Evening star., 1938-04-16
HARRIS IS CHEERED
NATSSH|NE
Leonard, Koh|man, Krakky,
Case De|iver-Veterans
Shake Off SIumps.
Star Staff Photo.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.

Life is full Of pleasantly and sur
prise these days for Skipper Stanley
Raymond Harris of the Nationals.
Within the space of few eventful
days Bucky has seen % Buddy Myer
come to life at bat, 90 Joe Kohlman
and Joe Krakauskas pitch winning
ball. (3 Johnny Stone shake off his
hitting slump and 90 Dutch Leonard
qualify as starting pitcher.
The Leonard incident, unfolded yes
terday at the expense of the Balti-
more Orioles, gave Harris kick. The
big right-hander. who was obtained
in draft from Atlanta last fall, was
given his first nine-inning test and
he effectively scattered eight hits to
win. to /.
Once upon time Dutch was fired
by the Brooklyns for incompetence
Harris is beginning to believe all those
stories about the goofy Dodgers now.
Leonard, you see, hasn't been just a
flash in the pan. He has pitched we'll
ever since spring training opened and
in his last % innings he has allowed
only four runs, earned and unearned.
This isn't the kind of pitching that
causes hurlers to be shipped back to
the bushes.
Dutch Tames Strong Hitters.
When Griffith angled for Leonard
last fall he did so with the idea of
using the big fellow as relief pitcher.
Now Harris and the Old Fox are be-
ginning to wonder II Dutch wouldn't
do all right as starter. He has shown
far more this spring than most Of the
Nat hurlers. In fact, less runs have
been scored against Leonard than any
hurler who saw any amount of sus-
taired action.
Leonards fast ball is rated only fair
and his curve is not above average
But Dutch has control and he can
throw that knuckler in the pinches.
With his knowledge of pitching he
rarely is behind the hitters and for
that reason he manages to get by nicely
with his repertoire.
The Orioles are minor leaguers, but
that was powerful hitting team that
invaded Griffith Stadium yesterday.
1t wasn't lack Of power, for instance,
that caused George Puccineli to be
sent back to the International League
by the Athletics. Alb Wright, once
with Cleveland, is another strong hit
ter and so is Phil Weintraub. the for
mer Giant and Redleg. Bill Cissell
and Bill MCGOWAN are two other ex-
major leaguers with the Orioles and
young Benny Huffman, who caught
for the Browns last year, is a fair
country slugger in his own right.
Case Puts On a Show.
These hitters Leonard held to eight
hits and only in the first inning was
Baltimore able to score. That was
when Cissell singled, stole second base
and scored on Puccinelli's double.
The Mats started scoring in the
third inning and that brings up the
matter of George Washington Case,
the young outfielder. Master Case
served notice on Mel Almada that he
wants to move into center field regu-
larly. He collected two doubles and
a single and in the eighth inning he
put on a great base-running show.
Opening the frame, he singled, stole
second while Lewis was at bat, and
then had the audacity to swipe third
whi' tcher Wittig was holding the
ball. Lewis then lifted a short fly
to center and Case scored after the
catch. Center Fielder MCGOWAN did
not even bother to throw to the plate.
Case will open the American League
season on Monday. according to Bucky
Harris. If a southpaw pitches for the
AS. This is definite. But after watch
ing the young man 60 to town yes
terday. hitting both q southpaw and
a right-hander. Bucky is inclined to
think that Case would do against any
kind of pitching. For the present..
however, center field is q post to be-
shared by Case and Almada. The lat
ter is = superior fielder, chiefly be-
cause of q fine throwing arm.
Stone Snaps Out Of Slump.
Carl Fischer, the ex-Griffman, start
ed for the Orioles. but after fine start
Carl weakened and the Grif1s grabbed
. 6-to-1 lead OF him. The other
runs were scored against Wttig.
The hitting Of Johnny Stone was
another feature Of the game. Stoney
came out Of his long hitting slump in
the fifth inning, when he cracked
the right-field fence q few feet from
the top for three bases. He later
added . double. Zeke Bonura was no
drawback with three doubles.