Evening star., 1944-06-26
By John b. KELLER.

AOOA 1UI ISySlOH Oh lie MUS
infield when Harlond Cliff rejoins
the club and Eddie Butka, who was
relieved Of a bothersome appendix
last month, Is ready to resume play.
The big inflelder should be in shape
to 90 again within the week.
| Cliff will take over the third base
job from Gil Torres, according to
Manager Os Bluege as soon as his
batting eye appears in trim. This
should be about week after he
reports. Otherwise, Gift Is expect
ed to be in prime condition when
he reaches Washington. The vet
eran bought from the st. Louis
Browns last year, who had to delay
joining the Mats because of the
manpoWer situation in the cattle
industry. in which he is interested,
was ordered several weeks ago to
get in training for baseball.
Butka, q right-hand swinger, will
relieve the veteran Joe Kuhel,
left-hander at bat, whenever the
opposition starts a portside pitcher,
according to Bluege's plans. The
opposition has enjoyed more than
ordinary success with portsiders
against the Mats this season. What
with Stan Spence, George Myatt
and Kuhel In the lineup 1t has
been a good setup for enemy left
hand hurlers.
Not Impressive Before.
Although Butka was not particu-
larly impressive the few times he
was employed in games here early
in the campaign, Bluege believes
the big fellow will prove equal to
the first-basing task and also give
a good account of himself at the
plate. Eddie was far from well
when he substituted for Kuhel. Not
only was his appendix troubling
him, but he also was handicapped
by q cracked thumb. It was q
wonder that he could catch or stop
a ball at all.
The planned infield revision would
not leave Torres out in the cold.
The Cuban, who has done pretty
well at third base, filled in at other
Jobs acceptably in pinches and
proved . timely hitter, would be-
come q relief pitcher in addition
to serving as utility player in both
the inf1eld and outf1eld. He Is the
most versatile performer on the
club for in his nine years in or
ganized baseball Torres has done
about everything except work be-
hind the bat.
AS a relief pitcher, the Cuban
may pan out all right. He was one
Of the best slabmen in the Southern
Association last season when toiling
with the Chattanooga club that
had been transferred to Montgom-
cry. He turned in 19 wins for the
Lookouts and winning that num-
Der for such an outfit was an amaz-
ing achievement. Gil could prove
handy hurler in an emergency.
Good Week on the Road.
The Mats completed a week on
the road yesterday with a record
Of three wins against four defeats.
They finished that good by cop
ping the three-game series with
Boston's Red Sox, backing a victory
last Friday with an even break In
yesterdays mist-swept doubleheader
in Fenway Park.
In the first game they came to
| life in the last three innings to get
all their runs, winding up with
two-tally outburst that got a sd
triumph. In the second, they were
far off hitting stride and suffered
their second shutout in the last four
games, to 0.
With eight hits, the Red Sox got
four markers off Roger Wolff in
the first game before he was driven
to cover in the sixth inning. Alex
Carrasquel came on to finish the
round. A solid sock on the shin by
drive off Petey Fox bat accounted
for the last out in this inning and
also Carrasquel's departure.
Bill Lefebvre took over for two
innings and Early Wynn was sent
in to protect the Mats lead In the
ninth, but 1t was Lefebvre who got
credit for the victory.