Evening star., 1944-04-19
uers> With Big Day in Openers, Credit Northern Training
B|uege's Faith in Mats
Strong;; Sees Defeat
Due 10 Late Break
By JOHN B. KELLER.

By JOHN B. KELLER.
I'VE slipped when a slip meant a
run and that beat u.s." said Os
Bluege after his Mats were tripped,
3 to 2, in the Thinning long season
inaugural at Griffith Stadium. But
1 am satisfied our play won't often
be marred by such Slips" the Wash
ington manager went on. "A little
improvement in hitting and I'd say
we'll be in there fighting with the
best of EN-"
Rain forced an early postpone
ment of today's game with the
Philadelphia Athletics, but the
Washington skipper was hoping to
even scores with them tomorrow by
sending Early Wynn, his topnotch
fastballer, to the firing line. Connie
Mack is apt to counter with Russ
Christopher, big right-hander.
The Mats looked better than that
defeat yesterday. Outside of the
slip that Bluege marked as the
break of the game against them,
they sparkled afield. They turned
in four double-plays and Stan
Spence and Joe Kuhel came through
with spectacular performances.
At bat, they left something to be
desired. None of the Mats nine hits
was good for more than a base.
Five times outside their scoring in
ming they got the first batter up on
first base. But there was no power
back of him.
Yet despite the loss, the Mats
looked good ball club. They were
poised and they went about their
work in an easy manner In al
most every way except the final
score they were pretty good.
Error in Ninth Costly.
That slip Bluege referred to came
in the ninth round when the AS of
Philadelphia tied the score at 2-all.
With Jo 10 White on first base as a
result of hit Ell Wheaton shot a
Single to short right. White never
hesitated at second, but would have
been an easy out at third for Bob
Crtiz's throw had him well beaten.
But White slid into the sack kick
ing, knocked the ball Gilberto Torres
had caught one way and the third
sacker's glove the other and was
safe. Came another single by Frank
Hayes and the unearned typing run.
1t had been taut tussle from the
start, with the AS getting away in
front and the Mats rallying in the
sixth to get a.lead they held so
briefly. Johnny Niggeling had
knockle-balled in fine style after a
walk to White had led to the AS
tally at the outset. Big Luman Har-
ris looked good outside the sixth
when three singles and an error put
theANats in front.
But two of those hits weren't OF
the variety calculated to make the
Mats a power in attack throughout
the season. Niggeling made the
first, a blooper over second. then
moved to third as Wheaton man.
handled George Cases hit. George
Myatt lunged at Harris pitch to
loop the ball to short center and
lover went the two runs.
| Niggeling in Good Trim.
Niggeling looked keen, despite
some wildness. He yielded just SIX
hits, these being punched in 4 OF
his II innings of service.
His departure brought to the hill
Milo Candini. who had almost
hurled full ball game while warm
ing up in the bullpen before taking
over in the 18th. Milo got into trou-
BILE right away for Dick Siebert
reached him for a single and Bob
Wilkins sacrificed. Ed Busch's in
field erasure was no help, but Irv
Hall helped himself to his third hit
a double to left, and that was the
ball game.
Candini might have Jared better
had he thrown to second after grab
blng wilkins bunt. 1t seemed he
had plenty of time to force Siebert
And he might have trapped Siebert
of second after picking up Busch S
tap. But both times the pitcher
threw to first for sure outs. Either
play could have prevented the 18th
inning run.
The Mats never had look in after
Harris was withdrawn from the
game following a nine-inning effort
They got nine hits off the tall right
handler, but off his successor, Joe
Arthur Berry, they were helpless.
Wrong Umpire Fans Target.
Pop bottles were tossed, but at
the wrong umpire, when White was
ruled safe at third in the ninth
after kicking the ball out of Torres
hands. Jones at third was the
target, but it was Umpire Hubbard
behind the plate who made the
decision.
Alex Carrasquel during converse
ton before the game must have
tipped the Vice President in Spanish
to send the formal inaugural toss ir
his direction. The big Venezuelan
got the ball near second base with
no one around to interfere.