Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-05
By Burton Hawkins
Sicr Stuff Correspondent

WINSTON SALEM, N. C.,
April 5.-Tom Wright's seeking
he has obtained six solid hits in
nine attempts since joining the
Senators recently-n or m ally
would earn him consideration for
a regular job. but the 30-year-
old acquisition from the White
Sox can't crash WaShington's
outfield.
Wright has hit safely in his
last four attempts and has q
.667 average, but accompanying
his spectacular hitting has been
a surge by Tom Umphlett. a
superior fielder. Roy Sievers.
who threatens to become the
Senators most effective cleanup
hitter in years, can't be dis
lodged from leftfield, and Of
course Jim Busby is a fixture in
center.
Toms sharp hits may give
Manager Bucky Harris an idea.
Bucky has been relieving Mickey
Vernon at first base with Sievers
in late innings and would be
content to string along with Roy
at that post. This would enable
Wright to take over in leftfield
and make Vernon available as
trade bait for a second baseman.
Ears Open for Offer.
When Vernon was holding out
last month, the Senators at
tempted to dispose of him but
found nobody eager to grab him.
The situation may or may not
have been altered since then,
but If anybody comes up with
an offer of a reputable second
baseman for the mellowing YER
non, Harris will give prompt at
tention.
Wright, who led the Carolina
League with a $3.50 average in
1916 and the American Associa-
ton with a 1868 mark in 1949,
has been impressive since he
stepped into his first game less
than a week ago and banged
a home run.
Jerry Snyder hasn't received
a thorough test at second base
and can't be regarded as q fail
ure with his .289 hitting in exhi-
bition games. but Harris would
prefer an established performer
with more hitting potential.
Snyder admits he's having diff
f1culty adjusting to second base.
Normally a shortstop, Jerry has
trouble in making backhand
f1ips to start double plays, but
constant play should cure that
deficiency.
Meanwhile, Harris is convinced
the Senators possess their
strongest bench In 20 years. He
tested his reserves a bit yester-
day in the 1914 loss to the Red
legs before an overflow crowd Of
6,279 at Charlotte. He got two
hits from Wright, a pinch double
from Maury McDermott and
booming, run-Scoring drives from
Angel Scull and Clyde Vollmer
which backed Centerfelder Gus
Bell to the wall.
Shea Faces Valentine.
Bucky will rely on Spec Shea
to present the Senator's more
respectable pitching here today
against Cincinnati'S Corky VAL
entine. Bob Porterfield. Chuck
Stobbs and Connie Marrero have
been slapped around in their
most recent starts and Harris is
looking to Shea for improve
ment. ..-
While Fred Baczewski checked
the Senators on four hits in his
f1ve-inning effort, Cincinnati
clipped Marrero for a run in the
first inning. then cuffed him
around for five more in the fifth
inning, when Wally Post
slammed a three-run homer.
Post spanked the Redlegs' Is
hit attack with his homer, two
doubles and a single, driving
across four runs.
Marrero was trailing, 60,
when he left, and the Redlegs
increased their margin to 80
against Dean Stone in the
eighth.
The Senators, who had been