Evening star., 1946-07-26
Triumph Over Tigers
Hints Ray at Last
Is Hot Starter
By Burton Howkins
Stor Stoff Corespondent

CLEVELAND, July 26.-The de-
velopment of Ray Scarborough as
one of the Mats starting pitchers is
easing one of Washington's more
disturbing problems in regard to the
future. A grade-A bust in relief
roles, which he doesn't relish, Scar
borough has shown considerable
promise as a starter.
Ray has remained the route in
two of his last three starts to notch
a brace of eight-hit victories over
st. Louis and Detroit, beating the
Tigers, 8-3, yesterday at Detroit for
his sixth triumph. 1t has been a
commendable comeback for the little
right-hander who returned to start
ing assignments less than two weeks
ago after six weeks in the bullpen.
There was no excuse, of course,
for Ray not defeating the Tigers
recently in Washington He was
staked to SO lead against Hal
Newhouser and had a three-hit
shutout in his grasp when the roof
caved in during the sixth inning
and Hank Greenberg Dashed triple
with the bases crammed to launch
Detroit on batting spree which re-
suited in 10-5 Detroit victory.
Some Pitching Insurance.
That's one of those things that
pitchers go home and spend sleep
less nights over" says Ray. There
just isn't any alibi-at least not for
me. I had good stuff that night
against Newhouser and was going
along swell when, all Of sudden, it
happened. still had as much stuff
when I left the game as when I
started, but they were hitting me"
With Dutch Leonard, Bobo New
som, Mickey Haefner and Roger
Wolff getting no younger, it is COM
forting to Manager Ossie Bluege to
have Scarborough, Sid Hudson and
Early Wynn, who are young and
proficient. That trio forms the
nucleus of fine staff for future
Washington clubs, but what the
Mats will do about the left side of
their infield remains a mystery.
At third base these days the Mats
are operating with Sherry Robert
son. which is a sad commentary on
Washington's third basemen be-
cause Sherry is batting only 1853 and
hasn't had hit in his last "a efforts. |
But he's in the lineup because of
his hitting. for Billy Hitchcock can
outfield him
InfieId in Sorry Plight.
Hitchcock, after an early batting
outburst, fell into protracted slump
and his fielding also suffered after
he had demonstrated he could field
brilliantly Billy hasn't helped him.
self in the Mats front Office, either,
for when he read in the newspapers
that Bluege planned to shift him
to shortstop, he promptly went to
Boss Clark Griffith and demanded
more money. He hasn't been shifted
anywhere except to the bench
At shortstop, there isn't much
doubt that Cecil Travis is over the
hill and he admits it's agonizing to
view balls slither by him that he
used to field easily. Gil Torres
doesn't figure in the Mats future
plans there and since the Mats have
no prospects among their few farm
clubs, Washington's future short
stop apparently will be obtained in
a deal.
Eddie Yost, a l9-year-old infielder
who reported to the Mats several
days ago, may solve one of those
problems, but Bluege isn't ready to
rely on the youngster yet.
Mats Clout Tiger Hurlers.
The Mats clipped Freddie Hutch
inson for 2 runs in the first inning
Yesterday, added two more in the
fourth and drove him from the
mound with another run in the
sixth. With Mickey Vernon en-
joying a perfect day with a double,
three singles and a walk, the Mats
accumulated 2 runs off Johnny
Corsica and Hal White in the
eighth and got their final run in
the ninth off George Caster.
Meanwhile Scarborough held the
Tigers scoreless until the seventh. |
Then they counted twice and got
another tally in the eighth
Haefner, who has remained the
route in his last six starts. will
pitch for the Mats tonight when
they open a 6-game series with
the Indians. Hudson will hurl to-
morrow, with Newson and Leonard
slated to take the mound in
Sunday double-header Washington
and Cleveland also will clash in
a twin-bill on Monday. !