Evening star., 1946-06-11
Breaks Hold Nat Ace,
Beaten by Browns,
To As Record
by Burton Hawkins

strike oil and be drowned in the
first gush of the liquid gold. The
Mats chubby knuckle-baller is pro-
ducing the finest pitching of his
career and has losing record to
show for it. When he picks up a
four leaf clover he'll probably break
out with case of poison Ivy.
| Wolff has an earned-run yield
average of 1852 and as comparison
Hal Newhouser won rs games and
lost last season with an average
Iof 1.81. Wolff won 20 games and
lost ~ last year with 2.12 average,
but this season he owns a won 4, lost
record.
In achieving four victories, Wolff
has permitted three runs in 81 in
nings, beating Cleveland, 5-1, on
seven hits; walloping Detroit, ISL,
on five hits. defeating New York,
81, on seven hits, and spanking
Boston, 80. by pitching four shut
out innings in a relief role.
Good Even in Defeat.
The defeats hardly have been less
impressive. He lost 4-hit, 10
decision to the Tigers on an un-
earned run. He owned q Al Lead
over Boston with two out in the
seventh when he was lifted and the
Mats lost that one. He left a game
against the Athletics at the end of
six innings trailing, o., and WASH
lngton won the decision for Ray
Scarborough. 80. He left a game
against the White Sox at the end
of seven innings trailing, 2-3, and
the Mats captured that one for Sid
Hudson, 4-3.
In a brace of other defeats, Roger
was hammered, but in each instance
the Mats gave him shoddy support
that materialized in numerous un-
earned runs. So last night, when
Wolff dropped 2-l five-hit verdict
to the Browns before 1896 GUS
toners, it came as no new expert
ence.
Again it was an unearned run
that defeated Wolff. In the first
inning Joe Grace walked with one
out, stole second. continued to third
on AL Evans throw into center field
and scored on Vernon Stephens
fly to Stan Spence.
Mats Tie, Then Go Bad.
The Mats locked the score at IL
in the third off Sam Zoldak, clipped
for II hits all told, as Buddy Lewis
doubled and Stan Spence singled.
but thereafter Washington did
nothing right.
In the fourth inning jeff Heath
and Gerry Priddy singled successive
ly, but Cecil Travis drilled into a
double-play. In the seventh, Heath
opened with a triple. but was
stranded as Priddy and Travis
grounded out and Wolff struck out
after Evans had been passed pur-
posely
st. Louis in the ninth. produced
its winning run on the best de-
tensive play of the game. Grace
was hit by pitched ball and moved
to third with one out on Walt
Judnich,s single to right. At that
point Priddy sprinted into short
right field for a brilliant overtime
shoulder catch of Johnny Ber-
ardino's looper, whirled in the same
motion and whipped the ball toward
the plate.
Grace scored, despite the fancy
play, and it came as no consola ton
to Wolff that Priddy had no way of
Knowing Judnich would have been
the victim of a double-play had
Gerry thrown to first base instead.
Priddy's back was to the infield and
he didn't know Judnich had streaked
nearly to second base.
Miss Chance In Ninth.
In the Mats ninth Heath opened
with a single. his fourth straight
hit. and rally apparently was on
when Priddy bunted neatly. Heath
slid into second safely ahead of
Babe Dahlgren's attempt to force
him, but jeff then was trapped off
second when Travis missed an at
tempted bunt. Priddy took second
as Heath was being nipped.
Cecil proceeded to foul out and
Judnich made VOLTS evening COM
plete by racing to the center-field
wall to snare Al Evans blast with
a nifty catch. 1t was Evans longest
hit IN two weeks, but with the luck
less Wolff working for Washington
1t merely was another out.
Sid Hudson will hurl for the
Mats tonight, when they seek their
first victory Of the season over the
Browns, who have defeated Wash
lngton three straight times.
Be Str0n0er