Evening star., 1951-04-30
Cass Mic|1aeIs
Due 10 Return
ToLineup Soon.
verbIe's Betting off,
Series in St. Louis
Muy Decide Status
By Burton Hawkins
Star Sfoff CORRESPONDENT

Stor Sioff Correspondent
ST. LOUIS, April 30.-Any day
now. Cass Michaels is due to be
restored to the Mats lineup.
There's simply not enough punch
in the lower half of the batting
order at present to suit Manager
Bucky Harris.
The Washington club has what
amounts to no power after Sam
Mele bats in the fifth spot. and
lit may develop that during the
current two-game series with the
Browns the status of Rookie Gene
Verble will be determined. With
his 200 average, Verble literally
is asking for Michaels to reclaim
his old second base position.
Shortstop Sam Dente is hitting
.242 and the combined average
of the catchers, Mickey Grasso
and Frank Sacka, is only .219.
Harris pitchers, a notoriously
weak group at the plate, are bat
ting all of .129.
Verble Good on Defense.
There's no home-run threat,
either, in the bottom of the bat
ting order. Little Verble bopped
only seven last season in the
Southern Association, where a
rabbit ball is used. Dente hit only
two home runs all last year for the
Mats and Grasso already has
matched his lone homer of 1850
Verble has been no drawback
to the Mats on defense and this
fact, coupled with the clubs fine
start, probably accounts for Har-
ris' patience with the little fellow
But unless Gene improves often
sively during the ST. Louis series
Michaels is almost certain to be
sprung from Bucky's doghouse
Even if he fails to hit 300, Cass
can give the Mats that occasional
long ball.
Despite yesterdays 40 shutout
by the Yankees in New York, the
Mats found themselves tied TO
the league lead today in the wake
of the Browns double victory over
the Cleveland Indians. They were
encouraged, too, by the expecta-
ton that Grasso will be able TO
return behind the plate. The fiery
catcher, who injured thumb In
New York, probably will eaten
and Joe Haynes will pitch to-
morrow night in the opener here
Only 5 Hits OFF Lopat.
The Mats made only five hits
of Ed Lopat yesterday in drop.
ping their second successive game
to the Yankees. Until the ninth
inning, they didn't advance a
runner to second base. Then Mike
Mccormick and Irv Noren singled.
preceding Mickey Vernon's game
ending double play.
Lopat, pitching masterfully for
the third straight time, struck
out only one but he walked nobody
in running his string OF score
less innings to 20. In beating
the Athletics, Red Sox and Wash
ington, the blond lefthander has
yielded only one run in q in
nings and now has a fantastic
earned run average Of 0.33.
Lopat and ShortStop Phil Riz-
zuto were the whole show yes
terday. Rizzuto staked the
Yankees to a 80 lead in the
second inning with a home run
that scored Yogi Berra and Jackie
Jensen, who had singled. There
after, Phil took over the bulk
of the defensive chores, thrilling
0,025 fans by f1awlessly handling
IA chances. Over one stretch he
retired five Mats in succession.
Bob Had One Bad Inning.
It was no bad job that Bob
Kuzava turned in for Washing
ton, either. He pitched magnifl-
Gently except in the second inning,
when the Yankees fell on him for
four of their seven hits. The only
other run of the game was scored
in the eighth inning when Mickey
Mantle walked and scored on
Jerry Coleman's single and Gil
McDougald's inf1eld out.
Haynes will be making his first
start of the season tomorrow.
The Yankees released Pitchers
Bob Porterfield and Bob Muncrief
to Kansas City yesterday, but still
are over the May 16 limit of 25
players. -Four more will have to go.
Ynnke A. Mate n