Evening star., 1942-04-13
RenodeIed Mats
49,. os'
.ToP|ay Gomez !. !.
~
AT Mid.Base 1. !. !. !.
ly!l
Toll as PhiIIies Bow
Qualities Mexicun
For Job in Opener

Oh his impressive performance
in the Mats final exhibition game,
Manager Bucky Harris has selectsa
Jose Gomez, slender Mexican, 10
start at second base tomorrow when
the Mats tangle with the New York
Yankees In the American League
opener at Grifith Stadium at,
o'clock. sn
Whether Franklin Delano Roose-
velt will follow the presidential cIss
tom Of tossing out the first ball re-
mained In doubt today, but WASH
ington baseball club offlcials were
expressing belief the Chief Execii2
tive will head an anticipated throng
Of $1,000. aN
Sid Hudson, 6-foot 4-inch right.
handler two years removed from the
Class d Florida State League, will
pitch for the Mats, with Spurge0n
(Spu0 Chandler expected to toll
for the Yankees. e,
Should Manager Joe Mccarthy
Of New York start Chandler or any
other Highlander Jake Early win
handle the Mats catching. II Me-
Carthy employs southpaw Harris
will counter by sending Al Evans
behind the plate for Washington. it
New Lineup to Face Yanks. ~
The Yankees, prohibitive favor
ties to annex their sixth pennant
in the last seven years, will be inn
porting such prominent basebaH
figures as Joe Di Maggie, Charley
Keller, Joe Gordon, Bill Dickey;
Tommy Heinrich, Lefty Gomez, Red
Rolfe and Red Ruffing. u
New York is having its troubles.
though. for Mccarthy may be forced
to start Gerald Priddy at third base
instead of the recuperating Rolfe,
Mccarthy is wavering between Ed
Levy and Bud Hassett at first
base. but-doubtless will start the left
handed hitting Hassett against
Hudson.
The Mats will be presenting d
completely remodeled lineup from
the team that trotted out for the
1941 opener. George Case is the only
holdover among those who saw
service last year and he has been
shifted from right to left field. -
Gomez, who was playing with
the Phils nine years ago, is total
stranger to local fans. Bobby Esta-
leila, an outfielder here several sea-
sons ago, Is back with the Mats at
third base, while a wise cracking
rookie. Bob Repass, will be at short
stop. Bruce Campbell, veteran out
fielder obtained from Detroit, will
be in right field and Stan Spence,
former Boston Red Sox bench
warmer. will be in center field.
Gomez Is FIashy Afield. x
Conspicuous by their significant
absence will be Cecil Travis and
Buddy Lewis, former Washington
batting stars inducted into the
Army. IL
Gomez played his first game as A
Nat yesterday as Washington de-
feated the Phils, Az, and he dis4
played enough nifty fielding to war.
rant Harris praise. Hes the best
available" said Bucky, so he'll
start at second base. He may
scratch a hit here and there, but
his physique doesn't indicate much
power" 2s
The thin Mexican was handling
nine chances against the Phils iii
fiawless style, however. and he is
calculated to bolster the Mats de-
tense until sore-armed Frankie
Croucher returns to the lineup. D., >
Mickey Vernon blasted a sixth
inning homer to elevate the Nate
into IL tie yesterday, but Dutch
Leonard promptly pitched the Phils
into 2-1 lead in the seventh. Esta1
lella's double, Repass' infield out
and Pitcher Ike Pearson's tumble 81
Gomez tap again locked the score
In the Mats portion of the seventh
and Washington mustered two runs
in the eighth on singles by Case,
Spence, Vernon and Evans. B. II.