Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-19

st. Louis Cardinals. made his
varsity debut yesterday.
The 22-year-old graduate Of
the Texas League doubled his
first time at the plate, then
walked and rolled out. The
Cardinals lost to Milwaukee, 7-3.
Smith, who hit 81 home runs
for Houston last year. is con-
tending with Bobby Del Greco
and Chuck Harmon for the CEN
terfield slot. Del Greco, playing
in rightfield. went hitless in four
trips and struck out twice.
Lynn Lovenguth was pounded
for seven runs and six hits in
the two innings he worked. The
33-year-old hurler was the In
ternational Leagues most valu-
able pitcher last season.
WEST PALM BEACH. Fla.
|R.--Gus Zernial, who has been
considered for trade several times
by the Kansas City Athletics. has
just about Scotched all such
thoughts.
The power-hitting outfielder
currently Is the most dangerous
hitter on the roster. Zernial is
not taking as many pitches as
he did last year and his hustling
play has caused a great deal Of
comment among his teammates.
PHOENIX, Ariz. (P. - Gail
Harris, who looked good a year
ago at the New York Giants
training camp but couldn't stick
when the team returned north.
seemed a sure thing for the first
base job today.
He's smarter this year" Man.
ager Bill Rigney said. When we
sent him up Sunday with the
bases loaded against Cleveland,
Gail noted as he picked out his
bat. 'Houtteman is throwing a
lot of curves so he'll give me
one. He did and Gail smacked
it." The two-run double won the
game.
BRADENTON. Fla. (R). Lew
Burdette, one Of the Milwaukee
Braves top pitchers, Joined Out
fielder Henry Aaron on the clubs
injury list yesterday.
Burdette has a bruised heel
and Aaron hurt his ankle sliding
in Sundays exhibition.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. P). =
Outflelder Tito Francona, last
years spring training hero of the
Baltimore Orioles, may have
cause for alarm in the perform
ance of two rockies.
Last year Francona slugged
his way into the Orioles starting
lineup by leading the team in
hitting during the exhibition
schedule. But this year Tito has
only three hits in l9 trips to the
plate. Meanwhile, Joe Durham
and Carl Fowls are making
strong bids for regular jobs.
Durham is leading the club
with a 500 average in nine
games and Fowls is right behind
with 1852. Durham has Just re-
turned from service and can be
carried free on the roster for
one year.
FORT MYERS. Fla. up. -
Gene Freese is listed as an in
fielder on the Pittsburgh Pr
rates roster. but he may wind
up as an outf1elder.
Freese played leftfield yester-
day as the Pirates lost TO Kansas
City, 4-3 in 10 innings. at West
Palm Beach. He had two hits
in as many trips and handled
himself perfectly in the field,
nearly nipping a Kansas City
runner at the plate.
Manager Bobby Bragan. who
has been experimenting con-
stantly. says he believes Freese
can handle himself better in the
outheld than at third base. He
had a .208 batting average in
IS games with the Pirates last
season and .274 with Hollywood.
ST. PETERSBURG. Fla. P).
The Phillies helped run the
scoreless pitching of the New
York Yankees to "a innings and
their second straight shutout
when they we're BANKED, SO. on
three hits yesterday.
The Phillies managed two hits
of Whitley Ford and one of Art
Ditmar, recently acquired from
Kansas City.
Bobby Shantz, who came to
the Yanks along with Ditmar.
and Bob Grim combined to shut
out the Cincinnati Redlegs on
Sunday.
The only ruckus raised by the
Phillies was when Richie Ash
burn was elected from the game
In the second inning. Richie,
who got the heave-ho only once
in his National League career,
has been sent TO the showers twice
during the exhibition season,
botp times by American League