Evening star., 1960-04-19

BALTIMORE, April 19.-Earl
Battey had showered and was
pulling on his pressed clothes.
Il cost PaScual at least three
strikes" the Senators catcher
said. His curve breaks so
sharply once in awhile that
wind up catching it back
handed. It fools me and it fools
the umpire.
Sure, I was nervous before
the game" Battey continued,
speaking of the Senators &C.
static 10-1 triumph over the
Red Sox before President
Eisenhower and a delirious
throng of 2S,327. 1T was the
first time I had been a central
part Of something that was big
real big.
There had been so much
criticism of the Sievers deal
that I felt I had to do some
thing" Battey said. There was
pressure. I wanted to do well."I
Battey's first appearance with
the Senator's yesterday in the
American League opener at
Griffith Stadium was a reversal
of form. He had been touted
as a superb thrower, but the
only time the Red Sox tried to
steal they made good and got
a dividend on the deal when
Earl threw into centerfield.
+
Earl also had been identified
as a fellow who would lend
little to the Senators attack.
but when it all was over and
the happy customers were
trudging toward the exits,
Battey had batted in four runs
with a 2-run homer and al
bases-loaded single.
There's no concern, yet,
about Battey's recent unim-
pressive throwing. He has a
howitzer for an arm, had dem
onstrated it before the Sena-
tors acquired him and will
show it repeatedly in the
future. Earl is offering no
alibis, but some of his team
mates are prompt with ex-
cuSeS.
I'VE played an exhibition
game the other day when Pedro
Ramos was pitching and there
were a couple of stolen bases"
said a Senator. "Battey got the
blame, but it was Ramos fault.
He gave those runners such a |
lead of first base that it would
have been impossible to throw
them out. Battey got a bum
rap"
Manager Cookie Lavagetto
wasn't blaming Battey for
Gene Stephens steal and the
resultant throw into center
yesterday. Billy Console was
slow getting over to second
base" Cookie said. "The throw
probably wouldn't have nailed
Stephens, but it should have
been blocked. Battey's throw
ing has been a little off lately, |
but I know he can throw and
so does everybody else. All he
has to do is settle down"
Camilo Pascual, the smiling |
Cuban, was holding court in
his corner of the clubhouse
after striking out IS Red Sox
to set a team record. Twice
Waiter Johnson had famed IA
and once Jim Shaw had ac-
complished it. PaScual erased
them from the record book.
1--WE had better stuff" the
sparkling Highlander said, "but
today I got the ball where I
wanted it to go. The wind?
No. I don't think it help or
hurt"
Ted Williams crashed a
mighty homer off Camilo in the
second inning. It was a ire
mendouS drive which cleared
the centerfield wall near the
f1agpole and in other years
might have infuriated Pascual.
In other years, he would have
been tempted to pour the fast
ball repeatedly in a vain effort
to prove he could bust it by
good hitters.
Not this time. Gary Geiger
followed with a pop fly double
to left which might have trig-
gered Pascual'S temper before
he made the transformation
from thrower to pitcher. Camilo
took it in stride, retained his
composure, and allowed the
Red Sox one hit in the last 77s
innings.
Asked If he had become dis
turbed over the Williams
homer which lifted the Red Sox
into a briefly enjoyed 10 lead,
PaScual. responded, "WhyP He