Evening star., 1941-04-14
Russo Allows
Griffs Three
Scattered Hits
DiMoegio's Triple
And Two Doubles
Figure for Yankees
By BURTON HAWKINS.

In the presence of a capacity
crowd of more than $4,000, including
President Roosevelt, 26-year-old
terpiece today in the American
League opener at Griffith Stadium,
checking the Nationals with three
hits. all singles, as the New York
Yankees won, 80.
Only one of the hits obtained of
the Brooklyn italian left-hander was
a solid smash, and that was collected
by Pitcher Dutch Leonard, who
raped sharp single to center field
in the third inning. Leonard allowed
only six hits in his eight innings on
the mound. but the Yankees gath
cred them in clusters of two each to
score single runs in the first, fifth
and sixth innings.
Buddy Lewis and Buddy Myer OBJ
tanned Washington's two other hits,
both loopers to left field, which they
sliced Russo started shakily, all
lowing five Mats to reach base in
the first three innings, but there
after he was Mr. Poison to WASH
ington. In the last six innings the
Mats could place only three men on
base as Russo protected his lead
with brilliant brand of pitching.
Double Plays Figure.
Russo yielded only one hit in those
last six innings, Myers f1oater to
left in the seventh. and three dou-
bic plays by the altered New York
inlleld aided his en- route to his
victory.
Leonard, who lost last seasons
inaugural game, 10. to the Boston
Red SoX, was nicked for run in
the first inning as Joe Di Maggie
tripleo to score Tommy Heinrich.
In the fifth the Yankees boosted
their lead to 20 on doubles by Bill
Dickey and Russo. New York in
creased its advantage to its final
proportions in the sixth on success
sive singles by Heinrich and Di Mag
gio and Charley Keller's long fly
to George Case in right field.
Leonard gave way to Pinch-hitter
Johnny Welaj in the eighth inning
after Rick Ferrell had walked to open
the inning. but Welaj drilled into a
double play and Russo retired the
final four Mats in order Ken Chase
pitched the final inning for WASH
ington and disposed of Di Maggie,
Keller and Joe Gordon.
Buddy Myer, who replaced the in
jured Jimmy Bloodworth at second
base for the Mats, contributed the
fielding gem of the game when he
raced back of second base in the
seventh inning to stab Dickey's
hard-hit grounder and then threw
from off balance to nip him in a dis
puted play at first base.
Di Maggie Slams Triple.
The huge crowd, which had been
f1ltering into the -bleachers since the
gates were opened at IL o'clock, was
not long in waiting for a thrill.
Rizzuto, first man to face Leonard,
raped his initial pitch on the
ground to Shortstop Cecil Travis,
who whipped him out, but Red Rofe
drilled a sharp single to right.
Tommy Heinrich then hit what re-
sembled double-play ball, but
Leonard started this season as he
ended in l940-in hard luck.
| Buddy Myer tipped Henrich's
| grounder to Travis at second base
to force Rolfe, but Travis throw to
George Archie at first base was into
the dirt and escaped Archie. Hem
| rich continuing to second. Joe Di
Maggie then whacked a mighty
triple over Roger Cramer's head in
| center field, scoring Heinrich with an
unearned run. Charley Keller left
(See BASEBALL, Page 2-X.)