Evening star., 1944-07-27
Torres Return May Lift Griffs
Out Of Ruck; Lose to Chisox
BY JOHN B. KELLER,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT.

CHICAGO, July 27.-Gil Torres is
coming back to the Nats-it could
be today If he makes plane con-
nections-and Manager Os Bluege
has high hope the Cubans return
will bring his ball club back to life
In 78 games with Washington be-
fore he left the club to go back to
Cuba because Of a selective service
order to register for the draft If he
remained in the United States,
Torres not only gave the Mats a
good job at third base. but he also
swung a potent bat in pinches. 1t
Is his power In attack that is ex-
pected to make the Mats an up and
going outfit again.
With his PTS average, Torres was
a consistent performer at bat and
ever dangerous with runners on Sec
ond base or third. More often than
not he came through with the wal
lop that produced runs. A wallop
of that kind is something the Mats
have missed sorely during his
absence
Regular Job Waiting.
There's regular job waiting for
the versatile Cuban, who can play
any place in the infield or outfield
and turn in good pitching per-
formance. too. Bluege has said he
will send Torres to second base this
time as Harlond Cliff finally ap-
pears fit to take care of third ade-
quately and give a good account Of
himself at bat.
This would mean the benching of
George Myatt, who was restored to
the lineup last night after missing
two games because of his ailing leg.
Myatt's batting has been nothing
to boast about throughout the sea-
son and in the past three weeks his
fielding has fallen off sharply.
Torres has demonstrated he can
give a fine account of himself
around second base and the differ
ence between his batting and
Myatt's certainly should make the
Mats more effective in offense.
1t was with great regret that
Torres left the Mats. He had
plugged through nine years in the
minors to get up to a major league
job with Washington, the club for
which his father caught nearly Is
years ago. He was making good in
a big way and felt that if he left
the club and went back to Cuba
solely to avoid draft registration his
career as a ball player in the United
States would be through.
Last of Cubans to Leave.
He was the last of the three
Cuban players who left the Mats to
decide to get out. 1t was a difficult
decision to make. His wife, more
over, was upset, fearing If her nus-
band registered for the draft he
undoubtedly would be called for
military service. Her pleading
finally determined Torres course.
When he left 10 days ago, how
ever, Torres was hoping to return.
He comes back now, ready to register
and take his chance on service with
the United States forces. And so
long as he is available he promises
to be of considerable help to a ball
club that needs all the help it can
get.
Roberto Ortiz, outfielder who re-
signed from the club, also is expected
to rejoin the Mats. The big Cuban
may be on hand for the series with
the Browns opening in st. Louis on
Saturday night.
Chicago's White Sox staged their
war fund and Red Cross benefit last
night before 30,879, with the Mats
sweeping series OF pregame ath-
letic events then dropping their
fourth straight, 4 to 3. in a tilt
interrupted more than an hour by
rain.
Johnny Niggeling, who pitched
seven innings, yielded five hits with
errors by Myatt and Joe Kuhel
leading to White Sox runs. The
Mats got to John Humphries for a
run in the second. In the ninth
Myatt walked, Kuhel doubled and
Stan Spence was Intentionally
passed to fill the sacks. Mvatt
counted as Cliff drilled into a
douole-play and Eddie Boland's
single sent the Mats ahead.
Early Wynn, who took over the
pitching job in the eighth, was hit
for singles by Ralph Hodgin and
Hal Trosky at the outset of the
ninth. He purposely walked Thur