Evening star., 1948-03-28
Mats Defense Cracks Presents Tigers 81 Game
Misp|ays Waste
Honlers Hit by
Vernon, Evans
Five Detroit TuIlies
Uneorned as Kozor,
Sullivan, Yost Err
By Burton Hawkins
Stor Sfaff Correspondent

By Burton Hawkins
star staff Correspondent
LAKELAND, Fla, Mar. 27.-Wash-
ington's infield was shaker than q
riveter's arm here today and the
Detroit Tigers grabbed an 81 VIC
tory, despite a ninth-inning rally
that sprayed three Mats across the
plate. The Mats inserted five errors
into the proceedings, with Short
stop Johnny Sullivan and Seconc
Basernan AL Kozar contributing two
each and Third Baseman Eddie Yost
adding one.
It was dismal display of fielding
by the Mats that more than Offset
home-run belts by Mickey Vernon
with two on in the first inning and
AL Evans with one on in the ninth
Six of Detroit's runs were unearned
Washington accumulated 10 hits
seven off the famed southpaw pitch
ing of Hal Newhouser in the seven
innings he labored. But Sid Hudson
and Chick Pieretti were the victims
of treachery. Hudson left the prem
ises at the end of five innings in
command of a 4-3 lead, but behind
Pieretti the Mats came up with three
errors in two innings and the Tigers
fashioned five runs on the miscues
Meeks Impressive in Trial.
Sam Meeks, Chattanooga short
stop who is being examined by the
Mats bosses, didn't hurt his chances
of taking over regularly. Newhouser
struck him out on his first two ap-
pearances, but in his last trip to
the plate sam socked a single tc
center.
1t was Meeks' fielding, though,
that captivated Manager Joe Kuhel
and President Clark Griffith, who
journeyed here from Orlando ex-
pressly to view Sam. Meeks han
died seven chances expertly and at
one point choked off the potential
tying run at third base with a quick
toss to Yost.
Kozar launched the Mats first
inning uprising with his fourth
straight hit against Newhouser in
two games, lusty double to right
after Meeks had famed. Gil Coan
walked and Vernon then lashed a
line drive into right-center and
legged it around the bases behind
Kozar and Coan to score standing
Hudson, who retired the first
seven Tigers in order, was the VIC
tim of atrocious fielding. With one
out in the third, Right Fielder
Sherry Robertson misplayed Harvey
Riebe's single into a double. Riebe
took third when Meeks tipped out
Newhouser and scored when Neil
Berry beat out a high hopper to
Kozar back of second base.
Mats Falter in Fourth.
The Mats field disintegrated in
the fourth when the Tigers tied il
up, 3-3. with one out. Ed Mier-
kowitz doubled to right with Robert
son again assisting with Wierd pur.
suit of the ball. Pat Mullins single
to left fetched Mierkowitz across
and Mullin shifted to second wher
Yost bobbled George Kell's ground
er. Paul Campbell flied out. but the
Tigers obtained their second run o1
the inning when Kozar scooped ur
Riebe's grounder and threw wilc
past Vernon for a two-base error
enabling Mullin to score and Kell tt
take third. Meeks tossed out New.
hcuser to avert additional damage
Meeks opened the fifth with his
single, romped to second on 6
passed ball before Kozar fouled out
an dscored on Coan's single to left
Coan stole second and third, but
was stranded when Vernon famed
and Newhouser tossed out Tom Nc.
Bride.
That 4-3 Washington margir
existed until the sixth when thu
Tigers nicked Pieretti for the tyin,
run. Mullin ushered Chick into tn,
tussel with a double to center ant
shifted to third when Pieretti flippee
out Kell Mullin scored when Sulli
van booted Campbell's grounder.
Pieretti Has Unlucky Seventh.
Pieretti was the butt of bad lucl
and wretched fielding in the sew
enth. Berry opened with wiert
hop single over Sullivan's head
Eddie Mayo tapped to Pieretti. wht
fired the ball to Sullivan. Johnn!
neglected to hold the ball, how
ever, and both runners were safe
Johnny Groth batted for Doc Cram
er and forced Berry at third with
a tap to Vernon, but Mierkowic'
singled to left, scoring Mayo. Th'
runners advanced when Koza
threw out Mullin and Kell brough
them across with a single to left
Jimmy Outlaw ran for Kell, move.
to second when Campbell wake,
and scored on Riebe's single t.
center.
With one out in the ninth, tn
Mats threatened to walk away witt
the game. Robertson fouled out
but Yost rammed a single to lef
and Evans lofted home run owe
the left field fence, some $40 fee
distant, off Stubby Overmire.
Early Wynn batted for Pierett
and was safe when Berry tumble
his grounder. Eddie Lyons ran fo
him and scored when Sulliva
sliced a double down the right fiel
line. At that juncture, Manage
Steve ONeill yanked Overmire fo
Art Houtteman and the Mats rail-
ended abruptly. Art famed Kozal
walked Coan and ended the gam
by retiring Vernon on a meek ta
to Outlaw at third base.
Wynn and Ray Scarborough wi
pitch for the Mats tomorrow whe
they battle the Boston Red Sox a
Sarasota. Against major league op
position, the Mats now have wol
four, lost eight.
PhiIs Buy HurIer WensIoi
From Yanke for can nm