Evening star., 1943-04-21
In Great Shape,
Pitcher Sip
Tick|es 0ss
Griffmen Spotty in is
Victory Over Mocks
In Opening Come
B. a Staff Correspondent Of The Star.


NEW YORK, April 21.-That rare,
invigorating feeling that blends with
satisfactory start gave the Mats
a happy, optimistic outlook today as
they moved into Yankee Stadium
for the opener of three-game series
with New York, and they hoped to
avenge past indignities.
Yankee Stadium has represented
torture chamber to Washington
baseball teams in recent seasons, but
Manager Ossie Bluege is confident
he is equipped with a club capable
of creating considerable trouble for
the once mighty and still powerful
Yankees.
Early Wynn, husky right-hander
who captured 10 games as rookie
last season. was to face Ernie Bon
ham in New York's opener today be-
fore an anticipated crowd of 10000
and even should he fail in his initial
start, Wynn has merited Blueges
respect.
Hes in the best shape he's ever
been in," enthused Ossie, land he
ou61lt w 1ldNC a 6OOo oCdoCAA. AAS .
faster than ever-fast enough to
knock their bats out of their hands.
Warming up the other day, he nearly
tore Jake Earlys mitt off his hand.
If he doesn't come up with a good
season, III be disappointed"
Tribute to Clary.
Bluege wasn't overly optimistic
following the Mats 7-5 triumph over
the Philadelphia Athletics yester-
day at Griffith Stadium before
crowd of 25,O93.
eve did some things wrong" re-
viewed Ossie, but still we won.
have to like the outcome despite the
fact we weren't at our best
Dutch Leonard got tough breaks.
One of the doubles they got off him
should have ebeen caught and the
other was blooper that fell an inch
or so inside the foul line. He wasn't
getting any the best Of it, but still
he wasn't pitching as he can.
Ellis Clary got mixed l.p on our
signals when he tried to steal home
in the first inning. He was sup
posed to stick on third as George
Case stole second. but I'm not COM
planning about that kid. He's 100
per cent CUTS. See him dive for
that short pop fly? He'll make
ballplaver out of himself or kill
himself trying"
Bluege presented clear picture
of what the Mats rivals may ex-
pect from them in the running de-
partment. Clary launched the Mats
portion of the first inning with a
single and on Luman Harris next
pitch he set out for second and
made it.
Case later sped toward second
when Clary made the mistake of
taking off from third and in the
second inning Mickey Vernon was
nipped stealing. The Mats were
hitting and running. too. all of
which would indicate Ossie will at
tempt to capitalize on the unusual
speed in his outfit.
The ground was too soft for much
running yesterday" said Bluege,
but we won't run into that handi-
cap much"
He has the leagues two top base
stealers in Case and Vernon, for
mer Southern Association leader in
Clary and other fleet specimens in
Johnny Sullivan and Gerald Priddy.
On the bench is George Myatt, who
led the American Association in
stolen bases last season. When anv
OF those gentlemen wants to pick
'em up and put 'em down, Bluege
is indicating he won't be inclined
to shackle them, providing, of
course, the gamble is justihable.
What impressed the customers.
| though, was the Mats hitting when
they finally located the range. For
FIVE innings Harris was threatening
to deal the Mats fourth success
sive opening-da shutout. but when
Washington got around to scoring,
it hit the jackpot with six-run ex-
plosion in the sixth inning.
AS Pitchers Yanked.
To that point the Mats had been
struggling along on the wrong end
| of a 80 score. Philadelphia had
mustered two runs off Leonard in
the third inning when Elmer Valo
singled and Jo-Jo White and Jim
Tyack doubled, and added another
in the fourth when Irwin Hall
walked, moved along on Bob Swifts
sacrifice and scored on another Valo
! single.
Meanwhile Harris was edging out
of difficulties. Bob johnson left five
runners stranded in his first two
trips to the plate, but in the sixth
it was Johnson who touched off the
Mats outburst with a sharp single.
Vernon walked and Johnson
scored when Priddy rammed long
double to right. Earlys single
fetched Vernon home and Manager
Connie Mack of the AS rapidly
rushed Russ Christopher to the
mound to replace Harris.
Sullivan tapped to Third Baseman
CSee WYNN PAGE C-2O