Evening star., 1941-05-02
Bound
To Help Mats,
Feels
Vernon, Put at First,
Stars With Travis
AS Chisox Bow
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star staff Correspondent.


ST. LOUIS, Mo, May 2-The eX-
hilarating aftermath of a rare
Washington victory has stirred
some optimism in the hairy chest of
Bucky Harris. The Mats manager
is basing his rose-tlnted outlook on
recent rapid developments which,
for a day, had the team performing
as he previously had hoped it would.
Overnight the Mats found the
formula for a winning club in
steady pitching, timely hitting and
smooth fielding, crushing the White
SoX, TO, yesterday at Chicago.
Harris shook his team thoroughly
before using and the result should
be a tonic to a team which feels it
has been performing below par
since the seasons start.
No regret has Harris for making a
move which sent Sammy West to
the outfleld. Buddy Myer to second
base and Jimmy Vernon to first
base. Vernon's behavior particu-
larly was refreshing TO Harris, who
will continue to load his lineup
with left-handed batters against
right-handed pitching.
We're forgetting the past says
Harris. This is just like fighting
a 154-round battle. Well, we've lost
10 of the first Is rounds, but We
have the consolation of knowing We
can't be knocked out. There's a
new round and a new battle up
every day, so we're not out of this
scrap yet.
I've said all along that this is a
better team than it's shown and
yesterday the boys proved it I still
think it's club that can play 500
ball or better. Dutch Leonard
seems squared away and Sid Hud-
son. Walter Masterson and Ken
Chase will improve. We're not
going to be the pushovers we have
been"
Travis Still Hitting.
Vernons department yesterday
naturally bolstered Bucky's sagging
spirit. Mickey replaced George
Archie at first base for the first time
this season and belted a single and
triple, swatted across two runs and
generally conducted himself as a
polished article.
Dwarflng even the heartening
eight-hit hurting of Leonard and
Vernons success, though. was the
batting of Cecil Travis, who has cul-
tivated a happy habit Of collecting
two or three hits every game. Travis
merely blasted home run and two
doubles, scored two runs and batted
in three in dealing Bill Dietrich his
first loss in four starts.
Travis had amassed "a hits In AZ
trips to the plate as the Mats pre-
pared to tangle with the Browns in
the opener Of a two-game series here
today. He had hit safely in nine
straight games. despite being in and
out of the lineup with ailments
ranging from a severely gashed left
knee to rebellious stomach.
Half of Cecils hits have travelled
for extra bases and of his last seven
safetles, five have been doubles, one
triple and the other a homer. Sup
poSedly faint-hearted with men on
base, he is leading the club with Is
runs batted in despite having played
in only 10 full games.
The top major league hitter with a
57l average, Travis currently is
blotched with bandages. The spike
cash he received from New Yorks
Phil Rizzuto two weeks ago still is an
open wound. Under a big blanket
of gauze on his right thigh is raw
flesh, the result Of a scraping slide,
and not aiding him are tummy
tremors.
Leonard Stingy With Hits.
Quiet, gangling Cecil is shaming
those who have questioned his cour-
age. Half sick, injured and await
ing induction into the Army, Travis
is playing the best brand of baseball
he ever has displayed.
Leading off with a double that
paved the route to Washington's
first run in the second inning, Travis
walloped terrific drive into the
upper tier of the right-center field
stands leading off in the fourth in
ming. In the sixth inning his long
fly to Left Fielder Julius Solters al
lowed Vernon to score and in the
eighth he doubled to score Buddy
(See HAWKINS, Page C-2)