Evening star., 1949-04-19
Rally in 9Th Of Opener
Tops As for Victory
Truman Had Asked
By Burton Howkins
St<sx S&~x

NEW YORK, April l9.-"Hey.
Mr.. President" shouted Manager
Joe Kuhel of the Mats as he
darted down the dugout steps at
Griffith Stadium in Washington.
That one was for you" Harry S.
Truman smiled and waved ac-
knowledgment, happy that the
Washington baseball club had full
filled his edict to win the opener
for me-
Now" said Kuhel as the Mats
invaded New York for a three
game series. we'll try TO win some
for ourselves" Kuhel was elated
by the Mats pulsating 81 victory
over the Philadelphia Athletics In
yesterdays opener at Griffith Sta
dium. but hardly less enthused
was Mr.. Truman. who turned to
Clark Griffith after Washington
electrifying ninth-inning rally and
said. We'll. that's one / didn't
lose" The Chief Executive had
seen the Mats lose three successive
openers.
Scarborough Braces.
Some $4,000 fans gleefully
watched the Mats muster two runs
in the ninth inning to register
their first opening day triumph
since l943. While Ray Scarborough
checked the AS after a two-run
outburst in the second inning.
the Mats picked up a run in the
fourth, then threatened futilely
in every inning until the ninth,
when they finally solved Dick
Fowler's offerings.
1T was a case of Scarborough
getting better every inning and
Fowler weakening, said Kuhel.
Ray had more stuff at the finish
than he had at the start and he
never got tired. He's been sharper
at times, but yesterday he was
more than adequate"
Scarborough though. was one
among horde of heroes. There
was Sam Dente. who showed
Washington fans a brand of
shortstop play they haven't viewed
in years. There was Gil Coan with
three hits, Sherry Robertson open
ing the ninth. with a double. Eddie
Stewart betting him across with
another double and, finally, Clyde
Vollmer bringing in the payoff run
with a single to center.
Pitching Plans Clarified.
Scarborough's 7-hit pitching
and the fact that he was able to
remain the route crystalized
Kuhel's pitching plans for two
days. Joe was to dispatch Sid
Hudson to the mound against
the Yankees here today in New
York,s opener and tomorrow he'll
intrust starting role to Paul
Calvert, bespectacled right-handed
rookie who hurled impressively, in
spring training. ,..r
ut may be Ed Klieman. Dick
Welteroth or Forrest Thompson
against the Yankees on Thurs
day. said Kuhel. Il want to
save Mickey Haefner for the AS
back home Friday night. Z"
The Mats failure to execute q
bunt twice plugged their fans into
agony when the club had Fowler
hanging on the ropes. but ulti-
mately 1t was Stewart's inability
to sacrifice which won the game
for Washington Earlier, AL
Evans and Vollmer had tapped
into force-plays.
Vollmer Breaks up Game.
After Robertson opened the
Mats ninth with nch-double
at a time when they were on the
wrong end of 2-1 score, Stewart
batted for Scarborough and
twice tried unsuccessfully to bunr
Sherry over to third. Ed then
lashed a double to left, scoring
Robertson with the tying run.
SOdIl DCdU OuI a iii w Dullt OOWu
the third-base line. shifting Stew
art to third, and Dente was passed
Intentionally to fill the bases. In
that crisis. Buddy Lewis fouled
out. but Vollmer broke up the game
with a looping single over the in
field into center. Stewart scam
pering across with the winning run.
Philadelphia clipped Scarbor-
ough for both their runs in the
second after Hank Majeski opened
with a single. Sam Chapman fol-
lowed with another, but Buddy
Rosar tapped to Scarborough. who
trapped Majeski between third and
the plate and ran him down. Pete
Suder and Fowler also singled.
however. and the AS had COM
:nand at 20.
Coan Gets First Hit.
That deficit was sliced to al in
the fourth. when Coan delivered
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