Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-09
Injury Likely
To End Streak
For Ashburn
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
This was the year Richie Ash
burn of the Phillies figured to
cash in on a personal ambition
by breaking the National League
record for consecutive games
played. Now his hopes are
threatened before the season
even opens.
At best, his hopes of topping
the 822-game streak set by Gus
Suhr with the Pittsburgh Pirates
from 1881 to 1887 are a bit
shaky.
Ashburn, with a 730-game
string. was laid low by a COLI
sion with Del Ennis as the two
outfielders chased a clout by
Mickey Mantle of the New York
Yankees in Wilmington yester-
day. They met full stride, crum-
bling unconscious.
1t took five minutes to revive
them. but they managed to limp
off under their own power. Ennis
was merely shaken up and
bruised, but Ashburn, the Phils'
28-year-old centerfielder, suf-
fered a sprained left knee and
a Slight conclusion.
Thraa noycs Craon
Ashburn has been hurt before
during his 730-game streak, but
always managed to hang in
there. He has three days grace
now before the Phillies open at
home Tuesday against New York.
If Richie is even able to hob
BILE. Manager Mayo Smith prob
ably will have him in the OPEN
ing lineup. figuring to relieve
him quickly yet keep the streak
alive. Doctors orders, however,
could keep Ashburn off his feet
altogether to insure complete
recovery.
That would stop Ashburn's
ambition-just SO games short.
Nantes long drive that caused
the accident fell from Ennis
glove for three-run. inside-the-
park homer. That tied the game
in the eighth inning and Elston
Howard. assured by Manager
Casey Stengel that he'll be the
first Negro to wear a Yankee
uniform in the regular season,
made it 6-5 with a home run.
But the Phils scored three
times in their eighth off Johnny
Sain to win. 8-6. Earlier, Phila-
delphia had hit hard against
Whitley Ford, the Yanks' OPEN
ing day choice, and Bob Grim.
Antonelli Clouted
Johnny Antonelli, picked to
pitch the New York Giants
opener, had his troubles as the
world champions beat Boston,
81. Pitching with a nicked
finger, Antonelli gave UP four
home runs in his six innings,
with Sam Mele. Jimmy Piersall.
Jackie Jensen and Sammy White
doing the damage. Two errors
and Bill Taylor's pinch homer
gave the Giants a six-run eighth
to win.
Kansas City got morale boost
from Bobby Shantz. who went
six innings in good shape. He
gave up six hits and one run.
walked none and famed two as
the Athletics beat Richmond of
the International League. 1913.
Half of the AS 10 hits were
homerS.
Pittsburgh started with Max
Surkont, and the opening day
pitching choice got the 1917 de-
cision over Baltimore. although
he was relieved in the fourth
Baltimore had Is hits. with home
runs by Eddie Watkins and Don
Leppert. Tom Saffell, Preston
Ward and Sid Gordon homered
for the Pirates. Erv Palica was
the loser.
MILWAUKEE,, April 9 Dr.
Manager AL Lopez, who says he
expects his Cleveland Indians to
win the American League pen
nant again this year, named Bob
Lemon today to pitch the sea-
sons opener against the Chicago
White Sox.
Il was going to wait until the
White Sox named their starter"
he said, "but with Early Wynn
laid up. it doesn't make any diff
ference. Lemon is the logical
man anyway. He had the best
won-lost percentage last year
and he's in the best condition
now"
Wynn, who started the first
1854 game for the Indians. is in
Cleveland suffering from bron-
chitis