Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-13
Cece, Who Had Found
Slot a Bugaboo, Not
penurbed Now
BY Burton Hawkins
Staf Sioff CORES psndsnt

HAVANA, Mar. 13.--Cecil Travis
who in past seasons has been af.
flicted with paralysis OF power when
inserted as the Mats No. hitter
again finds himself being tested fol
the vital cleanup role, and If the
thought Of it ID disturbing him this
Isn't apparent. Travis is the Mats
leading batter, sporting a refreshing
.456 average, which Is embarrassing
most Of his mates.
Manager ossie Bluege had figured
on installing Mickey Vernon as his
No. 4 walloper, but 1t took one peek
at Travis to change his mind when
Travis stepped to the plate in the
Mats first intrasquad game and
proceeded to b 1T homer, triple and
single. Vernon suddenly was shifted
to the No. spot, and Travis since
has remained the cleanup boy. ver-
rioh Is the only other Nat who is
hitting the size OF his hatband
Mickey has collected 7 hits In 10 at
tempts to compile a 1888 mark, and
remains Travis chief threat II
Travis displays any sign Of faltering
with men on base, a situation which
has plagued him through his ca
reer, Vernon will inherit the job, but
at the moment Travis is doing very
well in that No. 4 slot.
Others Woefuliy Weak.
The Mats have nothing to boast
about at least thus far, except the
batting of Travis and Vernon. The
averages drop sharply after discuss
ing those top two for Buddy Lewis
Is hitting .273, Sherry Robertson,
.23S; Gerald Priddy, .222; Stan
Spence, 200, and JEFF Heath, .l36.
They having pla.'ed only six games,
no Importance Is attached to the
failure of Heath. Spence or the less
noted hitters among the Mats to
locate the range. Bluege Is con-
content that Heath, Lewis and
Spence soon will start slugging for
the remainder Of their trip here.
The Mats will struggle along with a
pair Of inept catchers, Mario Diaz
and Isaac Seoai1e, for Jake Early
has been returned to the Mats
training base at Orlando. Jake
came up with a touch of ptomaine
and Bluege believes he'll have a
better chance to snap back into
shape at Orlando. Diaz and Seoane,
a brace of Cubans picked up on
short notice yesterday, will handle
the Mats receiving for the remain
ing four games here for the Mats
have loaned their Cuban All-Star
opposition Catcher Ferrnin Guerra,
and Infielder Gilberto Torres.
Robertson Launches Two Rallies.
Robertson launched two big in
nings for the Mats yesterday as they
captured a 6-3 victory over the Gu
bans after Alexandra Crespo had
thumped home run off Bill Lefebvre
to stake the Al-Stars to a 10 lead
in the second. Sherry locked the
score with one out in the third when
he hammered a homer over the
right field fence off Jorge Comellas,
Los Angeles pitcher. That touched
of a four-run inning, for Lewis
walked and promptly scored when
Second Baseman Arago scooped up
Heath's grounder and threw Wild
into left field attempting to force
Buddy at second. Heath continued
to third on the error and scored on
Travis single to center. Vernon
fouled out but Spence walked and
Travis registered on Priddys sharp
single to center.
The Cubarls clipped Marine Pie
retti for a run in the fifth, but the
Mats boosted the score to So in the
ninth. Robertson walked and
romped to third on Lewis single.
Heath walked to fill the bases, and
Robertson scored after Travis
flied to center. Vernon flied to short
left, but Spence's single tailed Lewis
and the scoring ceased when Heath,
trying to score on Priddy's single to
left, was nipped at the plate.
Jose Zardon's single, a wild pitch
and Travis error cost Pete Apple
ton run in the ninth. Travis COL
lected three of the Mats IL hits, with
Lewis, Spence and Priddy contribute
ing two hits each.
cuban Aii-stArs DO SYoo ooI-S s 1
Lefebvre, Pieretti. Appleton and Guerra
Gomenas, -, Acosta 90 and M. DiaZ.
W NGssnss' e Cubs ss aaoe5tlss
bvrt. LOSer-Comellas