Evening star., 1951-04-18
TradePayiing Off
In Mccormick S
Stellar Play
9th-Inning Rally Robs
Murrero of Shutout
In Nots' Victory
By Burton Howkins
BY Burton HoWkins
Ssor Staff Correspondent

Mike MCSOT1ulCk, oS-yedT-Olu QUIZ
fielder serving with his sixth
major league club. also is serving
notice he doesn't intend to re-
linquish the Mats left field job
any time a lefthand pitcher is
operating for the opposition.
1t was the polished pitching
performance of squat Chico Mar
rero, the gay Cuban. which fig
ured largely in lifting the Mats to
a 6-1 victory over the Athletics
in their first game of the season
here last night, but Manager
Bucky Harris was also pleased
with McCormick's conduct.
Tonight Harris dispatches Bob
Kuzava against Lou Brissie in a
duel of lefthanders. Kuzava was
slated to pitch last night but
his debut was delayed because
OF an ingrown toenail which was
giving him pain.
Bucky doesn't calculate the Mats
will knock down any fences, but he
thinks his club is potentially dam
gerous. And helping to bolster
that opinion is the chunky Nc
Cormick. .232 hitter with the
White Sox last season after being
rescued from the Pacific Coast
League.
Mccormick Hitting Picks Up.
There was no dancing in WASH
ington streets when the Mats ac-
quired Mccormick last December
in exchange for aging Ed Stewart.
1t was regarded principally as a
deal which would relieve the Mats
of Stewards $13.500 salary.
But Mccormick batted $40 in
exhibition games and Harris plan
OF employing the robust righthand
hitter against southpaws bore
fruit. Bucky prefers to use left
hand-hitting Gil Coan exclusively
against righthanders and his judi
cious juggling of him last year
enabled Gil to top the 800 mark
for the first time in his career.
Coan's first game may be de-
layed until the Yankees invade
Griffith Stadium on Friday, for
after Brissie tonight Manager
Jimmy Dykes of the AS plans to
use another lefthander, Alex Kell-
ner. tomorrow.
Hits Double and Single.
Mccormick contributed a dou-
BILE and single to the Mats nine-hit
attack last night, twice walking
and being deprived of a third hit
when Sam Chapman drifted far
back in centerfield to haul in
Mixes hardest clout of the eve
ming.
There's just no comparison be-
tween Stewart and Mccormick. +"
Harris said. enthusiastically. I'VE
got the better of the deal. I don't
know how much Mccormick will
hit, but I'm happy to have him
around. He throws we'll, goes and
gets a ball in the outfeld and he
isn't the worlds worst runner.
I'm tickled to have him"
Marrero owned a shutout until
the ninth inning, when Ferris
Fain's double, Billy Hitchcock's
single and Kermit Wahl's ground
er to Second Baseman Gene Yer
BILE produced Philadelphia's only
run.
Marrero damaged his left leg
finishing up. He pulled a muscle
pitching to Hitchcock in the ninth.
but completed the game despite
limp. Trainer George Lentz
said today he didn't believe the
injury would prevent Marrero
taking his next regular pitching
turn.
Grasso Homers.
Mickey GrasSo, not noted as
slugger, got the Mats off to a fat
80 lead in the second inning
after Verble singled and Sam
IDente walked. Mickey selected a
Bobby Shantz pitch and rammed
it off the facing of the second
oeck IN leftfield, just inside the
foul line.
Washington's lead mounted to
40 in the third when Mickey
Vernon walked and came around
on Sam Mele's double. The Mats
Inicked Shantz for another run in
the fourth when Marrero singled
and scored on walk to McCor-
mick and Irv Noren's single to
center. Singles by Marrero and
Mccormick, plus Second Baseman
Hitchcock's bobble of iNoren's
grounder, fetched the MAJ their
flnal run off Morris Martin in the
sixth.
Marrero, who struck out six and
walked only two in the American
Leagues first night opener. gave
up three singles to Elmer Valo and
two more to Wahl, but his har-
Messing of other AS left the 8285
customers groaning.
Charlie Harris pitched the last
two innings for the AS and es-
capped harm despite walking Nc
Cormick, Noren and Vernon inI
the eighth inning with two out
Chapman faded back to spear
Mele's well-kissed drive to end
that threat.
Mats, 6; As, l
wash; AB. II. o. A. Phila. AB.Ho
McStt MxSst;s6 b 8 ! ! / Joost.ss 81