Evening star., 1952-08-04
Mats Showdown Stage Open Series anks Tonight
Shea or PorierfieId
will Oppose Raschi;;
1ough2 Weeks Ahead
By Burton Hawkins

By Burton Howkins
It's showdown time for the
Mats. starting tonight. when they
tangle with the league-leading
Yankees in the opener of a vital
f1ve game series at Griflth
Stadium.
Whether Bucky Harris team
can be viewed as a serious pen
|nant contender probably will be
determined in the immediate fu-
ture. for in eight of their next l3
games they'll be colliding with
New York's world champions, the
club to beat.
Harris will choose between a
pair Of ex-Yankees. Spec Shea
and Bob Porterfield. to take the
first whack at the front-runners.
Vic Raschi. who hasn't pitched an
inning against the Mats this sea-
son. will bid for his 18th victory,
He has lost only two games.
Mats Not Scoring Much.
Rained out yesterday in Chicago
after playing 81a scoreless innings
in the first game of a scheduled
double e-header with the White
Sox, the Mats enter tonight's
game with a string of IA scoreless
innings operating against them.
They've scored only one run
Jackie Jensen's homer-in 20 in
ningS.
If we're going to get hot, now
is the time" said Harris, who saw
several of his hitters sputter on
the teams most recent trip. On
that journey, during which the
Mats won FIVE games and lost
eight. Eddie Yost batted Ill, Jim
Busby .220, Jensen .207. and Ken
Wood .167.
Bucky has been getting some
help from unexpected quarters,
however. Mickey Grasso, who has
hit safely in seven cf his last nine
attemptss batted .3l7 on the trip.
The unpredictable Mats have
emerged from some of their slumps
with high-scoring games, though,
and Harris is hoping for a general
batting splurge which could re-
duce the 51a-game margin sepa-
rating his club and the Yankees.
That's no easy schedule con-
fronting the Mats in the next two
weeks. for. when they aren't bat
Ting the Yankees, they'll be mix
ing it with the rejuvenated Ath-
letics in nine games. It's a period
in which the Washington club
could take over first place or skid
TO sixth.
Robinson Fielding Star.
Billy Pierce, who pitched two
hit shutout against the Mats the
last time he saw them. gave them
only three widely scattered hits
yesterday. But Connie Marrero,
who gave up eight hits. stuck with
him all the way. Each permitted
only one runner to advance to
third base.
Eddie Robinson, who wrecked
the Mats with his hitting Satur-
day, defeated them with his field
ing yesterday. The Mats had their
big scoring chance in the sixth
with two out when Wood walked
and Pete Runnels doubled, but
the numbering Robinson knocked
down Mickey Vernon's hard-hit
grounder to his right and tipped
to Pierce at first base to check
the threat.
The White Sox missed their big
opportunity In a hectic seventh
inning. Sam Mele singled and
took second when Grasso threw
into right field attempting to pick
him off first base. A few seconds
later, Darrell johnson missed an
attempted sacrifice and Mele was
trapped between second and third
and run down.
johnson then grounded out, but
Rocky Krsnich doubled of the
left-field fence, a blow that pro-
voked an intense argument by the
Mats. Wood protested that a fan
reached out of the stands and de-
fiected the ball as Ken was about
to catch it.
Marrero Walks Two.
Marrero walked Willie Miranda
and Pierce. filling the bases. The
normally calm Connie squawkedl
repeatedly to Plate Umpire Hank
Soar while pitching to those
oatters but felt better about
things when Nelson Fox forced
Pierce at second base for the in
ming ending out.
The Mats batted in darkness in
the eighth inning and when Soar
the lights turned on as
the White Sox came to bat, Harris
blew a gasket. Rain interrupted
at that point for 78 minutes, then
stopped only long enough to per-
nit play for q few minutes more.
Marrero got the White Sox out
N the eighth and when Vernon
walked with one out in the ninth,
time was called. A few minutes
ater the game was postponed.
The games will be made up on
the Mats last visit here, with a|
twilight night double header
for September 8 and 81
Jay game slated for September II,
an open date.
NOTES: Jensen and Shea were
robbed Of $55 and $32, respective
". when thief broke into their
room while they were sleeping
early Sunday morning. Jen-
sens wife. Zoe Ann. recently lost