Evening star., 1952-05-23
Shea Will TRY
For Fourth Win
Tomorrow Night.
\ Pitching Keeps Team
Near Top, but Homers
Help in Final Come
By Burton Howkins
Star Staff Correspondent

Av4SAJ 6os-4 4ON41A44S 41OO 0CC11 ACCpe
ing the Washington ball club in
close pursuit of the Indians, but
the Mats are discovering. too, that
maybe they have muscles. For the
first time in IL games they pro-
duced some home runs last night,
and Bucky Harris is hoping this
indicates they've shaken a pro-
tracted batting slump.
Eddie Yost and Mickey Vernon
contributed the homers as the Mats
defeated the Browns, AZ, and
headed home to battle the Phila-
|delphia Athletics in a four-game
series starting tomorrow night at
Griffith Stadium. There will be a
double-header Sunday and a day
game Monday.
Frank Shea, who has won three
games for the Mats since he was
discarded by the Yankees early
this month, will attempt to match
Connie Marrero's 40 record in
the series opener tomorrow night,
with left-handed Alex Kellner the
probable starter for the AS.
No Errors in Nine Games.
Jackie Jensen, batting .319, is
perking up the Mats attack. He
has hit safely in seven straight
games and the former all-Amer-
lea fullback also has bolstered the
defense. The team hasn't made
an error in it's last nine games.
The Mats are coming home
from their first extended trip with
7-6 record, despite accommodating
an average of fewer than three
runs a game. They scored only
"a runs in 13 games, but Harris
learned to respect his pitching
staff highly on the journey.
Shea won two games on the
jaunt, giving up only one run.
Marrero also won two, giving UP
three runs. Lou Sleater, a new
addition from the Browns, Clipped
in with a 2-1 conquest of the
White Sox. Bob Porterfleld also
notched a pair of victories. one in
relief, and lost a 10 decision to
Virgil Trucks no-hitter.
Porterfield was off to a Shaky
start last night. The Mats staked
him to q 20 lead, with Yost belt
ing his homer off Gene Bearden
at the outset. A walk to Pete
Runneis, another to Clyde Kluttz,
and Porterfield's single gave the
Mats another run in the second
inning.
With two out in the second,
though, the Browns got tough.
Joe DeMaestri doubled, Bearden
and Bobby Young singled and
Hank ART doubled to tie the
score.
Vernon put the Mats in front,
3D., in the fourth with his homer
into the right centerfield stands.
The Mats got another run later
in the inning when Shortstop
|DeMaestri fumbled Porterfield's
|grounder, then threw wildly past
first base, enabling Kluttz to score
|all the way from first.
Ferrick Pitches in Ninth.
Porterfield, who was reached for
six hits in the first three innings,
held the Browns to one hit in the
next five, but required relief from
Tom Ferrick in the ninth. With
one out, Bob walked Jim Rivera
and, with two down, Dick Kry-
hoski doubled to left.
Ferrick, who has permitted
only one run in seven relief ap-
Ipearances, came along to squelch
the rally by striking out Young.
Thus the Mats are returning home
in second place only two games
back of the Indians.
NOTES: Yost not only clouted
a homer, but also doubled, walked
twice and was deprived of another
hit when DeMaestri made a bril-
liant grab of Eddie's line drive in
the second inning. Coach
Clyde Milan returned to the club
after visiting his critically i'll
mother in Texas.
The Mats have beaten the
Browns in five of six games. .
Washington has a 14-6 record
against right-handed pitching and
At against left handlers. The
Mats train pulls in at 10:30 to-
night but Jim Busby won't be with
them. He went to Chicago to
pick up his automobile.