.
TOO bad. for inconsistent at bat as
they are. the Nationals need all the
god pitching it was hoped Cofman
would give them.
LIVE CT the Cleveland lineup that
l. faced Coffman yesterday landed on
his pitching during lis brief term
on the hill. The tribe found him as
easy to hit as had the Browns and the
Tigers. 1t was no wonder that before
Coffman gave way to Monte Weaver
the Peck pack had run up score large
enough to overcome a Washington club
that was all but helpless before Mel
Harder's hurling
Porter's single and Averill's walk were
wasted by the tribe in the first round,
but a pass to Myatt became a run in
the second inning when Kamm's single
and a double play that did not go by
vav of the plate followed
0orter greeted Coffman with double
ct the outset of the third inning, then
things that spelled the CAV for the Ma
tionals occurred swiftly. Burnett
walked on four pitches and tailed with
Porter VIXEN Averill ratified triple off
the fence back of right center. Vos-
{,
but Joe, too ambitious. was shared when
he endeavored to lengthen his hit. Nor
gan followed with single. though, so
Manager Johnson decided Coffman had
had enough. And so had the Indians,
but they did not knew it at the time.
ITO make certain Of the game the
L Tribe proceeded to rake Weaver
the remainder of the round
Monte got rid of Myatt. but he un-
corked wild pitch while Kamm was
up: then Willie moved Morgan to third
with an infield hit. Along came Cis-
sell to double, sending home the tally
Cofman had left on the runway and
the. one Weaver had just put on.
Harder followed with a single to tally
Cissell, SO before Porter. up for the
second time in the inning. lofted out
the Indians had hung up six runs for
the round
Weaver's pitching proved no better
than Coffman's. The Tribe went on to
sock him in two more innings for
scores. In all, the Peck pack ccmbed
tho Washington pitching for Is safeties
tOtaling 26 bases. Porter socked four
Of the hits and two were two-baggers
Just great afternoon for Dick and
tho other Indians.
the Nationals at bat Eight hits three
OF them made by Carl Reynolds. spread
over six innings, were cleaned off
Harder. He also gave three passes.
Two Of the hits and one of the passes
accounted for all the johnson bands
scoring. which was done in the fourth.
after the Tribe had the game tucked
away.
Cronin walked, pulled up at third
when Reynolds doubled and crossed
after VoSmik got Vests hoist. A single
by Bluege then Tailed Reynolds. All
the Nationals could do thereafter was
get runner as far as third base twice.
TT was Vosmik day at League Park
i and. contrary to precedent. the In
dians' left fielder. after receiving gifts
from his many Cleveland admirers at
the plate before the pastiming began,
proceeded to crack two doubles and
play a whale of a game afield. Myer
made the first Washington fielding
miSplay of the series when he kicked
grounder to put Kamm on in the
ninth. johnson sent his second-string-
ELS into action in the seventh with
Kingdom, Kerr, KuhA and Maple sup
planting Cronin, Bluege, Judge and
Berg. Rice took Manush's place in the
eighth. Kingdom in his only time at
bat bounced sweet two-bagger off the
right-field screen. Harris grabbed
Weavers bat in the ninth and singled
1t was the fourth hit in six pinch-bat-
ting efforts this trip for the Sheriff.