Evening star., 1954-04-22
Senators Are Clicking
After VoImer's S Bat
Takes Pressure Off
Continued From Page c-13

=
regard the uprising as more than
a one-night stand. They feel
they're squared away. finally. and
despite their meager hitting in
their first six games. now are in
a four-way tie for first place.
Porterf1eld, who lost his first
three starts last year and didn't
win the first of his % triumphs
until May 5. declares a momen-
tary lapse cost him a shutout.
In the fifth inning. when the
Athletics parlayed a walk and
two singles into their lone run,
Bob said he wasn't following
through properly.
"The important thing is that
I knew what I was doing wrong
and corrected it," Bob said. "I
was turning my head. taking my
eye off the target, and was fin-
ishing up cross-legged. I
shouldn't have any more trouble
because of that. anyway.
Sparkling Plays Help.
Porterf1eld pitched a perfect
game for four innings, retiring
the first IL batters in order with
the aid Of two sparkling plays
by Second Baseman Wayne Ter
williger and another by Third
Baseman Eddie Yost.
The AS nicked him for a run
in the fifth when Don Bollweg
walked and came around on
singles by Ed McGhee and Bill
Shantz. Bob filled the bases
with two out by walking Pinch
hitter Elmer Valo, but escaped
additional damage when Yost
took Joe DeMaestri's grounder
and stepped on third base to
force Shantz.
Washington spurted into a
80 lead in the first inning
against Marion Fricano. Yost
was clipped by a pitched ball
and came around on Busby's
single. Vernon's grounder and
Roy Sievers' outfield fly. Voll-
mer. in the starting lineup for
the first time, celebrated the
occasion by booming a home
run into the upper deck.
THAT was the tonic we need
ed" Manager Bucky Harris said.
After that the boys seemed to
relax and play ball up to their
capabilities. If they can stay
in the groove. We'll have some
fun"
Trio Will Share Job.
Vollmer's big blow doesn't
assure him of a steady job. Har-
ris doesn't want to play the vet
eran too frequently, feeling Clyde
will perform at peak efficiency
if granted considerable rest.
whether Vollmer, Tom Um-
phlett or Tom Wright will be
in rightf1eld will depend on the
park. the opposing pitcher and
other factors" Harris said. "but
they'll all get a chance"
Vernon socked the Senators
into a 40 lead in the third when
he hoisted homer over the
rightfeld wall. The Senators
lead mounted to 6-1 in the sew
enth against Leroy Wheat when
Porterfield singled, Yost walked
and Busby doubled them across.
They picked up four more
runs in the eighth. Pete Run
nelS and Ed FITZGERALD walked
and the bases were jammed
when Terwilliger singled. Por-
terfeld's sacrifice fly produced q
run and Busby tripled home two
more. Jim scored on Vernon's
single to center.
Runnels' double. q single by
FitzGerald, q walk to Terwil-
Tiger, passed ball and Yost's
two-run single fetched the Sen
ators their final three runs in
the ninth off Ossie Van Brabant.
Porterfield retired the AS in
order in six innings as he walked
three and struck out three. All
the Senators except Sievers fig
ured in the hitting, with Vernon
and FITZGERALD each getting two.
Idle today, the Senators will
open a 14-game home stand to-
morrow night when the Red Sox
invade for the opener of a three
game series.