Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-13
Snyder Gets Chance
To Crash Lineup as
Runnels Hurts Wrist
By Burton Howkins
ssur Staff Correspondent

WE61 FA4M 6EACd, E1a.,
Mar. l3.-Jerry Snyder, trim,
flashy- fielding shortstop who
provided the Senators adequate
hitting when used sparsely last
season. win receive an oppor-
tunity to convince Manager
Bucky Harris he's capable Of
crashing the regular lineup in
the two-game series with the
Philadelphia Athletics starting
here today.
Both games will be broadcast
by station WWDC starting at
1855 pm. Bob Wolff and Arch
Mcdonald share the play-by-
play description.
Snyder will get his chance be-
cause of a mysterious wrist in
Jury suffered by Runnels. Pete
has no idea how he damaged
his right wrist, but he has lost
feeling in two fingers as the re-
suit Of a severe sprain and is
expected to be idle several days.
Runnels didn't work out with
the Senators yesterday at Or
lando and was ordered to Orange
Memorial Hospital for X-rays,
which proved negative. He is
being given heat treatments by
Trainer George LentZ.
Runnels' Son Is iii.
Runnels' peace of mind also is
upset because his 18-month-old
boy Mark has q severe case Of
asthma. Pete hasn't been get
ting much sleep, what with wor-
rying about his son and fretting
about his wrist. The situation
isn't helping the wiry shortstop's
comeback effort.
THE wrist started bothering
me a few days ago and / had
it taped." Pete said. 1T hasn't
hurt much and I didn't think
Of it, but yesterday a
couple Of my fingers were numb.
There are some torn ligaments
or something in there. ! guess
I hurt it swinging. but I can't
recall any particular swing that
did it."
Runnels has batted seven times
in the Senator's three losing
games. has walked four times.
slammed a home run and a
double and grounded out. Snyder,
a 1899 hitter in 20 games with
Washington and a .307 batter
with Chattanooga in 50 games
last season; hasn't driven a ball
beyond the inf1eld in five tries.
Snyder. who fills in acceptably
at third base. shortstop and Sec
ond base, is regarded as GER
tainty to stick with the Senator'S.
but he'd relish a regular role
and could wind up with a job II
Runnels has a batting slump in
exhibition games. Jerry's SUI
perior fielding would give him
the nod.
Receivers From Back Ailment.
Jerry until this season had
been hampered by a back all
ment. but has recovered. II was
leaping for a line drive in spring
training with the Yankees in
1850 when I hurt my back. !
could't straighten up. 1t both
cred me for a long time. but
I'm all right now" Jerry said.
Mickey Vernon. whose condi-
tioning was retarded by his
holdout, will take over first base
for the Senators today and Har-
ris hopes he'll perk UP the clubs
attack. The Senators have been
held to five hits in each Of their
last two games, with Tom
Umphiett. Wayne Terwilliger,
Clyde Vollmer and Roy Sievers
going hitless. Eddie Yost's lone
hit was a routine fly which fell
safely for a double when Bill
Renna. the AS centerfielder, lost
it in the sun.
Today's game also will mark
the debut of Angel Scull, little
Cuban Negro outfielder who Is
being handed the rightfield job.
IF he can hit enough he can
hold, it." Harris declared. IF he
makes the grade we'll have the
best defensive outfield in the
league and Washington's best in
history"
Bucky will send Bob Porter
field, Maury McDermott and
Sonny Dixon against the Ath-
letics today, with Spec Shea,
Chuck Stobbs and probably
Jerry Lane due to fire against
them tomorrow. The Senators
will shift to Vero Beach Monday
for a game with the Dodgers.