Evening star., 1940-07-01
Nats'Meet All
Rivals in Iona
Stay at Home
Yonks Open 20 Game
Stond Here; Lewis
Status Doubtful

Not too enthused about it all, the
Mats returned to the more con-
genial atmosphere of Griffith Sta
dium today for a prolonged home
stand of 20 games in which they
will collide with every team in the
league. Ofhand the prospects aren t
too brilliant, but neither are they
draped in crepe.
Returning from a rather miser-
able trip, in which they won only
six games while losing II, includ-
ing seven consecutive setbacks at
the outset, the Mats bumped into
the panicky persons of the Yankees
today in the first of a three-game
series.
The status of Outfelder Buddy
Lewis was dubious, with the posi-
bilty he may miss the entire New
York series. Favoring a bruised
heel, Buddy pulled a leg ligament
as the Mats were in the process of
losing double yesterday at
Boston, 6-5 and Sd, and may yield
his territory temporarily to Johnny
Welaj or Sammy West.
Manager Bucky Harris, operat-
ing with a seven-man pitching staff
inasmuch as Joe Haynes is nursing
sore elbow, has elected to fire Ken
Chase, Dutch Leonard and Joe Kra-
kauskas at the Yankees, with Chase
slated to oppose the vaunted Red
Ruffing today. Krakauskas. who is
ticketed to start Wednesdays game,
will be making his first start in
seven weeks.
Colbert and Myer Hot Hitters.
There is nothing awe-inspiring
about the Mats, but they are pre-
senting a revised and more potent
lineup. There is vague suspicion
Harris finally has located his most
potent team, after many disappoint-
ments. with Charley Colbert at
shortstop, Cecil Travis at third base,
Buddy Myer and Jimmy Bloodworth
alternating at second and Lewis in
the outfeld.
Colbert has been on the astound-
ing side, hitting remarkably we'll
and fielding sensationally. Lewis
has been an acceptable. even cred
liable outfielder, and Travis repre-
sents a steady. third baseman. With
his altered lineup, revised after
the Mats had dropped those seven
straight games, Harris has seen his
club win SIX of 10 games, losing
the others by margins of one run.
Scrappy Buddy Myer hasn't rep
resented any drawback. Mildewing
Buddy has been hitting at gaudy
figure and has injected a shot of
strychnine into the outfit.
Still the club is concerned with
avoiding the cellar after its disas-
trous journey and Griffith Stadium
may be comparative haven after
the rude reception on the road.
The Mats may nudge upward a
notch or two if they continue their
current swatting splurge, which has
seen them average 13 hits a game
in their last six contests
The trouble yesterday at Boston
was that the Mats couldn't produce
blow at the proper interval. In
the first game they made a stren-
uous bid after entering the ninth
inning trailing, 3-6, but the gesture
fizzled when Pinch-hitter Jake
Early famed to end the game.
Walker Smashes Homer in Opener.
With two out in the ninth Wash
ington suddenly unleashed a potent
attack. Gerald Walker blasted
home run over the center-feld fence
and zeke Bonura's double and
Travis single produced another run.
When BloodWorth singled Travis
was perched on second with the
tying run and Bloodworth on first
with the problematical winning run,
but Early struck out, much to the
glee of 81 1893 paying patrons.
The Red Sox smashed Willis Hud-
lin for their six runs in the second
and third innings, with home runs
by Joe Cronin and Bobby Doerr
doubles by Lou Finney and Jimmy
Foxx and Jim Tabor's triple featur-
ing the uprising. Rene Monteagudo
pitched the last five innings for
the Mats and hurled hitless ball. al
lowing only three Red Sox to reach
base through the medium of walks
and only one advanced as far as
second base.
Washington enjoyed a Al lead
entering the eighth inning of the
second game, but Boston nickeS
Walter Masterson for a brace of
doubles and single at that juno
ture to manufacture three runs and
grasp a 5-4 lead.
Travis doubled to launch the Mats
ninth, however, and Washington ap-
parently still was very much in the
game. Travis took third on Myers
infield out, but perished there as
Colbert and Early both were retired
on inf1eld taps. B. H.