Evening star., 1942-03-20
Frank 5 Failure
Would Weaken
Griff |nfie|d
PofohI, Sub, Not Quite
Ready; Rookie Lyons
Hit Beuts Giants
BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. March 90
There is a suspicion the Mats re-
ceived a fragile commodity when
they obtained Second Baseman
Frank Croucher from the Tigers.
For the second time in three weeks,
the slender infielder is inactive with
damaged throwing arm.
Croucher remained in Orlando as
the Mats prepared to meet the Phils
today and the Giants tomorrow and
Sunday. Again he has suffered a
sore right arm and Nat bosses have
occasion to wonder if the injury
will be recurring frequently.
Croucher, who was shipped to
Washington with Outfielder Bruce
Campbell in exchange for Outflelder
Roger Cramer and Second Baseman
Jimmy Bloodworth, has seen little
service with the Mats. He became
too frisky in infield drills before
exhibition games were launched
and developed a lame arm. Only
recently he returned to action.
AS the Mats spanked the Giants,
4-3, Yesterday at Orlando. Crouch
er's arm was strained as he whipped
a throw to Mickey Vernon at f1rst
to complete a double play. Some
thing snapped and Croucher now IS
ticketed to rest at least for several
days.
LYONS Performs Well.
Again Jimmy Pofahl will replace
Croucher and Franks Ill fortune
comes as somewhat Of a break 1or
Jimmy, who batted 1888 and per-
formed admirably afield while sub
bing for him previously.
Pofahl. should Crouchers arm
continue to plague him. may inherit
the second base job. His throwing
has improved but he isn't regarded
as e. polished pivot man ana the
loss Of Croucher, Or even sporadic
absenSes. would hurt the Mats.
Manager Bucky Harris will test
Pofahl despite the presence OF ID
year-old Eddie Lyons, whose plnch
single in the eighth inning scored
stan Gale with the run that beat
the Giants. Young Mr.. Lyons has
become the darling Of Washingtons
ouftt and not without reason.
Lyons, whose only experience IN
baseball has been part OF
last season with Charlotte OF the
Piedmont League. is slated to return
to Charlotte. He probably will be
sent back for more experience, but
with-a dearth of infielders on Wash
ington's squad he's making a neat
battle to stick.
He is cocky. flaShy-flelding
specimen who quit Reynolds High at
Raleigh, N. c., last year to enter
baseball The support OF a widowed
mother. little Eddie has captivated
the Mats with his deceptive power,
and in him the Mats doubtless are
viewing Washington's future second
baseman.
In his first appearance in major
league uniform Lyons was sent IN as
a pinch-hitter against Cleveland.
He delivered the longest blow hit by
a Nat in games this season, but 1t
merely was a 420-foot out to Center
Fielder Roy Weatherly.
Big League Base Runner.
With the score locked at 3-3 and
Gale perched on second base, Lyons
stepped to the plate yesterday and
delivered a crisp single to left on
Cliff Melton. He runs those bases
like a big Lacquer, too, for the 160-
pound youngster whisked into second
on the throw to third in an attempt
to nip Pofahl, who had walked.
The Mats were having their
troubles earlier in the game, for
New York had nicked Jack Wilson
for two runs in the fourth inning to
take a 81 lead, and the Giants in
creased their advantage to 81 of
Dutch Leonard in the seventh.
Washington tied it up in it's por-
tion of the seventh Bob Repass
singled to left and Croucher pro-
PEELED him across with a lengthy
double to center Leonard sacri-
feed and after George Case fouled
out, Stan Spence walked and Ro-
berto Ortiz slashed single to
center, scoring Croucher.
Sid Hudson and Alexandra Car
rasquel were to hurl against the
Phils today as Washington sought
It's ninth win in IL starts.