Evening star., 1938-06-18
SIMMONS SURGE
SLOWS MATS SKID
Batting Power at Peak, Al
Hits to Win Over Tigers,
Then Foes Get Even.
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
STAN Correspondent Of The Star

DETROIT, June l8.-Slowed to oc-
casional appearances in his fifteenth
season Of major league baseball. amia-
BILE AL Simmons nevertheless contin-
ues to defy the termites of time when
the chips are down. To southpaws
at least he still is poisonous, for those
emphatic smashes that have stamped
him as one Of the greatest right-hand-
ed hitters of all time still are evident.
Simmons, friskiest member of the
Mats despite his IS years. probably is
imbued with as much zeal for playing
as any spry. ambitious rookie and it is
being reflected in his labor.
He relishes and garnishes the club
house atmosphere, which is manufac-
tured chiefly by his infectious. loud
laughter. continual kidding and un-
commonly keen interest in everything
In short. Simmons is the personifica-
ton of a winner-despite his present
surroundings.
Bats Into 800 Class.
Rarely employed against right-hand
pitching, Simmons, graying but gram
itelike, is plastering southpaws mer-
rily after a slow start. On IL OF the
last 33 occasions he has travelled to
the plate, Al has collected hits, in
cluding two doubles and three home
runs, and has swatted over eight runs,
thus wedging his way into the 800
circle over the seasons stretch. And
he shows no signs of collapsing.
It was Simmons and the contrast
ing George Case. sensitive. moody,
young and mild-mannered, who
slammed the Mats to 1910 victory
over the Tigers here yesterday in the
first game of double e-header. The
Mats clouting tapered off in the Sec
ond game until the ninth inning,
however, and Detroit snatched a 4-3
triumph by quelllng that rally.
Simmons in that first game turned
back the calendar to poke a pair of
home runs into the left field stands,
while Case, who has batted a mild
.486 in his last 81 trips to the plate,
rammed out two singles. double and
a home run to continue his recent SEN
sational pace.
It was by grace of their enthusiastic
smacking that the Mats were able to
register an even break, for Wes Fer
rell. slammed from the box in his
last three starts, definitely has proved
he will not render any aid in keep
ing the Nationals in the first division.
Ferrell, the guilty party in blowing
that ILL lead the Mats handed him in
their final home game, has been no
mystery to opposing batters, nor has
he presented evidence there is hope for
a reversal Of his sour form. Dutch
Leonard. on the other hand looms
of distinct value to the throwing
corps
Leonard Looms as Winner.
In his last two starts, both against
Detroit, the mellowing Leonard has
allowed only eight hits in each effort,
but has been the victim OF his mates
sudden paralytic strokes that have
crippled Washington's batting He
outpitched Lawson yesterday, but sue
cessive home runs by Sammy West
and Buddy Lewis came too late to
wipe out Detroit's early lead
With the addition of West, whose
homer was the most convincing pre-
duced by the Nationals, Washington
apparently has perked up. Perhaps it
was the rare sight of viewing the Mats
in victory that affected the vision, but
even while losing they looked ex-
tremely dangerous and decidedly more
peppy. They may develop into some
thing of powerhouse, since that's
the only remedy to counteract rag
ged hurting.
Jimmy De Shong, who spanked the
Indians in his last effort, was to pitch
for the Nationals today as they re-
sumed their desperate struggle to re-
tain fourth place, with Harry Esen-
stein slated to sling for the Tigers
The Mats will wind up the Detroit
series tomorrow and enjoy an OF day
Monday before colliding with the
White Sox in q three-game argument,