Evening star., 1943-04-28
Punches Mats
Wasting Much
Good PITCHING
No Regular Betting
300; As Go to 10th
For FL Triumph

The paralysis in Washington's
power department is nullifying
succession of neatly pitched games,
and with four regulars hitting less
than .240 Manager ossie Bluege
seemingly has cause for alarm. The
Mats are getting virtually no help
from the rear end of their batting
order, and the fellows above them
aren't particularly proud of their
swatting.
Most disturbing to Ossie is the
failure of Stan Spence to resemble
the fellow who batted at a 1928 clip
last season. Stan now is struggling
along at 23l pace, but he has con-
siderable company. Gerald Priddy
is hitting .227, Jake Early .174 and
Johnny Sullivan .160.
There isn't a Nat regular, in fact,
who is nestled in the select 300
circle. Gene Moore, currently re-
placing the sinus-shackled George
Case in the outfield, is humping
300, but the next Nat is little Ellis
Clary with .296, and thereafter the
drop is sudden and sad.
Bob johnson. the Mats cleanup
hitter, has hoisted himself to 28O
after slow start, while Mickey
Vernon is hitting .273. Bluege had
reason to suspect hitting would be
one of the Mats chief charms, but
he is displaying no great glee over
that sort of socking.
Wynn's Efforts Wasted.
Bluege still is convinced, though,
that the Mats have batting strength
1t could be the short spring train
ing season didn't give Washington's
batters an opportunity to sharpen
their strokes, so Ossie is ordering
intensified batting drills in an effort
to yank 'em out of their unanimous
slump.
Early Wynn is becoming an
authority on the Mats lack of
effectiveness at the plate. He has
pitched 81 innings, permitting only
three runs and II hits, but over that
span the Mats have collected only
two runs for him and despite bril-
liant hurting he hasn't victory to
show for it.
Wynn pitched l3 scoreless innings
yesterday at Griffith Stadium, but
when he left the premises the Mats
still vainly were attempting to score.
Rae Scarborough replaced him
starting the 14th inning and finally
dropped 81 decision to the Phila-
delphia Athletics in 16 innings.
AS team the Mats are batting
233 and it has been brought home
vividly to Wynn, who was outlasted
by Rookie Jesse Flores, a Mexican
right-hander who weakened with
two out in the 10th after the Ath-
letics had pushed across their brace
of runs in the first half of the inning.
Mats Do Some Fancy Fielding.
Wynn saw the Mats support him
marvelously in the one inning he
faltered. With one out in the
seventh the AS performed the
unique feat of obtaining four sue
cessive singles. yet failing to score.
Irwin Hall singled off Sullivan's
glove, but was whipped out at third
by johnson when he attempted to
advance two bases on Bob Swift's
single. Flores followed with single
to center and so did Jo-Jo White.
but when Swift attempted to score
from second on Whites blow Spence
nailed him with a perfect peg to
Early.
Flores also was getting some help.
With two out in the ninth. johnson
walked and Vernon raped a double
off the right field fence. johnson
sprinted for the plate, but was
nipped when Dick Siebert relayed
Outfielder Jim Tyacks throw to
Catcher Swift.
Scarborough took over in the 14th
and proceeded to escape damage for
two innings despite walking two AS
in each inning. In the 18th. how
ever, his wildness caught up with
him. He walked Felix Mackiewicz
and after tanning Tyack was the
victim of brutal break when
Priddy threw high to Sullivan at
second after fielding Siebert's
grounder.
Two Singles Bag Game.
Rae whipped third strike past
Pete Suder, but Hall looped a single
to center, scoring Mackiewicz and
Hal Wagner's single scored Siebert.
With two out in their half of the
inning the Mats became trouble
some. Moore singled and when
Spence walked Flores was replaced
by Roger Wolff. johnson greeted
him with double to right that
scored Moore, but Vernon tapped
meekly to Third Baseman Eddie
Mayo.
Philadelphia collected eight hits,
while the Mats got seven.
Slated to face the AS here today
was Ewald Pyle, who was to be op-
posed by Russ Christopher. The
Athletics will play here tomorrow,
while the Yankees will invade Fri
dov