Evening star., 1952-05-22
Bob PorterfieId
ToFaceB Browns
In Final Game
Mats Need Victory
For 7-6 Record on
First Western Trip
By Burton Howkins
Star STAFF Correspondent


by the onrushing Yankees and
struggling Red Sox, the Mats will
try to end their first extended
trip on a happy note tonight when
Bob Porterfield pitches against
the Browns. Either Ned Carver
or Gene Bearden will be his op-
ponent.
With a 6-6 record on their
Journey, it was a glum group of
Mats who sat around their hotel
lobby today reviewing last nights
2-1, 10-inning loss to St. Louis.
That blow came when Sid Hud-
son threw four successive balls
to Bobby Young with two out and
the bases loaded, forcing across
the winning run.
The defeat dropped the Mats
three games back of the leading
Indians and left the Yankees and
Red Sox only a half game behind
the Mats, who hope to improve
their runner-up status with Por-
terfleld pitching tonight.
Hitting Virtually Nil.
! A 10 victim of Virgil Trucks
no-hitter in his last start, Porter
field will be bidding for his fourth
win. The fast-balling right
handler has lost four games. his
last defeat coming with two out
in the ninth when Detroit's Vic
Wertz lofted a home run into the
right field stands at Briggs Sta
dium to make Trucks the winner.
The Mats trip thus far has
been marked by brilliant pitching
and practically no hitting. Their
lone run last night was batted
across by Hudson in the seventh
inning when Sid singled after Gil
Coan had hit safely and moved
to second on Floyd Bakers
grounder.
The Washington club has
scored only 80 runs in IL games
on this trip. Not home run or
a triple has been hit by the Mats
in II games. Their pitching has
been standing up remarkably,
but the team hasn't capitalized
on it.
Issues II Passes.
| Hudson was wild last night,
walking II. but owned a three
hit shutout with two out in the
eighth inning. Then a broken-bat
bloop single into leftfield staked
the Browns to the tying run. With
one out, Tom Wright singled and
with two out Hudson walked Hank
ART. Jim Dyck batted for Earl
Harrist and his lucky hit scored
Wright.
After Satchel Paige held the
Mats scoreIess for two innings,
Clint Courtney opened the Browns
10th with a looping double to left.
Then the Mats got break. Wright
chased Coan back to the leftfield
fence for a ball which dropped
safely. Courtney dashed within a
few feet of third base. then re-
versed his field, apparently be-
lieving the ball would be caught.
Courtney and Wright both were
on second base when Shortstop
Pete Runnels took Coan's throw,
but Mickey Vernon failed to cover
first base and Wright got back
There safely while Courtney re-
mained on second.
Hudson Far OF Target.
Cass Michaels' long fly to center
Enabled Courtney to take third
after the catch, at which point
Courtney was yanked for a pinch
runner, George Schmees. Arft was
Ipurposely passed and Jim Rivera
batting for Paige, sent a fly to Jim
Busby in short center.
Then Hudson wilted under the
pressure. None of his four pitches
to Young was within six inches OF
the strike zone and that was the
ball game.
i NOTES: With Clyde Milan still
lin Texas and Hudson pitching. the
Mats first base coach was Bobo
Newsom-Harrist personally left
seven Browns stranded on base in
the first six innings. Mickey
Grasso ended his hitlesS streak at
"a with single to left in the Sec
ond inning.
Eddie Yost failed to reach base
for the first time in % games.
Each club got seven hits, with
Baker the only Washington batter
to get two. The Mats have
played eight straight games with
out an error. They have won
IA and lost 6 against right-hand-
ers and have a 81 record against
lleft-handers. The Mats jammed
the bases with two out in the first
Inning on an error and two walks,
but Coan fouled out. Jackie
Jensen and Vernon singled sue
cessiyely with one out in the sixth,
but RunnelS hit into double play