Evening star., 1946-04-17
Ankle Fractured in Freak Accident Shelves Myatt for Month
0peningLo
As Robertson Shines
Against Red Sox
By Burton Howkins

~ SottSu ItoWAHS
The Nationals search for a short
stop or third baseman as renewed
today following disclosure that
George Myatt, who was to open
Washington's season at the hot
corner, will be out of action for (
month or longer with a fractured
ankle. Myatt sustained his injury in
a freak mishap when his spikes
caught in a crack In the dugout
steps before yesterdays opening
game with the Boston Red Sox.
Meanwhile, Manager Ossie Bluege
has no alternative except to play
Sherry Robertson at third base.
Bluege had planned gradually to
work Robertson in the lineup, but
with Myatt out and Gill Torres still
out of shape Robertson will take over
the position and the lead-off spot.
Bluege said today that he still has
hopes of making a trade before the
season is much older.
Robertson Okay at Third.
Myatt's injury, plus Bostons g.
to-3 victory, put a damper on the
Mats opener, but their 11-hit batting
attack against Tex Hughson, one
Of the leagues noted pitchers gave
promise of more successful days.
One lusty blow at the proper moment
would have shelled Hughson from
the mound, but the Mats weren't
punching their hits and that was
the chief regret of the 30,372 fans.
Robertson played an acceptable
game at third base. He went hitless,
but that wasn't worrying Bluege,
who feels that Sherry will do all
right at the plate. It's his fielding
which has been erratic this spring
Yesterday, however, he handled all
chances that came his way.
Both Slab Starters Pounded.
The Mats clipped Hughson for nine
hits in the first six innings, but
displayed a 80 deficit at that juno
ture because the Red Sox were
pounding Roger Wolff for seven hits
and inserting them at damaging
moments. The Red Sox picked up
their first run in the second inning
as York singled past Robertson,
continued to second on jeff Heath's
tumble and reached third on a
passed ball. George Metkovich fetch
ed him across with q fly to Buddy
Lewis.
With two out and none on In the
third, Ted Williams presented the
customers an idea of why he's label
ed the games greatest hitter. He
pumped one of VOLTS pitches into
the center field bleachers some 43O
feet distant for one of the longest
drives ever registered at Griffith
Stadium.
The Mats sliced Boston's margin
to 81 in the third when AL Evans
beat out a slow roller to third and
came around on singles by Stan
Spence and Lewis, but Hal Wagner's
double and Dom Di Maggio's single
gave the Red Sox 81 lead in the
fifth. At that point Robertson con-
tributed a nifty cutoff of Spence s
throw to the plate and nailed Di
Maggie with crisp throw to Priddy
| at second.
Washington seemingly was pre-
pared to drive Hughson from the
game in the sixth. With one out
Heath hammered a home run ovel
the right field fence and Mickey
Vernon thumped his third consecu-
tive hit, double off the right field
fence. Jerry Priddy walloped a lusty
soaring drive TO left field, but Will
liams raced back to get under 1t ano
Andres threw out Evans.
Wagner's Triple Starts Rally.
Wagner touched off a three-rur
Boston uprising in the seventh witt
triple to left center. He paused al
third as Cecil Travis threw out
Hughson, but Di Maggie walked and
Pesky scored both runners with 8
doubled to left. After Williams pop.
ped out, Doerr brought Pesky across
with a single to center.
While Sid Hudson shackled thu
Sox in the final two innings, the
Mats obtained their final run in the
ninth. Priddy slammed a double tt
left with one out and scored or
Evans single to center, but Georgt
Binks batted for Hudson and foulec
out and Robertson followed with 6
game ending hoist to Di Maggie.
Vernon's two singles and o double
led the Mats attack, with Lewis
Spence and Evans each collectins
two hits. Wagner, York and Doerl
got two hits each for Boston, with
Hughson the only hitless performel
among the Sox, who also obtained
II hits.
Walter Masterson or Ray Scar.
borough was to hurl for the Nat.
today as they tangled with Bostor
in the second of a three-game Sc.
ries, with Dave Ferriss slated t,
pitch for the Red Sox.