Evening star., 1948-03-15
Clark Costly Muffs
Head Him for Block;
Garcia Keen on Slab
BY Burton Hawkins

ORLANDO, Fla, Mar. 15.-Man-
ager Joe Kuhels policy Of finding
employment for all Mats in exhibi-
ton games gradually is separating
the men from the boys and def
nitely in the boys department today
is Shortstop Jimmy Clark, alias Ted
Petroskey, who cost Washington the
two games it dropped to the Phila-
delphia Athletes in a 3-game series
at West Palm Beach.
+ Clark, a diminutive youngster
who played under his correct name
of Petroskey last year at Chatta-
nooga, gummed up a ground ball
with two out in the 10th inning OF
the opener to permit the winning
run to score.
Yesterday, with one out, the score
locked at IL in the eighth and the
bases jammed, Pete Suder whacked
a line drive at Clark which easily
could have been converted into a
double-play, but the ball shot over
his glove and between his legs for
another error. 1t touched of a T.
run inning and the AS won, So.
Clark and Second Baseman Al
Kozar have the distinction of being
the only Mats who have played q
full game. He was operating exclu-
sively at shortstop yesterday be-
cause Johnny Sullivan was bothered
with an ailing wrist.
Makes Victory Unimportant.
Kuhel, though, Is displaying
studied indifference to victory in
exhibition games. He hasn't used
less than 18 players in any Of the
Mats engagements and yesterday
when Washington was in command,
10, he substituted freely in the
fifth inning. He's giving everybody
an opportunity.
Joe's idea of scanning the field
thoroughly already has eliminated
Clark from shortstop consideration,
narrowing the field to Sullivan and
Mark Christman, who currently is
relieving at first base to give
Mickey Vernon a rest.
Sullivan, who ostensibly has been
presented the shortstop job, re-
mains on trial If for no other reason
than the Mats bosses know Christ
man is sure-fielding if light-hitting
shortstop. Johnny will inherit the
position If he demonstrates he can
outhit Mark and thus far Sullivan
has batted encouragingly./
In seven trips to the plate Johnny
has fashioned two doubles and a
single, while Christman still is
searching for his first hit.
The Mats standout in yesterdays
struggle was the latest Cuban pitch
ing Importation of Scout Joe Cam
bria. Little Ray Garcia, a right
handler who speaks no English and
bats cross handed, was unfathom-
able to the Athletics for five innings.
Hits Off Garcia Are Scratches.
Scratch singles by Sam Chapman
and Buddy Rosar was the only dam
age inflicted on Garcia, who was
picked from a telephone company
team in Havana. He walked one,
struck out two and left the premises
with 10 lead.
The Mats first run materialized in
the fourth inning off Russ Christo-
pher. Gil Coan beat out a drag
hunt and Vernon propelled him to
third with a single to center, Coan
scoring when Tom Mcbride ground
ed into a double play.
That situation existed until the
sixth, when Hal Toenes took over
the pitching and presented the AS a
run through the medium of three
walks and two wild pitches. The
AS clustered four runs OF Vernon
Curtis in the. eighth on singles by
Chapman, Hank Majeski and Bar
ney McCosky, plus a pair of walks
and Clark's grevious error.
Washington produced its other
run in the ninth when Dean Stat
ford tripled off Phil Marchildon and
scored when First Baseman Rudy
York fumbled Larry brakes
grounder.
The AS clicked off four double
plays in the first six innings to check
Washington threats.