Evening star., 1946-05-26
kuhe|' Pinchhit
In Eighth Bags
81 Nightcap p
HoefnerChecks Mucks
In Al Opener; Vernon
Keeps Streak Going
By Burton Howkins

A guy named Joe-Joe Kuhel-ac-
celerated the Mats into third place
yesterday at Griffith Stadium to the
unrestrained glee of 1882 Gus
toners, who saw the 40-year- old re-
serve first baseman provide an
eighth-inning hopper in the night
cap which enabled Washington to
sweep double-header with Phila-
delphia, Al and 80
Until Kuhel bounced a single over
Pitcher Russ Christopher's head
with two out in the eighth, the Mats
outlook in that second game was
gloomy. In seven previous innings,
the Mats had mustered only three
hits off towering Dick Fowler, who
was operating with 20 advantage.
Mickey Vernon, who doubled to
left and stretched his hitting streak
to 81 games. launched Fowler's
downfall. Mickey moved to third
as jeff Heath grounded out and
Cecil Travis scored him with a pop
fly single to right. Gerry Priddy
also singled and both runners ad-
vanced as Pinch hitter George Binks
was tossed out.
Priddy Makes it Two Wins.
Into that situation stepped Kuhel
and while his blow wasn't sizzling
it was sufficient. Shortstop Jack
Wallaesa came in behind Christo-
pher, who had entered the game
against Binks, and speared the
bounder, then proceeded to mess up
the game for the AS.
AS Travis scored and Priddy took
third, Wallaesa attempted to check
a throw to first base and succeeded
only in dropping the ball, permitting
Priddy to scoot across with the
winning run.
Mickey Haefner presented the
Mats tidilv pitched effort in the
opener, scattering eight hits to win
his second game of the season. But
Mickey owes a vote of thanks to
Left Fielder Heath, who crashed
into the wall making a brilliant |
sixth-inning catch of Buddy Rosar's
deep drive with the bases loaded
and two out. Heath slumped to
the ground, stunned momentarily,
but recovered quickly.
The double win, coupled with New
York's defeat by Boston, moved the
Mats within two games of second
place
Kennedy Nips AS Rally.
Philadelphia threatened to mar
the Mats beautiful eighth Inning
rally in the second game with
ninth-inning uprising of its own
when Irv Hall and Wallaesa singled
successfully. The AS placed the
winning run in scoring position
when Vernon Curtis. third Wash
inston pitcher, unleashed a wild
pitch that permitted Wallaesa to
romp to second while Hall held
third.
That wild pitch prompted Man.
ager Ossie Bluege to wave Bill Ken
nedy to the mound and he never
had happier inspiration. With
the count one-and-one on Pinch
hitter Russ Derry, Kennedy quickly
fired two called strikes past Derry
to present Ray Scarborough his
third triumph.
Roger Wolff started the nightcap
for Washington, but yielded run in
the second inning on Sam Chap
mans double, passed ball and
Halls single to right. Successive
triples to right by Hall and Wal
laesa netted the Athletics another
run in the fifth and that 20 lead
was protected nicely by Fowler until
the eighth.
Mats Win Off Newsom.
The Mats met up with Buck New
som in the first tiff and picked up
tainted run in the fourth. Vernon
singled to center and slid into second
safely ahead of Halls toss to Short
stop Jack Caulfield after fielding
Travis grounder. Caulfeld at
tempted to nip Travis at first, but
threw wild into the dugout, allow
ing Vernon to score.
There was nothing unwholesome
about the three runs Washington
got off Newsom in the fifth. With
one out, Lewis and Spence singled
successfully and Vernon scored
Lewis with double to left. Heath
was passed purposely, but Travis
upset that strategy by lining a single
to right, scoring Spence and Vernon.
The Athletics collected their run
off Haefner on Caulf1eld's double
and Tuck Stainback's single in the
seventh, but Mickey retired the last
seven AS in order to avert further
trouble.
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