Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-20
Senators Learn Baseball
Is More Than Swinqinq
Lack of Defense
And Pitching Is
Costing Games
By BURTON HAWKINS
Star star Writer

AAS sS~AA0VOAo hAC AC0A AAAAAHs W
their chagrin, that there Is
more to baseball than swinging
q bat. Among other things
there is defense and the Sem
ators' deficiencies in that de.
partment, blended with pitch
ing lapses, are costing them
games.
Russ Kemmerer, who hasn't
won since May 2. should have
walked of the mound a 4-3
winner despite staggering most
of the way against the Tigers
last night at Grifith Stadium
before l0,726 fans. Instead,
the Senators blew a made-to-
order doubleplay in the ninth
inning and Detroit hung around
10 win, GA. in II innings.
Safety first baseball" Man
ager Cookie Lavagetto muttered
while Coach Bill urges bel
lowed Unbelievable, unbeliev-
able" after the game. They
were referring to Shortstop
Ron Samford's nonchalant
handling Of Gus Zernial's
grounder with one out in the
ninth. Tigers on first and third
and the Senators leading, AS.
Played It Carefully
Ted Lepcio was on third,
representing the tying run. and
Frank Boiling was on first.
The batter was Gus Zernial,
not noted for speed, and when
he sent a routine grounder to
short the natural expectation
was that a doubleplay would
materialize.
1t didn't. Sanford played
the ball carefully and tossed it
to Reno Bertoia. covering sec
ond. Bertoia never had q
chance. Boiling, playing the
game as it should be played.
swarmed all over Reno. Ber-
toia's throw to first was late
and the numbering Zernial was
safe on q close play.
That tied 1t and Chuck
Stobbs came along to lose it
when the Tigers pushed across
two runs in the 18th. The VIC
tory showed the Tigers within
a game and a half of the league
lead. The defeat snapped the
Senators 3|game winning
streak and shattered their
nerves
Sanford opened the gate
and the aggressive Boiling
charged through. Frank never
should have been close enough
to Bertoia to create confusion
but he was granted the oppor-
tunity. made the most Of it and
gained the grudging admira-
ton of the Senator's brass for
his disturbing tactics.
on to Fast Start
Such maneuvering in tight
situations separates the first
division clubs from mediocrity.
The Senators are learning they
can blast baseballs over vast
sesments Of geography. per-
haps lead both leagues in home
runs and yet finish deep in the
second division unless they
wake up.
They started as if they'd belt
Paul Foytack to a quick
shower. Faye Throneberry
opened the last Of the first with
a shot into the centerfleld seats
to tie the score at Ill. Bob
Allison walked and Harmon
Killebrew then dashed a men,
orable homer, his Gath.
Killebrew's sock scared
toward outer space and finally
descended four rows from the
top of the bleachers irf left
center, to the right of the sign
board. It was estimated the
ball Travelled 480 feet. 1t was
the most eye-popping smash at
Grifith Stadium since Mickey
Mantle became the only slugger
to belt one out of the park over
the bleachers of Stobbs In
| 1858.
Senators Get Break
The Senators had received a
break in the first inning after
Ed Yost walked and moved to
third on Larry Osborne's single.
Kemmercr unleashed a wild
pitch and YoSt broke for the
plate, but the ball rebounded
of the Glands directly to Catch
er Hal Naragon, who turned to
nab the sliding YoSt. Harvey
Kuenn later scored Osborne
with a double to left.
Washington spurted into o
Al lead in the third after
Thloneberry singled and was
forced by Bob Allison. Kille-
brew's single sent Allison to
See SENATOR'S, Page Ais