Evening star., 1948-04-13
E @ Sports Trade Sending Spence Away Leaves Mats Gogy
Club Is Weak AfieId ,
|At BAT as CuIberson,
|Kozar Fail 10 Click
By Burton Hawkins
sser Staff CORRESPONDENT

By Burton Hawkins
staf Staff Correspondent
ANDERSON, 3. G., April 13.-stan
spence's absence from washington's
centerfield spot this season will be
somewhat akin to the White House
suddenly vanishing from 1900 Penn
sylvAnia avenue. Stan Is going to
be missed, not only for the occa-
sional punch he could inject Into
the Mats attack, but for his wide
range afield and his strong, accurate
arm.
When the Mats swapped Spence
to the Boston Red sox for Outflelder
Leon Culberson and Second Base
man Al Kozar there was no great
glee demonstrated by Washington
fans. The key man, from Washing
tons viewpoint, was Rookie Koza
and major league scouts and mino
league managers were emphatis
that the Mats plucked Z prize in tht
Slovenian second baseman.
At the moment, Kozar is no SEN
sation. He is batting an unexciting
.265 against major league pitching,
and although his fielding has been
adequate the Mats customers can
recall that Jerry Priddy-shipped to
the st. Louis Browns for $25 900
also was . sparkling sort Of fielder.
Culberson Poor Replacement.
Washington may have improved
its plight at second base-if Kozars
hitting perks up-but the Mats will
suffer In center field. Culberson isn't
hitting, he can't throw in the FASH
ion to which Spence accustomed the
Mats fans and he won't cover the
geography which Stan roamed.
Culberson currently is batting 4
meager .173 against major leaguers
and against them he has not hit in
his last 10 appearances. Leon, In
fact, hasn't contributed q hit to the
Mats attack in his last 10 efforts
against both major and minor
league foes.
Culberson may get some sort of
solace in the fact that he has COM
pany in the futile batting depart. i.
ment, for in their last three games
the Mats have stirred up the de-
jecting total Of Is hits against the
Philadelphia Phillies, who knocked
of Washington, 4-3, yesterday at
Greenville, S. c.
Mats Fold After Fast Start.
It was the Phillies' third straight
victory over the Mats, who have
won only 6 games and lost II in
major battles. The Mats own a 80
edge over the Philadelphia Athletics
and have split in two games each
with Cincinnati and Detroit, but
the Boston Braves whipped WASH
ington three straight, the Boston
Red Sox won the only game they
played and the Phillies have cap
tured four of five.
The Mats protracted batting slump
was continued yesterday as they
collected only five hits OF Curt
Simmons and Lou Grasmik. Three
Of those hits-doubles by Kozar,
Sherry Robertson and Johnny Sui
nvan-were gifts OF Right Fielder Del
Ennis, who misjudged all.
Simmons was clipped for three
runs in the first inning when Sulli-
van walked. Kozar doubled Courtesy
OF Ennis), Gil Coan walked. Culber-
son flied to center and Robertson
doubled Ennis again. ..
Sid Hudson, who went all the way
for the Mats and scattered eight
hits, was wild in the second inning
and 1t cost him run. He hit Dick
sisler on the leg, wild-pitched him
to second and Harry Walker fetched
Sisler across with q single to center.
Walkers Homer Decides.
With two out in the fourth, the
Phillies sliced Washington's advan-
tage to 3-2 when Eddie Miller and
Andy Seminick singled and Hudson
threw wide to Vernon after scooping
up Simmons tap, enabling Miller
to score.
While Simmons and Grasmik held
the Mats to lone hit in the Anal
five innings, the Phillies unleashed
the winning attack in the eighth.
Ennis rammed . line single of
Kozar's glove and Walker then
hoisted 4 home run over the right
field fence.
The Mats got the tying run on
first base with one out in the ninth
when Early Wynn batted for Hud-
son and beat out an infield hit, but
Sullivan popped to Miller and Wall
ker took Kozar's fly for the final out.
NAT NOTES.-The Mats can OBJ
tain Shortstop Jackie Albright from
the Phillies If they care to part with
Pitcher Mickey Haefner. Sam
Meeks was to replace Sullivan at
shortstop for the Mats today and
It's a temporary move which may
develop as permanent. Mana
ger Ben Chapman of the Phillies
snorts at those experts who pick his
club to finish in the National
League cellar. MY players don t
think we'll finish in the cellar and
neither do l." says Ben. They
think they can wind up in the first
division and that's the sort OF
thinking I like"
Chapman and Coach Joe Fitzger-
aid of the Mats exchanged heated
words on a bus returning from the
Montgomery, Ala, ball park to the
hotel on Sunday. Chapman final-
ly challenged Fitz to exchange
I ~