Evening star., 1942-04-09
Drive Is Marked
By Hot Wa||op
Vernon Shows
New Power Minimizes
Slump Thut Strikes
Pitching Stoff
BY BURT HAWKINS.
Star Staff Correspondent,

Star Staff Correspondent.
CHARLOTTE, N. c., April g.
The exhilarating continuous click of
solid hitting is magnificent music
to the ears Of Bucky Harris of the
Mats. for with opening day approch-
ing rapidly Washington finally is
displaying some semblance of an
attack.
The Mats, who return to Grifith
Stadium tomorrow to launch three
game series with the Phils in a
final tune-up before battling the
Yankees on Tuesday, have been
moving through their lengthy ex-
hibition slate at brisk clip, but it
generally has been their pitching
that has merited praise.
Now, though, the Mats hitters are
stirring. Harris is inclined to dis
miss lightly the momentary collapse
of his pitching department in At
lanta's 1914 victory yesterday.
What heartened him was that
thumpin.
Washington had manufactured 28
runs on 30 hits in its last two games
as it tangled with Charlotte here
today Such opposition as the Phils
and Atlanta provides no gauge for
the true quality of the Mats hitting,
of course, but at least the foes
pitching has served to sweep the
cobwebs from Mickey Vernon's bat
ting stroke, and for that Harris is
grateful.
Estalella Also Improves.
Vernon, who has belted three
home runs in two days, batting In
seven runs and scoring seven more,
is beginning to resemble the more
timely Mickey Of last season. Dur
ing most of the Mats exhibition en-
gagements Mickey was in the midst
of a slump, but he has pulled out
Of it at the proper point.
Ticketed for the Mats number 4
spot in the batting order, Vernon
was shifted into the normally less
vital number slot recently, with
Bruce Campbell taking over the
cleanup position. Harris now Is
contemplating reinstating Mickey.
The improved batting develop
ment Of Bobby Estalella Is no blow
to Harris. either, for the stumpy
Cuban also is inserting hits fire.
quentfy. Estalella is in the lineup
chiefly because he swings an en-
phatic, If erratic bat and lately he
has been demonstrating he may
become a more consistent clouter
There may be a seemingly in
significant insect in Harris opti-
mistic ointment. While the hitting
has improved, the pitching Of Wal
ter Masterson hasn't. There is no
occasion for Bucky to become
alarmed over Walters Ineffective
ness at this point for Harris still
would possess what is considered
a stylish pitching staff should Mas.
terson fail to develop
Zuber Takes Beating.
Before the acquisition OF Buck
Newsom, Masterson was labeled
a starting pitcher, with a cautious
comment by Harris. ito show some
thing this season, or else" Unless
he reveals marked improvement
hastily, Walter doubtless will dis
cover himself in nothing more than
relief roles.
Masterson 1abored less than three
innings yesterday at Atlanta, and
when he finally was summoned off
the mound, the Crackers had col
lected seven runs and eight hits off
his offerings, hitting the jackpot
with a 6-run sixth inning.
At that juncture the Mats were
trailing 7-12 for Vernon had de-
livered a homer with two on, in the
first and when the ninth rolled
around Mickey inserted another g.
run homer to present the Mats a
14-13 lead.
Bill Zuber promptly pitched the
Mats out Of that situation. He
walked the first two batters to
face him in Atlanta's portion OF
the ninth, and after they advanced
on a sacrifice he purposely passed
Charley Clock to set up a possible
double-play.
That was foiled when Earl Browne
blasted a deep drive to Centerfielder
Stan Spence, Pete Thomassie scor-
ing and Charlie Letchas taking
third, after the catch. Tommy
OrBrien then produced his fourth
hit, single to left, to score Letchas
with the winning run.
The Mats harvested 16 hits of
Earl McGowin, Julian Sowell and
Floyd Stromme, while Early Wynn
Masterson, Phil Mccullough and
Zuber were embarrassed to the
extent of Is Atlanta hits.