Evening star., 1939-05-31
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

With a tenderly nurtured winning
streak of one straight, the Nationals
were to desert this village today
minus Jimmy Wasdell. denoted first
baseman, and wiggle into the West
with the fond hope of reaping re-
Venge.
Although the ugly jaws of seventh
place are swapping at their heels,
the Mats nevertheless still can pluck
several heartening items from a
mountain of misery. Alexandra
Carrasquel, a rookie pitcher who has
yielded total of IL hits in his last
q innings of labor, and Center
Fielder George Case now are town
topics.
Wasdell also is source of chatter,
but in another sense, for Prexy Clark
Griffith now is planning either to
ship Jimmy to the Mats Springfield
Mass farm or use him as bait for
whatever he will bring in a trade.
At press time Griffith was doubtful
if Wasdell would make the trip West
with the club this evening. The
youthful first baseman has been
replaced by Sammy West, a con-
verted outfielder, and Jimmy's ca
reer as a Nat is ended.
Still Trade for Travis Talk.
Griffith. though, still was ponder
ing the most expedient method of
disposing of Wasdell That he will
be sent back to the minors appeared
the only solution because he hardly
will be traded for the simple reason
the supply is greater than the de-
mand
Trade talk has become intensified
with every error committed by
Shortstop Cecil Travis, however, and
the grapevine whispers insist the
gangling Georgian soon will be
clipped from the club in q deal with
Detroit. Griffith also is in mood
to include a couple of his less highly
regarded pitchers and Wasdell if
they'll bring anything in return.
More concrete, though. is the con-
f1rmed suspicion that the Mats have
something in Carrasquel. If the
sWarthy Venezuelan isn't destined
to become the outstanding rookie
pitcher of 1899 he'll be short putt
from it.
The Mats, in fact, may wind up
with guy who can be compared for
this season with such hurlers as
Lefty Gomez. Red Ruffing, etc, and
not suffer by comparison. In his
last three appearances he has al
lowed four. three and four hits
against Detroit, st. Louis and Phila-
delphia. respectively. and there isn't
a pitcher in the league who can
match that effectiveness.
Loses, but Buoys Prestige.
Carrasquel definitely has proved
he isn't a flash in the pan. He was
beaten yesterday in the first game
of double-header with the, Ath-
letics, 81. but his standing among
the elite improved. II anything.
For Alexandra was off to a bad
start. yielding two runs on brace
of hits and a walk in the first in
ming. He swatted a home run
among the customers in the left
field bleachers to provide the only
run mustered behind him and al
lowed only two singles in the final
eight innings.
The Mats, though. were drilling
into double plays in the pinches,
and Left Fielder Johnny Welaj con-
tributed the AS third run in the
third inning VIXEN. after streaking
In to snatch Wayne Ambler's looper,
he threw in the general direction of
Florida avenue in attempting
double play at second. Sep Gan
tenbein, who had singled and moved
to second on a sacrifice, scooted
across.
That was the Mats sixth straight
loss, and, ironically, they snapped
that streak behind the mediocre
pitching of Ken Chase in the second
game, slamming 13 hits to register
an 8-4 triumph. Chase was no
heroic figure, also being whacked
for 13 safeties in remaining the
route.
Case Now Has 10 Thefts.
Mr.. Case presented a huge slice
Of the entertainment, stealing bases