Evening star., 1942-04-26
Struck on Head
By Pitch, Cuban
lis HospitaIized
Injury Is Not Deemed
Serious; Victory Is
First for Hudson
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

The Mats recent daily dose of
calamity yesterday consisted OF
losing for an indefinite period the
services of Third Baseman Bobby
Estalella. leveled by a pitch that
bounced off his head as Washington
was en- route TO a l0-7 victory over
the Philadelphia Athletics at Grif-
fifth Stadium.
Stripped of Pitcher Dutch Leon
ard on Thursday when the knuckle-
ball specialist fractured his left
leg in a slide, the Mats apparently
were more fortunate with Estalella.
x-rayS revealed no fracture and al
though the colorful, hard-hitting
Cuban was ordered to remain over
night at Georgetown University
Hospital he is expected to reioin
his mates shortly.
The Mats club physician wouldn't
hazard guess as to how long
Estalella will remain out of the line
up, but unless complications develop
from the conclusion he doubtless
will return to action in three or
four days.
Esty Often Has Been Target.
Estalella, whose head has repre-
sented an attractive target for many
pitchers since he was imported from
Cuba, was hit above the left ear In
the fourth inning by Fred Caligiuri,
rookie Philadelphia right-hander.
Bobby never lost consciousness, but
was carried from the field by mates.
Hitting 1856, Estalella has been
brushed off" on numerous occa-
sions this season. Caligiuri's pitch.
according to Estalella. was fast
ball that dipped as it neared his
head. He had singled in the
previous inning to launch q 5-run
Washington uprising.
Some 1000 fans generally consid-
cred the pitch a deliberate bean
ball, booing Caligiuri, who later
dropped Al Evans into the dirt with
a head-high pitch. Caligiuri, though.
seemed shaken by the incident de-
spite yielding the Mats only one hit
in the final five innings.
Mats Get Good Start.
The Mats seemingly were in COM
mand of the game as early as the
second inning, when they fashioned
five runs of Herman Besse with the
cooperation of the Athletics, who
were committing three errors and
otherwise conducting themselves in
sandlet style. -,se5
Just to insure their struggle, how
ever, the Mats pounced on Caligiuri
for another five runs in the third
inning, with the aid OF another error
and a home run by Stan Spence
with Jimmy Pofahl on base high
lighting the proceedings.
That 10-l lead appeared formid-
able, comfortable and otherwise safe.
but it developed to be no convincing
margin, for the Athletics nicked Sid
Hudson for a run in the fourth, two
more in the seventh and slammed
the staggering pitcher for their final
three runs in the ninth.
Sid remained the route, though. to
register his first 1912 victory after
two previous futile attempts. The
victory also hoisted the Mats to the
top of the second division ahead of
ST. Louis, Chicago and Philadelphia.
AS First to Score.
Philadelphia snatched a briefly
enjoyed lead in the first inning when
Mike Kreevich doubled, took third
on Billy Knickerbocker's infield out
and scored as Shortstop Pofahl FUN
bled Buddy Blair's smash.
Washington hastily tied the score
in the second inning when Evans
walked, stole second, took third
after Bob Repass flied deep to
Kreevich In center and scored when
Shortstop Pete Suder funbled Kree-
vich's throw to the infield.
That merely was the prelude. The
wild Besse walked Pofahl and Hud-
son in order and George Case in
serted single to left that scored
Pofahl. Hudson had stopped at
second on the hit, but when Kree-
vich threw wild past Suder at Sec
ond, Hudson continued to third and
Case to second.
Spence's Single Big Help.
Into that situation stepped Spence
and lashed a single to right, scoring
Hudson and Case, and Spence con-
tinued to second on Right Fielder
Elmer Valo's tumble. Caligiuri re-
placed Besse at that juncture and
(See BASEBALL, Page C-2)
RATERAII TODAY