Evening star., 1948-03-29
Yields 7 Runs a Game
As Wynn and Other
Stars Founder
BY Burton Howkins
ex c.-kS

ORLANDO, Fla, Mar. 29.-Theres
a disturbing sag in the Mats pitch
ing, which was supposed to be the
bright spot Of a lackluster club. In
Is exhibition games against major
league opposition Washington pitch
ers have yielded "a runs-an average
of more than seven a game and
among the guilty have been the
Mats more respected performers.
Early Wynn, for instance, has
displayed little of the ability which
stamped him as one of the leagues
top pitchers last season when he
won II games for an inept seventh
place team. He has been thumped
vigorously and frequently in the
citrus circuit but he has consider
able company.
Wynn's failure to click Is alarm
ing to the Mats bosses for Walter
Masterson, the other ace in the
Mats abbreviated pitching deck,
hasn't thrown a ball in competition
and won't be ready to fire nine in
nings when the season opens three
weeks hence.
Masterson wisely has avoided
strenuous work due to what he ex-
plains is a shortened tendon in his
right shoulder. He has been pitch
ing batting practice and reports no
Ill effects, but as starter he prob
ably won't be ready until two or
three weeks after the season opens.
Meanwhile Wynn, Ray Scarbor-
ough, Mickey Haefner and Chick
Pieretti have shown no sparkle. Sid
Hudson alone has achieved a de-
gree Of distinction with vastly i'm
proved hurting. but otherwise Wash
ingtons pitching corps hasn't per-
formed as anticipated.
Thus far the Mats aren't running
to form except in the standings OF
major league clubs in exhibition
games. They've won four and lost
nine, including a 1915 defeat dealt
them by the Boston Red Sox yes
terday at Sarasota, but no finger
of scorn may be pointed at the Mats
hitters when discussing that record.
Washington's batting attack was
rated weaker than palsied mos
quito, but the Mats have averaged
better than six runs game. They
have lost games by such scores as
1910, 8-6 (twice), 1915 and 81,
due to pitching and fielding de-
ficiencies.
Yesterdays loss followed that
pattern. The Mats battered Mickey
Harris for five runs in the five in
nings he worked, but Wynn was in
effective and left the game after
five innings with no better than a
SIS tie. Scarborough replaced him
and the Red Sox battered him for
five runs in the seventh on three
singles, doubles by Johnny Pesky
and Birdie Tebbetts, plus two
errors.
The Mats B squad, meanwhile,
edged Chattanooga, 80, at Winter
Garden. Catcher Jake Early. who
flew in from California to join the
Mats late Saturday night, tripled
in his only official trip to the plate
and whacked across two OF WASH
ington's runs.
NAT NOTES: Early, apparently
in excellent condition, didn't toll
much with the st. Louis Browns
this spring due to pulled leg
muscle. Shortstop Johnny Sui
Ivan is nursing wrenched knee as
the result of a spike-catching while
sliding against the Tigers on Sun
day. Lee Culberson is incapaci-
tated with a sprained foot and
pulled thigh muscle.
The Mats were given a day off
today, with no workout scheduled
by Manager Joe Kuhel -. a game
originally scheduled with Chat
tanooga tomorrow at Winter Gar
den has been Cancelled and the Mats
instead will play six-inning intra-
squad game. Ted Williams OF
the Red Sox still is out with an
ailing back.
Jack Difani was the only Nat to
get two hits in the Chattanooga
game, in which Mark Christman
played shortstop for the first time
this spring. Sam Meeks, who
played shortstop for the Mats
against Boston, failed to hit in five
chances but belted three balls
solidly. He had nine fielding
chances, including several tough
ones, and made one error on deep
ly hit grounder. Grif, impressed
by Meeks, says we'll keep him If
Kuhel wants him"
Wash. ABB H o. A. Boston. abb o. A.
Meeks,ss 5 0 Sheri'n.cf 3 2
Kozar,3b 1 O / o Pesky.3b S 2
Goan.lf g 2 9 Mele,rf. |