Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-04
Kline $ Sudden Spree at Bat
Lessons Shortsfop Worries
Senators Get
Dividends on
Risky Running
BY BURTON HAWKINS
star stan Correspondent

HIGH POINT. N. c.. April -
Willowy Bob Kline, virtually
consigned to the Junk heap after
failing to hit in the Senator'S
early exhibition games. is giving
it a brave battle in an attempt
to convince his boss. Chuck
Dresser. that he's the man for
shortstop. the clubs sore spot.
Dresser has experimental with
Kline, Jerry Snyder and. Tony
Roig in the role in recent games
and Kline is now head and
shoulders above his competitors
after a sudden furry of singles.
Bob. .319 hitter with Bir-
mingham last season who didn't
look the part in early tests. has
ratified five singles in his last
10 tries He has boosted his
spring average to 1924 and once
again has built UP hopes that he
can handle the job.
Kline and Eddie Yost each
collected three of the Senator'S
10 hits yesterday as they knocked
of Cincinnati, GA. before 6.404
customers at Charlotte. N. c. It
marked Washington's sixth VIC
tory in seven games with the
RedlegS.
St0bbs Tests Arm
Lefthander Chuck Stobbs. idle
for two weeks with sore arm,
will try for the clubs fifth
straight win-excluding a tie
against the Redlegs' Tom Acker
and Jackie Collum today. I'M
defeated on their journey home
ward, the Senators will tangle
with Cincinnati again tomorrow
at Richmond. then take on the
Dodgers Wednesday night in the
opener of a two-game series at
Griffith Stadium.
1t was YoSt. with a two-out.
ninth Ginning homer over the
leftfield fence scoring Kline
anead of him, who broke up the
game. but Kline's performance
was the most heartening item Of
the contest.
All spring Coach Cookie Lava
getto and Dresser have been
believing. Guard that plate.
Bob, guard that plate" when
Kline has batted. Bob's batting
stance left him prey to a low
curve away from him and the
continual chant of Lavagetto
and Dresser may be showing
results.
Kline's belated but welcome
hitting is particularly timely.
for Vice President Calvin
Griffith reports no progress in
an attempt to fortify the club
with a more adept shortstop. If
Bob continues any semblance
of his recent conduct. the Sena-
tors chief worry will recede into
the background.
Daring on Bases Pays OF
The most impressive thing to
this point has been the manner
in which Dresser has his men
gambling on the bases. His risks
are paying off. The Senators
have tried 81 steals and have
made good on IA. They're hit
ting and running with a pr,fi-
cheney undetectable for years in
a Washington club.
There are indications that
Dressen's intensive schooling at
the training base in Orlando will
yield divid..lds. The pitchers
have picked seven men off first
base in spring games to check
enemy threats.
Mickey Vernon, missing from
the starting lineup for 10 days
after display of neavy-footed-
ness, got frisky yesterday, stole
two bases and, significantly.
scored twice. Pete Runnels
added another stolen base.
Reds Getting Jittery
Besides the success of the Sem
ators' ventureSome attitude on
the bases. it has made Cincinnati
pitchers decidedly nervous and
is agitating the Redlegs' receiv-
ers. Dresser at the moment is
getting peak efficiency from his
club with his daring tactics and
is serving notice that the team
isn't likely to be a drab outfit
regardless of where it finishes.
The Senator's pried two runs
from Art Fowler in the first in
ming yesterday after Yost dou-
oled. Jim Busby sacrificed and
Vernon scored Yost with a single
TO left. Mickey stole second.
continuing to third when Rum
See SENATORS, Page Ais