Evening star., 1946-07-16
Runnerup Spot Target
Again as Mats Brace;
.Coan Aids in Spurt
By Burton Hawkins

liC 1Ndbo oStOIlh EJldCC dIlUtJlOilo,
which were fading faster than a
98-cent sweater several sunsets ago,
now have been revived through the
medium of four victories in their
last five games. Over that span
they have clipped three and half
and currently are within five games
OF the stumbling runner-up Yam
KEGS.
Washington's immediate objective,
of course, is the third-place notch
now inhabited by Detroit's Tigers,
who remain three and half games
in front of the Mats, who hope to
remedy that situation starting to-
morrow night when Detroit inyades
for three-game series
Improved pitching, plus the pres
ence Of fleet, aggressive and hard
hitting Rookie Gil Coan in the
Mats lineup, has perked up Wash
ington's prospects. In 10 of the
Mats last IA games the starting
pitcher has survived the distance,
which would indicate Washington
hurting finally has steadied.
Gil High With Fans Now.
Coan, now 1876 hitter, suddenly
has been installed as a favorite with
Washington fans after parking his
posterior on the bench for half a
season. I'VE should have had him
in there sooner" confesses Prexy
Clark Griffith, and while postmor-
TENS along that line accomplish
nothing, Coan is demonstra ting
he'll help the Mats in the future.
In his last % trips to the plate
Coan has obtained 10 hits for ASS
average. He has astonished enemy
outfielders and fans with his spec
tacular speed and has displayed neat
Judgment in applying it. Only %.
Gil is acting as though he intends
to remain in the Mats lineup for
years and chances are he will.
Mickey Haefner, the stubby south
paw who refuses to become ruffled
when the going is rough. unleached
7-hitter at the Browns last night
at Griffith Stadium as Coan and
Buddy Lewis sparked the Mats to a
Az triumph. II was Mickey's seventh
victory
Browns Take 20 Lead.
Haefner was nicked for a run in
the second inning when Frank Man
cuso singled across Glenn McQuil-
len, who had doubled ST. Louis
spurted into 20 lead in the third
when Johnny Lucadello doubled and
moved around on Johnny Berar-
dino's infield tap and Vernon Ste
phes' outfield fly.
That ended the Browns scoring
and in the fourth inning the Mats
got going, with Coan paving the
way by singing to right Lewis fol-
lowed with a lusty triple to center
and scored on a passed ball after
Gerry Priddy grounded out. Mickey
Vernon walked and came around on
Cecil Travis double to left.
With two out in the fifth the Mats
produced their fourth run. Coan,
who had forced Haefner. stole sec
ond and romped home when Short
stop Stephens, attempting to hurry
play on Lewis slow roller, bobbled
the ball
The crowd of 1888 lifted the
Mats home attendance to COZ, 100.
Kennedy in Second Start.
Bill Kennedy. who has given the
Mats dependable relief pitching all
year. will be trusted with his second
starting assignment against the
Browns tonight Jack Kramer, who
pitched three hitless innings at the
National LeaguerS in last week s
All-Star game at Boston. will hurl
for st. Louis, Ladies will be ad-
mitted for the price of a service
charge tax ticket.
Billy Hitchcock, Nat infielder now
benched due to light hitting, has
been awarded the Bronze Medal
Hitchcock. who served as an Army
Air Forces major in the Pacific
area during the war. was presented
the medal yesterday while visiting
friends at Air Transport Command
headquarters.