Evening star., 1941-04-06
Dozen Left on Bases
As Harrismen Skid
In Orlando Finale
spotty Defense Helps
Foe; Chase, Beck Give
9 Blows for Il Buses
D, . staff correspondent of The star.

By u Staff Correspondent of The Star.
ORLANDO, Fla. April 5.-After
behaving like real ball club for the
better part of a month, the Nationals
finally reverted to their 1910 form
today. Before the unadmiring glance
of 900 Orlandoans, assembled to bid
adieu on the home grounds, Bucky
Harris gang sprayed II hits on the
premises and yet contrived to lose
TO the Philadelphia Phillies, of all
people, 8 to 3.
1t probably was the most dismal
showing of the season for the Mats.
Any moment they looked as if they
were ready to chase the phutile
Phils out of Tinker Stadium, but
every time the Mats tossed left jabs
the National League cellar cham
pions hit them in the teeth with
right uppercuts.
The Mats got II hits for only IA
bases. They also threw the ball
away. stupidity watched an enemy
catcher and caStoff inStigate a
double steal, left u men on the bases
and, In general, acted as if baseball
was some strange game whose inner
mysticiSmS temporarily were beyond
them.
Ex-Nat is Star.
From Ken Chase, the t-hander.
Washington got good seven-inning
pitching performance. Chase wasn't
perfect, but he deserved more than
a lost ball game In the fourth in
ming. for instance, the Phils took a
10 lead on practically nothing at
all. With two down Chase walked
Pinky May, the third baseman.
Mickey Livingston, ex-Nat rookie,
followed with single to center, but,
with non-hitting Cy Blanton at bat
Philadelphia got away with
double-steal which found Livingston
sliding into second and May scoring.
Things became worse in the fifth.
Bobby Bragan, Phil shortstop,
opened with a triple to center Joe
Marty walked, but Stan Benjamin
bounced to Third BaSeman Buddy
Lewis and Bragan appeared hope
lessly trapped. Lewis and Catcher
Al Evans were driving him back to
third base, where there was bright
possibility of also getting Marty and
making double-play, when some
thing went wrong.
The boys got their feet crossed and
who should enter the rundown pic
ture but Chase, who finally got his
hands on the ball with a fine dis
regard for Mr.. Bragan's head and
the ball game. Ken bounced a throw
of the runners noggin and not only
Bragan, but Marty scored while
Benjamin went to third base. A
moment later he scored on a long
fly and, presto, it was 40 in favor
of the Phillies, who got 81 bases on
their 9 hits, by the way.
Prothro Yanks Crouch.
Against Blanton, first Philly pitch
er, the Mats could do nothing ex-
cept constantly threaten. When Bill
Crouch took over in the fifth inning
things began to pick up. An in
ming later Ben Chapman opened
with walk and Buddy Lewis sin
gled him TO third base. On a fly
to Centerfelder Marty which must
have Travelled 425 feet. Cecil Travis
scored Chapman and moved Lewis
TO second base. Whereupon Jimmy
Bloodworth tripled Buddy home.
With one down, runner on third
base and the score cut to 40, Man.
ager Doc Prothro yanked Crouch
and inserted a left handler named
Vito Tamulis, fugitive from some
of the better American and National
League teams. Bloodworth, rest
lessly pacing the third base path.
never left it. Micky Vernon and
Evans went out SO mildly that he
was stranded.
1t still was a ball game until the
Phillies' half of thes eighth inning,
when Chase was given permission
TO take a shower and Rookie Joe
Beck was assigned to finish. Beck,
who previously had looked good,
probably won himself a berth at
Charlotte.
Beck Gets Battered.
He retired the first two Phils and
then walked May, Livingston, who
already had clouted two singles, |
drove against the right-field fence,
which is made of wire. The ball
caromed off George Cases glove,
whereupon the whole thing became
more comical than ever. In trying
to retrieve the ball George got his
foot stuck in the wire and while |
he was lying on the ground, unhurt |
but helpless, May and Livingson |
sped around the bases to score.
With the score 6-2 against them, |
the Mats tried to rally in their half |
of the Eighth. With one out, Blood |
worth, Vernon and Evans singled |
in succession, but Beck famed and
Case flied out. Then in the ninth |
the Phils clinched it and perhaps |
sentenced Beck to the minors for at |
least another season.
Marty, first up in the final inning.
hit home run. Benjamin followed |
with a triple. Danny Lithwhiler |
singled him home and the crowd, |
such as it was, started to 60 home. |
Beck was saved from further en-
barrassment when Nick Etten drilled |
into double play and Bloodworth |
shrew out Midget Mueller.
An apologize double by Chapman
with one out was the only other
&l,xA -