Evening star., 1944-04-26
.GriHs Too Free With
Gift Runs, Still Seek
Their Second Win
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

When better ways to lose ball
games are discovered, the Mats
probably will come up with them.
In the meanwhile Manager Os
Bluege is endeavoring to find ways
whereby his men could take ad-
vantage of what opportunities to
triumph may come their way. He
also seeks means to prevent them
throwing away games apparently
clinched.
That 5-to-4 defeat in Il innings
by the Red Sox in their series opener
yesterday at Griffith Stadium came
too close on the heels of the beating
taken in New York when it seemed
victory was assured and was too
reminiscent Of the licking handed
the Mats in overtime by Philadel-
phias Athletics in the season in
augural.
Nat mistakes and runs they gave
away cost the club the games with
the AS and the Yanks and the same
combination beat Bluege's charges
for the third time in four appear
ances in this young campaign.
Playing as the Mats in their train
ing season made it appear they
would play, the Washington club
now would be riding along in the van
with four victories instead of seek
ing its second win. That it isn't,
has Skipper Bluege not down, but
disguised.
Mistakes Irk Bluege.
Too many mistakes on the base
paths as we'll as IN the field are
being made" Bluege complained to-
day. '"Not only are we handing the
other side runs, but we are cheating
ourselves Of them.
There must be sudden improve
ment In judgment by the players IN
action or there will be sudden
change in the lineup that takes
the field" the manager asserted.
He was upset particularly by the
tilt with the Red Sox that went
the wrong way when 1t might well
have been taken by the Mats in nine
innings. Two of the three runs
that got the visiting Bostons OF to
a lead in the fourth round were pure
gifts. And after Boston had tied
IN the ninth 1t seems that some
heads-up base running might have
gotten the Mats the run they needed
in their half OF the inning.
In that fourth inning the Red Sox
had counted with Ford Garrison's
single and Bob Johnson's double:
then there were runners on second
and third with two out and Roy
Partee up. Bluege had ordered
Partee passed to get at Pitcher
Emmett O'Nen or whatever pinch
batter Manager Joe Cronin sent up.
Wild Throw Helps Bosox.
But with the count three-and-
nothing on Partee, a throw to get
Johneon OF third was attempted by
Rick FexTeA. The catcher succeeded
only In plugging Bob In the back
the ball rolled to the outfield and:
two unearned tallieS crossed.
Tne Mats Immediately got two az
these runs back with Joe Kuheis
walk and singles by Gil Torres,
Johnny Sullivan and Ferren. In the
next round they evened the count
with George Myatt's walk, Stan
spences single, Bob Ortiz's sacrifice
and Torres fly. They went afead
in the eighth when Torres tripIed
~ tallied as the Red Sox missed 1
string double play.
ss Johnny Niggeling, who had
been found for eight hits in eight
innings, slipped after two were out
In the ninth and the Red Sox dead
locked the game. Garrison doubled
over Spence's head and got home
when johnson singled.
Mats Only Threaten.
With one out in their ninth the
Mats threatened to make it q win
for themselves. Spence singled and
took second on ONeils wild pitch.
Came single by Ortiz, but Spence,
evidently fearing catch, was slow
in breaking from second. This delay
hurt, for Bobby Doerr's fine relay Of
Center Fielder Leon Culberson's s
equally fine throw easily got Spence
at the plate.
After that the game settled to a
duel between Pitchers Milo Candini
and Mike Ryba, the latter baseball's
Jack Of all positions, and Ryba was
master. The Mats got no hits of
him In five rounds, while the Red
Sox collected flve of Candini in
four. Doerr opened the Bosox 18th
with a double, Pinch-batter Jim
Bowman singled and Partee's long
fly got Doerr home.
Something drastic seems needed to