Evening star., 1946-07-15
Nat Rockies Battinq
Is Factor in Sweep
OF Double Bill

oil SOdil, VIII cdSCi llltO Gilc
Mats lineup when Joe Grace suf-
fered a jammed shoulder, is re-
spending as advertised and after
the speedy rockies performance in
double header against the Browns
yesterday it may require derrick
to remove him from left field.
Some 1898 customers, viewing
Coan in a full game for the first
time at Griffith Stadium this sea-
son, saw Gil crack out five hits
in nine attempts as the Mats twice
trimmed st. Louis, So and AZ. On
three of the four occasions Gil was
retired, it was through the medium
of line drives.
Coan, rated the most polished
rookie ever dispatched to the ma
jors by Scout Joe Engel, who ushered
numerous famed players into the
majors, tackled 68 points on his
batting average by that outburst.
1t hoiSted his mark for the sea-
son to $40, second high among the
Mats, and boosted his prestige con-
siderably.
Gil Shows Amazing Speed.
In his last 18 appearances at the
plate, Gil has raped out eight
hits, including a home run, triple
and double. That includes four
pinch hitting efforts, which he alb
hors, but indications are that Coan
is through with pinch-hitting. He
suddenly has become too valuable
to decorate the dugout.
Gil gave the customers an amaZ-
ing show of speed in the second
game, when he scooted to second
base on his single as Right-helder
Glenn McQuillen made mo-
mentary muff. He demonstrated he
is talented drag bunter and
that southpaW pitching doesn't
bother him.
Coan collected three of the Mats
IL hits in the opener, touching off
a four-run rally in the first inning
after the Browns had clipped Sid
Hudson for two runs. His single to
right inaugurated an attack on Sam
Zoldak which shelled him from the
mound as Buddy Lewis singled,
Gerry Priddy sacrificed, Mickey Yer
non and Stan Spence doubled and
Al Evans singled.
Hudson Hurls Smartly.
St. Louis sliced Washington's ad-
vantage to 4-3 in the fifth when
Johnny Berardiro doubled and came
around on singles by Vernon Steph-
ems and Al Zarilla, but Hudson gave
himself more insurance in the eighth
when he singled across Spence, who
had singled and moved to second on
Gil Torres sacrifice.
Hudson scattered IL hits effective
ly to register his seventh victory.
while Ray Scarborough won No. 5
with an eight-hit performance in
the second game.
Johnny Lucadello's triple and
Berardinos single netted the
Browns run in the first inning of
the nightcap. but Coan promptly
offset that with a triple to right in
the Mats first, scoring after Lewis
flied deep to Zarilla in center.
Zarilla's triple, plus an overthrow
by Spence in relaying to Torres,
fetched the Browns a 2-1 lead in the
second, but again Coan touched off
rally when he singled in the third,
whisked to second on McQuillen's
tumble. took third on Lewis infield
out and scored on Priddy's single to
left.
Browns Beaten in Fifth.
Washington produced the winning
margin off Bob Muncrief in the
fifth. With one out, Lewis was safe
on Stephens error and scored when
Priddy lashed triple to center
Gerry scored as Vernon grounded
out.
Mickey Haefner or Roger Wolff
will pitch tonight when the Mats
and Browns tangle again, with Tex
Shirley slated to hurl for St. Louis.
z