Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-20
DOWNS CARDS, 81,
FOR A THIRD TIME
Larry Benton Bests SherdeI
in Scoring goth Win in
Crucial Game.

BY the Associated Press.
rs BEEN long and toilsome ascent
to the National League summit,
but John McGraw and his New
1 York Giants finally have made 1t.
Pushing over the st. Louis Car
dinals Yesterday for the third time In
a row, the Giants crowded past Bill
Mcke lnie'S totterin2 fighters and for
the first time since early in the present
campaign could look back and see all
their seven rivals behind them
1t scarcely can be said that the
Giants have a foothold on the top rung
Its no more than toe hold ana
very insecure one at that. AS a
matter of cold fact. it's necessary to
get out the percentage tables to prove
that the clan McGraw is in the lead
automatically the Giants are leading
by 3 percentage points. but in games
won and lost the Cardinals still show
the way by half a game,
The figures:
New YORK ............... y !, go "a g.
st Louis. ....,....,..,.,.7O 40 ood
In a game as crucial" as yesterdays
it was fitting enough that the honor OF
pitching the Giants into first place
should fall to the lot OF Larry Benton,
The sorrel-top, hurting his twentieth
victory OF the year, was touched for
nine hits. but met every emergency with
rare skill and courage For the third
time In As many days the Giants mar
gin at the end was only one run and
strangely enough all three scores we're
identical-3 to 2.
The game was won and lost in the
fourth inning. when the New Workers
pierced Wee Willie Sherdels defense for
three hits, fielders choice and sac
rifce fly that netted them all their runs.
That was Sherdel's only bad spot, but
in the face OF Benton's superlative pitch
ing 1t was enough to send the small left
handler down to defeat.
The Cards never gave up trying and
filed the bases In the ninth inning, but
the unruffied Benton induced Douthit
to lift to Mann and the game was over
Two singles. coupled with an infield out,
gave the Cards their first run in the
fifth inning. Their second was person :
ally accounted for by Ernest Orsatti
Minneapolis recruit. who punched out a
home run in the sixth. his second In as
many days. But these sporadic out
bursts did no more. in the long run
than make the game as close as were
the two that preceded 1t.
Beck's single with the bases filled
in the ninth gave the Cubs a 3-to-2
victory over the Brooklyn Robins, Hart
nett crossing the plate with the VIM
ming run on the shortstop's blow
Charlie Root and old Bill Doak hooked
I'D in pretty pitching duel, with
Roots steadiness and an alright de-
Tense In back of him As the deciding
factors
The Cincinnati Reds took undis-
puted possession OF fourth place by
trimming the Boston Braves, to 8.
Ray Koip was battered for three sin
giles and triple In the frst inning
when the Braves scored all their runs
but allowed only three scattered SAFE
ties thereafter. The Reds, through
timely hitting at the expense OF Pal
nero. Toledo recruit. and Cantwell,
scored three runs ii the third and
added the winning marker in the
fourth
Sixty-five thousand fans watched
the New York Yankees split even In
A dual bill with the Cleveland In
dams. Martin Autry's homer with
Morgan on base In the tenth gave the
indians the first game. 3 to 2. The
Yanks came back with one In their
half. driving Willis Hudlin from the
box. but Bayne stopped the champions
dead In their tracks Uhle. Miltus and
Underhill we're pounded for l3 hits In
the nightcap, which went TO the Yanks
by a i0.to-2 score, Henry Johnson
held the Indians to 8 hits.