Evening star., 1953-04-13

painful injury received yester-
day in the teams 8-5 loss to
the Pirates at Pittsburgh.
While Grasso's injury is less
serious than at first believed,
Roin Postpones Opener With Yonkees
Until z pm. Thursday. Poee Al
his absence means the teams
lightly-regarded reserves will get
a severe test the minute the
season gets under way in Boston
tomorrow.
Last Sunday at Charlotte, N.
c., the Mats lost the services of
Outfielder Gil Coan for at least
a month when he broke a bone
in his right ankle. That pressed
Ken Wood into action and now
the Mats catching will eb ham
died temporarily by Les Peden,
with Bob Oldis in reserve.
Fracture Had Been Feared.
Grasso was injured in the
ninth inning when he threw
up his left hand to protect his
head from a high, inside fast
ball thrown by Bob Hall, Pitts
burgh pitcher. The ball struck
above the knuckle of his little
finger and preliminary diagnosis
was that the finger was broken.
Hall visited the Mats club
house after the game and apol-
ogized to Grasso, who dismissed
the incident as one of the risks
of the game.
The two injuries have accented
the Mats thin line of reserves.
Peden, drafted from Los An
geleS, batted only .152 in exhibi-
tions and Manager Bucky Harris
had occasion to hope, that Grasso
would supply more authoritative
hitting than his PIG mark of
last season. Mickey batted .313
in exhibitions.
Harris was in a tough spot as
the Mats prepared to leave for
Boston to meet the Red Sox in a
two-game series. They were
leaving at 3 pm, less than four
hours after rain prevented to-
days opening game here with
the champion New York Yam
KEGS. Now the opener will be
played at pm. Thursday-also
with the YankeeS-and the two
teams will meet again at $50
that night in a previously sched-
uled game.
Buck now has only four out
fielders and two catchers at his
command and is limited to a
minimum of maneuverability.
Harris launches the season as
he ended it last year-with only
two catchers and not liking it.
Bucky declared he never again
would attempt to get by with
two receivers, but Grasses in
jury temporarily has placed him
in that predicament.
There may be spots when Har-
ris will prefer to lift Peden for
a pinch hitter, but he'll take a
big gamble anytime he does.
That would leave only Oldis in
the catching department and an
injury to Bob would have the
team without a receiver.
Still After Sharman.
The Mats still are sparring
with the Brooklyn Dodgeds in an
attempt to land Bill Sharman,
outf1elder who batted .295 with
st. Paul last season. Calvin
Griffith, the clubs vice president,
said today the Dodgers want two
players for their Mobile farm
club which the Mats thus far
have been unable to supply.
Grasso had batted in two runs
with a triple and single before
being struck. The Mats, who fin
ished their exhibition slate with
17-11 record. owned a 3-2 lead
with two out in the eighth in
ming, but Wayne Terwilliger
bobbled Paul Smiths grounder
and the Pirates slammed Jim
Pearce for six runs.
Shea Starts Game.
Frank Shea, idle since March
II. worked two innings for the
Mats and permitted only one hit
before retiring IN Difference to
the chill winds which bothered
the players and a smattering of
3,204 fans. Lou Sleater. who
hadn't pitched in more than two
weeks, followed and permitted
two runs in three innings.
Eddie YoSt finished with a 15-
game hitting streak and a .374
average, second only to Coan's
1878. Jackie Jensen batted .337