Evening star., 1951-06-24
Ex-YankeeG Gives
Way TO Ferrick
After 5 Innings
Debut Here a Success;
Mats CIout Ia Hits
In 6-to-3 Victory
By Burton Hawkins


Kansas City, lost a temporary
decision to the heat. but won a
permanent 6-3 victory for the
Mats over the Tigers in sweltering
Griffith Stadium yesterday.
The trim righthander was
bothered by the oppressive atmo-
sphere from the outset. When he
left the game at the end of five
innings, it was plain to see he was
submitting to the sun rather than
the Tigers. who had only three hits
off him to that point.
The high yesterday of 90 degrees
was reached at 3:45 pm. the ap~
proximate time Porterfield left the
premises.
Porterfield, regarded by the
Mats bosses as the possible golden
boy In the deal that sent Bob
Kuzava to the Yankees, showed
President Gallo Plaza of Ecuador
and 3,941 other fans some i'm
pressive pitching before he weaved
igroggily down the dugout steps on
the arm of Trainer George Lentz
in command of a 5-1 lead.
Bothered From Start.
The former paratrooper, plagued
by an assortment of injuries and
ailments since he first crashed the
major leagues in 1948, was nicked
for two tainted singles and lusty
homer over the right-f1eld fence
by Vic Wertz.
From the start Clyde Milan, act
ing manager in the absence of
hospitalized Bucky Harris, was
solicitous concerning Porterfield's S
reaction to the heat. Bob was hurl-
ing deliberately and breathing
deeply after every pitch on an
Afternoon so hot that Larry Napp,
plate umpire. requested water and
salt tablets.
The Mats were hot hitterS, too.
They slammed Dizzy Trout, Gene
Bearden and Marlin Stuart for IA
hits, sufficient to permit Tom Fer
rick, another recent acquisition,
and Mickey Harris to mop up
successfully for Porterfield. The
Mats three pitchers limited the
Tigers to eight hits.
Porterf1eld was nicked for a hit
in the first inning when Jerry
Priddy's bounder glanced off Bob's
glove. Pat Mullin popped single
into short centerfield in the second
inning and the only other blow
of Porterf1eld was Wertz'S fourth
inning homer, his 18th of the year.
Porterfield struck out two and
walked only one in making his
debut with the Mats smashing
success.
Trout, who looked as though he
had perspired quarts in his short
period on the mound, left under
the influence of a five-hit outburst
which produced three runs for the
Mats in the fourth inning.
Vernon Starts Rally.
Mickey Vernon started that
rally with a double to left and,
with one out, Eddie Yost dupli-
Gated the drive, scoring Vernon
with the tying run. Clude Kluttz,
who later retired because of the
heat. flied out, but Gene Verble
singled to score Yost. A walk to
Porterfeld and Gil Coan's single
gave the Mats another run before
Cass Michals shelled Trout with
the fifth hit of the inning, filling
the bases. Bearden's came in to
dispose of Irv Noren and avert
further damage.
Bearden's role of rescurer was
brief. for the Mats tapped him for
two runs in the fifth. Vernon
again started things with a walk
and scooted to third on Mike Nc
Cormick's single. An intentional
pass to Yost filled the bases.
Kluttz famed and Verble flied
Ito Wertg in short right, but Sam
Mele batted for Porterfield and
Islashed single to left, scoring
Vernon and Mccormick, before
Coan lined out.
Ferrick, who retired the first
lsix batters he faced, bumped into
trouble after walking Aaron Rob-
|inson in the eighth. Johnny Lii
pon's single sent Connie Berry,
running for Robinson, to second
tSee MATS. Page B-3.)