Evening star., 1952-04-16
Mats Plan to!Ca||
0nBakertoP|uq
ShortstopHo|e
Red sos sIusser Hurt
After BdneipgI Triple
In Opening Ddy Win
By Burton Howkins

The Red Sox, who two weeks
hence will lose Ted Williams-p0s-
sibly permanently-may get a
sample tonight of what it will be
like. Williams is a doubtful par
ticipant with an ailing leg as
Boston and the Mats, forgetting
the frills that accompanied the
opening game. settle down for the
long grind.
Clear, cool weather is predicted
for the $3.50 o'clock battle which
will send Julio Moreno, fast-ball-
ing Cuban, against Randy Gump-
ert, a veteran righthander with a
1916 lifetime record against WASH
ington. Moreno never has whip
ped the Red Sox, losing two de-
cisions to them.
Williams. who left yesterdays
game in the eighth inning after
banging triple to set up Boston'S
final run in 80 conquest behind
Mel Parnell's neat three-hit pitch
ing. may not be able to play. He
was believed to have suffered
nothing more than calf cramp,
but there's concern now that he
pulled a muscle. Whether he'll
lplay probably won't be determined
until after he limbers up in pre-
game practice.
Baker to Play Shortstop.
The Mats unsettled shortstop
situation has prompted Manager
Bucky Harris to test slick fielding
Floyd Baker there tonight. The
Mats only 800 hitter in exhibi-
ltion games, the left-handed hit
ting Baker was a teammate of
Gumpert's on the White Sox for
several years before coming to
the Mats in a deal that sent Short
stop Willie Miranda to Chicago.
Due to become a Marine flyer
May 2, Williams damaged his leg
sliding into third base on his lusty
blow to right-center. If he is
unable to play. he'll be replaced
by Don Lenhardt, a right-handed
hitter who accompanied Gumpert
to Boston in q trade with the
White Sox.
Whether the Mats will continue
to waste good pitching may be
determined against Gumpert.
Beaten for the 18th straight time
by the left-handed Parnell. the
Mats are hoping to unleash long
|harnessed power against Gumpert
in an effort to avert a distressing
start.
The Mats are hoping to make a
creditable showing in early games
in order to avoid possible sapping
lof confidence. They clash with
Boston and the Yankees In their
first eight games and Harris is
eager for his club to grab some
Of those contests and fortify faith
in itself.
Mats Get Fine Pitching.
The Mats got excellent pitching
from Bob Porterf1eld and Bobo
Newsom yesterday before a chilled
crowd of 1850. but against the
accomplished Parnell they stirred
up only three widely-scattered hits
and never advanced man to
third base.
Porterfield held the Red Sox to
five hits in eight innings and New
som yielded another in the ninth
to Johnny Pesky after striking out
Gus Niarhos and Dom DiMaggio.
For five innings President Tru-
man and other fans thrilled to a
Porterfield- -Parnell duel. Each
allowed only two hits over that
span, but in the sixth Walt Dropo
gave Parnell the only runs he
needed.
Pesky walked to start the up
rising and Williams lashed a liner
to Cass Michaels at second base.
Michaels knocked the ball down
and recovered in ample time to
nail Ted, but his wide throw
pulled Mickey Vernon of first
base and both runners were safe.
Dropo then ratified the leftfeld
barrier with a double, scoring
Pesky and Williams.
Fine Catch Saves Red Sox.
The Mats seemingly were set to
get back in the contest in the
seventh inning after Williams mis-
judged Vernon's windblown pop
fly into a double. Clyde Kluttz
lashed long drive to right-center
which appeared headed for. extra
bases, but Faye Throneberry con-
tributed a fine running catch and
the Mats big chance evaporated.
THAT catch was the ball game"
said Lou Boudreau, Boston's man.
ager If Throneberry hadn't
caught it, Kluttz would have had
at least a double and possibly a
triple. Washington might have
tied the score in that inning ex-
|cept for that CATCH"
Boston added a superluous run
in the eighth. Williams smashed
Ia triple off the scoreboard and
Fred Hatfield. running for him.