Evening star., 1942-05-02
beaning Robbed
Esty Of Punch,
Griffmen Fear
Cuban HitIess Since
Blow; indians BIost
Kennedy, Mosterson
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

By BURTON HAWKINS.
Chunky Bobby Estalella's semi
astounding last weeks batting aver
age of 1866 has perished. Chicago
and Cleveland pitchers have
trimmed 1t to the more modest mark
OF -288, and there's a suspicion the
prolific clouting of Washington's
third baseman vanished with the
ball that caromed of his crinkly
haired dome last Saturday.
1t is possible the leagues pitchers
merely are catching up to the effer-
vescent Cuban, of course, but it also
Is significant that Estalella hasn't
obtained anything remotely resem-
bling a hit since he deserted
Georgetown University Hospital and
resumed activity with the Mats on
Tuesday.
Eleven times Estalella has gone
hitless since returning to the club
and on nine of those occasions he
has failed to drill a ball past the
inf1eld. 1t isn't refreshing behavior
when recalling that 10 of Bobby's
IS hits before he was injured tray
eled for extra bases.
When Pitcher Fred Caligiuri of
the Athletics fattened Estalella he
merely climaxed series of pitches
aimed in the general direction of
the Cuban's head. The law of aver
ages finally connected, and what
loomed as q successful season for
Bobby may have been terminated
at that point.
Bobby No Fielding Gem.
Estalella's value to the Mats is
lncased solely in his hitting. He is
no polished third baseman, with his
exclusive treatment of bunts and
MS scattery arm, and when he isn't
hitting his place in the lineup isn't
justified.
Bobby may snap out of it but If
he doesn't the Mats are ticketed for
additional trouble. Prexy Clark
Griffith isn't willing to entrust Stan
Gale with third-base duties, which
leaves residue Of Jose Gomez, who
would be transplanted from his for
mer spot at second. and Coach
Ossle Bluege as possibilities there.
Gomez or the 41-year-old Bluege
would improve the Mats defensively,
but Manager Bucky Harris prob
ably will be content to string along
with Estalella In the fond hope
he'll hit.
The Mats manifold infield worries
are being complicated by the pro-
longed absence Of frankie Croucher,
who was slated to perform at sec
ond base. Croucher attempted to
throw hard yesterday in infield
practice, but with distressingly pain
ful results. Harris can't plan on
Croucher returning in the imme-
diate future and there Is a chance
his baseball career has been ended
by that sore arm.
Crouchers job Is in jeopardy, for
Grinth doubtless will attempt to
place him on the suspended list
at least until he is able to play.
frankie has seen no service with
the Mats, even as pinch hitter.
Browns Here for Twin Bill.
Meanwhile the Mats were hoping
to fracture Cleveland's 12-game
winning streak today at Griffith
Stadium, with blustery Buck New
som slated to oppose the Indians
Jim Bagby. st. Louis will invade
for a double header tomorrow. with
Sid Hudson and Jack Wilson sched-
uled to work for Washington.
The Indians ran their string to
IL games with a 1875 triumph
over the Mats yesterday, pounding
Bill Kennedy, Walter Masterson,
Alexandra Carrasquel and Hardin
Cathey for 16 hits, including four
doubles, four triples and Les
Fleming homer with one on in
flve-run fourth inning. Mel Harder
remained the route for the Indians
despite granting II hits.
MaSterson was no gem. The Mats
overcame a 40 deficit to present
him no worse than A tie enter
ing the third inning, but Masterson
couldn't stand prosperity. He
yielded a run in the third on Flem-
ings double and Ray Mack's single.
then permitted five runs in the
fourth when Buster Mills singled.
Lou Boudreau and Ken Keltner
doubled, Oris Hockett tripled and
Fleming homered.
Kennedy, making his major league
debut, failed to survive the first in
ming or even one out. He walked
the first two batters he faced, then
issued two hits before Masterson
could be rushed TO the mound. Mas
terson permitted nine hits and six
runs in his short stay, while Carras-
quel was nicked for two runs and
Cathey for another.
Stan Spence's double. Vernon's
triple and Bruce Campbell's single
produced two runs for the Mats in
the first inning, and Roberto Ortiz's
home run with Jimmy Pofahl on
base locked the score at A in the
second. Masterson promptly pitched
the Mats out of that situation to
end Washingtons three-game win
ming streak