Evening star., 1943-07-09
Browns Cliff Sought
As Losing Mats Try
To Mend Fences

BY BURTON HAWKINS,
Star staff Correspondent.

CLEVELAND, July 9.-In q des-
perate attempt to regain their spot
among the aristocracy Of the Amer
ican League, the Mats frantically
are searching for reinforcements,
but while the effort is sincere the
results may be negligible. At least,
Manager Ossie Bluege isn't visioning
obtaining anybody in . hurry who
would soothe the Mats suffering.
Washington has lost 3 Of II games
on its current road trip and Since
last Saturday night, when the Mats
poked their noses within .003 per-
centage points of first place, they've
created toboggan records, dropping
Z Of 8 games.
That sort Of conduct has denoted
the Mats to fourth place, with no
guarantee they won't be nestled in
the second division after battling
Cleveland here tonight. In an effort
to stymie that comparative catas-
trophe, Bluege will employ Early
Wynn As his pitcher.
Priddy May BE Back.
Wynn and Milo Candini on sew
eral occasions have stepped in to
put an end to losing streaks and
to Wynn will be entrusted the task
Of stopping Washington's string Of
defeats before it reaches record pro-
portions. The Mats have lost three
straight games several times this
season but never q fourth straight
contest, a mark they will establish
by being defeated tonight.
Bluege also hopes to regain the
services Of Second Baseman Gerald
Priddy, who was lifted from the
lineup yesterday as the Mats
dropped a So decision to the In
dams. Priddy pleaded Illness and
Bluege dispatched George Myatt to
second base.
Myatt convinced Bluege that a
slump -shackled Priddy is more
preferable than Myatt, who was a
total loss at bat and who dropped
an easy pop ny.
Washington's recent behavior has
Bluege believing the Mats require
aid Immediately, so Washington is
bidding for the services of Out
fielder Tony Criscola. formerly of
the Browns but now performing
with the Toledo Mudhens, st.
Louis farm.
Still Hope TO Get Gift.
Charley Roberts, shortstop who
has been playing admirably in the
Southern Association, is Washing
ton property and is being eyed by
Bluege, but the Mats Montgomery
(AlaJ Club wants a replacement
and there complications develop.
Washington can't send Utility In
fielder Sherry Robertson to the
minors without losing title to him,
but the Mats may send him along
anyway. Sherry, nephew Of Boss
Clark Grifiith. has told chums he
would relish leaving the Mats and
being shipped somewhere he could
play regularly.
Meanwhile, the Mats haven't given
up hope of obtaining Harlond Cliff
Browns third baseman. The deal
ing deadline expired June IS, but
If the Browns can get waivers on
him they will start talking terms
to Grifith, who stopped chatting
when he reached $25,00 on the
same subject recently.
BY landing an acceptable third
baseman, the Mats then could re-
turn Bob johnson to the outfield
Boo has been giving a passable job
at third base but he is more stylish
in the outf1eld, where the Mats need
his accurate and strong throwing
arm.
Pyle Hammered.
Mickey Vernon will carry a string
Of five successive hits into tonight S
game here. He collected four of
the Mats seven hits Of Allie Rey-
nolds yesterday and singled in his
last Official trip to the plate against
the Tigers Wednesday.
Mickey bounced three hits of
Cleveland's short rightfield fence
but could stretch only one Of them
into double as the other two rico
cheted of the wall into Right Fielder
Roy Cullenbine's glove.
The Indians showed the Mats con-
siderable power. They slammed
Ewald Pyle for six extra base blows
in the first three innings to COM
pile a Al lead Mickey Haefner
pitched the final five innings for
Washington and comported himself
nicely, yielding only three hits and
one run.
The walloping was Pyles eighth
and continued his lengthy vaca-
tion from victory. He hasn't regis
tered a triumph since June s.