Evening star., 1944-05-20
Kuhe| Out, Butka Hurt,
Torres May Play
Initial Corner
By JOHN B. KELLER.

BY JOHN B. KELLER.
Just when the Mats appeared
ready to take over the American
League lead plague fell upon their
first base detail and they now find
themselves in the third spot in the
standing instead of heading the race.
AS result of that 4-to-1 setback
handed them last night at Griffith
Stadium by Detroit's Tigers, the
Mats may have Gil Torres, their
regular third sacker, at the initial
base and Hills Layne handling the
job at the far corner.
This wasn't to be determined by
Manager Os Bluege before his club
was about ready to take on the
Tigers tonight, but with Joe Kuhel,
veteran regular out of the picture
so far as play at first is concerned
because of hurt suffered last Sun
day and Eddie Butka, who assumed
the job last night, bothered by
thumb that has been out of whack
for more than a week the lineup
revision appeared likely.
The handicapped Butka helped to-
ward the defeat last night. Two
errors by him in the third inning
started the Mats toward their down.
fall, although the solid socking Early
Wynn took in the fifth would have
been enough to bring about his
fourth consecutive defeat.
Kuhels Hurt Becomes Worse.
Kuhel was hurt more severely
than thought at the time when Hal
Irosky. first baseman of Chicago's
White Sox, fell on him in a play in
one of last Sundays games. A pain
in Kuhel's chest, slight at first, be-
came more intense steadily until
yesterday the regular first sacker
had to call it quits.
| There is fear that Kuhel may have
cracked rib, which, if so, would
have him out of commission for
some time. An X-ray examination
was scheduled today. Butka's in
jury, which was sustained In prac-
tice last week, was further aggra-
waited last night as he completed 13
putouts. The battering he took left
it doubtful that he would be able |
to continue at first in the current
series.
Torres, perhaps the most versatile
player on the Mats squad, has given
his club good performance at third
base, but he has been rated as better
at first than any other spot in the
infleld. If he takes over at the
initial sack, Skipper Bluege is con-
fldent the job will be we'll handled.
AS to the third-base post, Layne
has demonstrated he can care for
it adequately and has revealed
enough punch to indicate his pres
ence in the lineup wouldn't do any
harm.
Mats League Lead Brief.
The Mats were at the top of the
league for about five hours yester-
day, following the trouncing of
New York's Yankees, but once that
sore hand of Butka's began taking
further punishment they were sunk
Eddie's troubles started after Doc
Cramer had singled with one out
In the third. Joe Hoover was
ordered to sacrifice and would have
been an easy out had Butka been
able to hold Catcher Mike Guerra's
throw. But the ball bounced out of
the first baseman's hands and while
Butka gazed at it on the ground q
lew feet away Cramer reached third
and Hoover was safe at first.
Then Eddie Mayo bunted and
Butka, unable to throw well, with a
chance to get Cramer at the plate
elected to toss to Wynn, covering
first. The throw was wild and the
Tigers had a run. Rudy York fol-
lowed with single to score Hoover.
what happened in the fifth was
dlrectly up to Wynn. The pitcher
then gave up three of the eight hits
he yielded over the route and the
Tigers had two more tallies. Hoov-
er, Mayo and York singled In sue
cesslon for one of the tallies and
the next came in when Pinky Hie-
gins drilled into a double play.
Corsica Stingy With Hits.
The Mats combed Johnny Corsica
only for seven hits, the first not
being made until the fifth frame
In the sixth, Wynn singled only to
be forced out by Jake Powell Then
Corsica picked up George Myatts
bounce and threw wildly to center
letting Powell reach third. Bob
ORTIZ hit for a base to avert a
Washington shutout.
Mickey Haefner and Stubby Over
mlre, a Tiger hurler who has vet to
win a game this season, are to mix
IN a portsiders' scrap tonight
Haefner will be after his fourth win
Al Evans, catcher who left the
Mats after the 1912 campaign to 20
INTO the Navy, may rejoin them
soon. He has been given medical
discharge from service after a long
illness due to sinus complications.
Al Is to confer with President Clark
Griffith of the Mats tomorrow. He
would be a welcome addition to the
club.
George Case, his various ailments
finally relieved, is to go back to his
JOB IN left tonight. This might
mean the benching of Ortiz with
Powell moving over to right field
Rick Ferrell, his ripped thumb about
healed, probably will 90 behind the
bat in a game of tomorrow's double
header.