Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-18
Mats Help Tribe Ace
ByFanning 14Times,
But Split Twin Bill
BY Burton Hawkins
Sfor StoH Corrsspondent

CLEVELAND, May 18.-Mickey
Haefner, rugged little examiner and
railroad assembly plant worker who
turned to professional baseball for
livelihood when layoffs dwindled
his bank account, isn't complain
Ing character. He takes his baseball
IN stride with nonchalance that
bellies a fighting heart, but Mickey
may be excused If some day soon he
goes berserk among the Mats.
Haefner has pitched three success
sive sparkling games for Washing
ton and he has one victory against
two defeats to display for it. On
those occasions the Mats didn't hit
behind Mickey and they sabotaged
him with shoddy fielding.
His first triumph was obtained the
hard way. He had a shutout enter
ing the last half of the ninth inning
against Cleveland at Griffith Stadi-
UNI. Third Baseman Sherry Rob-
ertson committed a two-base error
on pop fly and the Indians locked
the score at IL, so Mickey had to
go to the 10th for a win.
Feller, Errors Trip Mickey,
In his next start, Mickey had 81
edge over Philadelphia entering the
final half of the sixth inning, but at
that Juncture JEFF Heath dropped
an easy fly in left field for a two
base error and the Athletics mus
cred two runs and 80 lead which
caused Haefner to be lifted for a
pinch hitter.
Mickey did some superb pitching
here yesterday as the Mats split a
double-header with Cleveland-los-
ing the first game, 80, and captur-
ing the nightcap, ga. Bob Teller,
Haefner's mound opponent in the
first game, struck out IA Mats and
allowed only five hits, but the Mats
didn't help themselves or Haefner
with inept baserunning and cratic
fielding.
Robertson presented the Indians
a run in the first inning. With two
out, Lou Boudreau singled to left
and Pat Secrecy smacked an easy
grounder to Sherry, whose throw
pulled Mickey Vernon off first base
Ken Keltner then singled to score
Boudreau.
Spence is Picked Off.
The Mats had rally brewing in
the fourth inning when Stan Spence
walked with one out and moved to
second on Vernon's single, but
Spence then was picked off second.
jeff Heath walked, but Teller
famed Cecil Travis to stave off
trouble.
With one out in the eighth
Mickey Rocco singled to right and
scored on Spence's poor relay after
Boudreau doubled. Secrecy walked.
but keltner drilled a potential
double-play ball to Travis. Seerev
was forced at second, but Gerry
Priddy threw wildly past Vernon,
permitting Boudreau to score.
The Mats stirred some hope in
the ninth when Vernon singled with
one out. Heath famed, but Travis
beat out an intleld roller and con-
tinued to second as Vernon took
third when Dutch Meyer threw
wild past first. Priddy lifted a
fly to George Case to end the game
Case, incidentally, was to enter a
local hospital today for a checkup.
He is hitting 100 and is complain
ing of assorted aches and pains.
Mats Easily Win Second.
Washington had no difficulty an
nexing the second game, greeting
Joe Krakauskas with a four-run
outburst in the first inning and
adding four more runs in the Sec
ond of Pete Center and Don Black.
krakauskas was the fifth straight
southpaw started the Mats have
blasted from the box.
The second game was marred by
II walks, six of which were issued
by Walter Masterson, who limited
the Indians to seven hits in win
ming his third game. Two of those
safeties were home runs by Rocco
and Keltner.
Vernon continued his hitting
streak, which has stretched to Is
games, lifting his batting average
to 1888 by getting two of the Mats
hits of Feller and adding three
more in the second game, which
was called at the end of eight in
nings due to darkness.