Evening star., 1952-05-15
Six Hits or Fewer
Team S Tota|i in
A Of Games
Good Effort by Hudson
Wasted as Vic Wertz
Hits Homer in Eighth
By Burton Hawkins
Stor Stoff Correspondent

LIZ 44S>4Ab way 4C.-4 IlcTC 3 D
disconcerting lull in the Mats hit
ting. but if their pitching stays al
its present proficient level the club
could be headed for an enjoyable
season. In fact. Bucky Harris
pitchers are holding up beyond his
|fondest expectations.
The Mats aren't necessitatine
any repair work on fences with
their hitting. In four Of their
last five games, they've been held
to six hits or less. But they've
managed to win two of these four
Their meager mauling caught up
with them yesterday when Art
Houtteman stymied them with a
six-hitter as the Tigers won. 3-2
|on Vic Wertz's eighth-inning
homer.
Good Pitching Wasted.
Sid Hudson was the victim of
Wertz's blow, plus a first-inning
homer by Pat Mullin. Sid pitched
creditably enough to win most
games. but the Mats got only two
hits off the accomplished Houtte-
man in the last five innings after
grabbing a 81 lead.
In their last nine games, Wash
ington pitchers have allowed only
q runs. A continuation of that
three-run-per-game average, ac-
companied by a batting squirt
could make the Mats more than
merely the spring sensations they
have been in recent years.
Eddie Yost's protracted slump
together with practically no hit.
ting from the bottom three men ir
batting order, are items to worry
Harris. Bucky hasn't received {
hit from his last three men in theil
past "a attempts. Mickey Grasst
has gone hitleSs 13 straight times
Marsh Still HitIess.
Fred Marsh, obtained from thu
Downs in the deal that sent Cas-.
Michaels to st. Louis, hasn't hit il
two games. He hasn't put a bal
out of the inf1eld in eight ties, ir
fact. but Bucky isn't ready to ad.
NIT the Mats got the worst of the
transaction.
Marsh hasn't looked at much
pitching this spring." Harris sale
today as the Mats prepared to bat.
tie the Tigers in the rubber game
Of the series before moving on tt
Cleveland for a two-game set with
the Indians. "He wasn't playins
with the Browns and he figured tt
be slow starting with us. I thinl
he'll come around all right"
Bob Porterfield carried a s.:
record against Detroit today
Virgil Trucks. beaten twice, wa,
going after his first win.
Houtteman, who has accounted
for half the Tigers six victories
was staked to a 10 lead in thu
first inning when Mullin beltec
his home run into the right-fielc
stands, but the Mats tied the score
in. the second when Gil Coar
doubled. took third as Marsh
grounded out and came across
after Grasso flied to left.
Mats Lead Evaporates.
The Mats moved into a 81 leac
in the fourth on the combination
|of Mickey Vernon's double anc
Pete Runnels' single, but a walk
to Wertz and singles by Steve
Souchock and Johnny Grott
again tied the score in the sixth
Wertz opened the eighth with
a mighty poke into the upper
deck of the rightfield stands anc
that was the game. Harris didn't
use a pinch-hitter for Marsh in
the ninth and Fred grounded out
Floyd Baker batted for Grassc
and was tossed out by Jerry
Priddy. Frank Campos batted fol
Hudson and lifted a game-ending
fly to Groth in center.
NOTES: Pitcher Lou Sleater
reported yesterday and promptly
was put to work pitching batting
practice Houtteman became
the second right-hander to beat
the Mats Cleveland's Mike
Garcia was the other the Mats
have whipped right-handers Il
times.
Only 1886 saw yesterdays
struggle the Mats now have
"a 6-2 edge in games decided by one
run they have q 80 record on
this road trip.
Ed Eynon, af1iliated with the
Mats since 1918. says Washing
tons outfield of Coan, Busby and
Jackie Jensen is the fastest major
league outfield within his memory
Runnels has batted in IL runs
in his last IL games.