Evening star., 1933-07-01
EVERY PITCH A PAIN
TO GR|FFMEN'S ACE
Scores His Fifth Straight
to Break Bridges Spell.
GosIin Saves Day.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

BY JOHN B. KELLER.
~ ETROIT, July. /. - Alvin
Crowder, leading pitcher
- of the American League,
is one of the gamest hill |
performers in base ball today.
Despite an ailing arm through
which pains shoot with nearly
every pitch, the General persists
in taking his regular turn in bat
tie and, once under fire, he does
not coddle the sore flinging wing
in the least.
Gameness has its reward In the
case Of Crowder it has netted the
pitcher five successive victories to make
his record for the season a dozen wins
against four defeats-a high-grade rec !
ord, with the campaign not yet half
passed-and with his last win goes the
honor of having pitched the Nationals
to full possession of first place again.
Crowder's arm was sore when he
pitched his club to victory over the
White Sox in Chicago on Thursday
of last week 1t was sorer when he
scored over the Indians in Cleveland
last Monday 1t panied him more than
ever yesterday when he turned back
the Tigers here, yet this last effort
was the Generals best Of the season
by lar.
Bridges Again Tough.
TIE had to be good to get the de-
cision over the Harris horde for
he was opposed by Tommy
Bridges, the little chucker who spe-
cializes in one-hit games. Tommy had
pitched two of this type against the
Nationals, and though he was not quite |
that,strong this time, he still was plenty
stingy with safeties, and the Cronin !
crew had all it could do to get its
2-to-1 victory. /
With such opposition the General
had to bear down from the start of the
tussle, and that he did despite the !
pain it caused him. He pumped the
ball in there with much on it. He |
showed a flashy curve and he had a |
great fast ball. In fact, Crowder was
faster Yesterday than at any other time !
this season. So effective was he that
the Tigers cleaned but six safeties of
his delivery and but for an error by !
Buddy Myer the General would have
had shutout
Crowders control was of high order !
too. Through the first seven rounds he |
did not issue free ticket to first base. |
But the strain on his aillng arm was
so severe that he wavered in the eighth |
to pass the first batter up and be found |
for a mighty wallop by the next.
Russell Clinches It.
a SPECTACULAR catch by Goose |
n Goslin got the General out of |
\ trouble. but he was so spent at
the end Of the inning Manager Joe /
Cronin let him call it a day and sent
Jack Russell in to dispose OF three |
Tigers in succession in the ninth. Little |
Bridges gave Crowder a great battle |
before taking his first licking in two
seasons from the Nationals. The clever
hurler beat them five times last year |
once holding them hitless until Dave |
Harris singled after two were out in |
the ninth inning of game here. He
beat them the first two times he faced
them this year, the last time granting
but one hit-a home run by Joe Kuhel-
on the Washington lot. In yesterdays |
fitting Bridges allowed but seven safe |
ties, the smallest hit total for the Ma
tjonals since his one-hitter against !
them on May "a.
But Bridges was off in control enough |
to give six passes, and two OF the passes
figured in the Washington scoring !
rounds. After Kuhel opened the sec
ond session with single, Bluege walked
AS Sewell forced out Bluege, kuhel
moved to third, to be brought IN py
Crowder's single. CroWder walked 10
start the seventh inning. Myer, trying |
to sacrifice, forced out the General, but |
reached third when Manush singled, !
and crossed after the right fielder got |
Goslins line drive. /
Goose Makes Big Catch.
~HE Tigers Immediately matched
! the first Washington run. One
= was out in their second batting
turn when Myer messed up Whites
1rounder. Greenberg skied out, but
Rogell slsshed triple against the
bleacher back of right center. Two
Tigers were on the runway at once for
the only time during the game in the
sixth. With one out, another error by
Mver put Stone on and he made third
when Greenberg singled after Crowder |
threw a third strike by White. Schultz, |
however. made a fine catch of RogellS
hoist.
CroWder was plainly worn when the
Tigers came up for their eighth turn
and he could not get the ball over. so
Gehringer, the first batter, drew walk.
Then Crowder tried to pitch low to
Stone as he had been doing earlier in
the game. but his control had gone to
such an extent he sent one in almost
shoulder high Crash! The ball went
flying to right field and Gehringer went
flying along the runway.
cocIip thonOh raced hack leaned
high against the screen bordering right
field and with one hand dragged down
stones powerful drive. A perfect throw
to Kuhel easily doubled Gehringer off
first base, and the Tigers were through.
nE