Evening star., 1946-07-19
Gil Shows Fine Heart
|n.Batting Comeback
That Beats Tigers

Gil Coan, who cost the Mats
exactly 5000 and who viewed his
first major league game this year,
suddenly has become Washington's
favorite boy in justifying his nomi-
nation as No. player of the minors
last season. Coan is sizzling and
the sparks spraying from the con-
fident rookie may ignite the Mats.
It's too late, of course, for Coan's
presence in the Mats lineup to dis
turb the front-running Red Sox, but
Washington still is nursing hope of
finishing second and along that line
Gil may prove a valuable chattel.
He is popping up a club that is
otherwise woefully placid except for
Gerry Priddy and Jake Early.
1t was a nice sort of comeback for
Coan when he contributed an
e h h = inning inside the park
homer last night to present Dutch
Leonard and the Mats 10 victory
over Detroit, for on the previous
evening Gil had struck out four
times and grounded out in another
appearance. The skeptics were be-
ginning to wonder.
Rated Fastest In Majors.
II was guessing on Wednesday
night" admits Coan. Il was hit
ting at what I thought those pitch
ers were gonna throw me rather
than what they were throwing me" I"
Gil is unfettered by worry-he
bounces back nicely with determina-
ton to do a better job next time
and he's equipped with a refresh
ing idea that he'll do all right.
He is doing all right, too. Gil is
batting $40 and showing the leagues
throwers they'll have to hustle If
they want to prevent him from Gre
ating trouble on the bases. He's the
fastest man in the majors and he
has the power to make his speed
more of threat than could George
Case, the former speed specialist of
the Mats
Gil has been glancing at some of
the leagues better pitchers since he
crashed the Mats lineup and in
Washington's next two games he
may be confronted with the top pair.
Hal NeWhouser is slated to toll
against the Mats tonight and Bob
Feller may work against them to-
morrow when Cleveland invades
Griffith Stadium.
Coan hasn't faced either New
houser or Feller even in a pinch
hitting role and Is due to see more
speed than he ever has seen previ-
ously, but if he slumps against them
he at least will be picking up point
or two for future reference. He's
showing he can be fooled, but that
he's no fool with bat in his hands.
Leonard Gets Eighth Win.
Leonard and Dizzy Trout were
locked in scoreless duel last night
until Coan, leading off in the
eighth, sent the ball soaring to the
center field corner. He crossed the
plate standing for what may have
been the easiest inside the-park
home run ever scored at Griffith
Stadium.
1t was Stan Spence who saved
Leonard in the sixth inning after
Hank Greenberg had doubled with
one out. Eddie Mayo followed with
a single to center, but Spence rushed
the ball and unleashed a perfect
throw to Catcher Early, who
plunged to nip Greenberg attempt
ing to score.
In registering his eighth triumph,
Leonard permitted seven hits.
walked only two and famed six.
Dutch's fielding abetted his pitch
ing, for twice in the fifth inning
he scooped up taps to force runners
at third
Ray Scarborough. a Al winner
over the Browns in his last start.
will try for his sixth win tonight
against Newhouser, who has won II
games and lost three.
The crowd of 14,735 boosted Wash
ington's home attendance to 652,-
1854, or 10 more fans than the Mats
drew at home all last wear r n