Evening star., 1938-05-29
LEONARD SCORES
|NH|LL RECOVERY
Spreads 10 Blows, Checks
Boston in Crucial 9th.
Bagby Is Loser.
By FRANCIS E. STAN.

the Nationals stole quick march on
the American League powers-that-be
yesterday. Behind some highly ac-
ceptable pitching off the fingernails
Of Mr. Emil (Dutch) Leonard, they
notched a 3-to-2 victory over the
Boston Red Sox and gained ground
on the idle league-leading Indians,
the second-place Bostons and the
third-place Yankees.
In the process of furnishing the
afternoons pleaSantries the Nationals
moved closer toward the Dr. Jekyll-
Mr.. Hyde championship. They can't
win on the road, apparently, but in
Griffith Stadium they are hard to
shout down. 1t was their fifteenth
victory in 20 home games so far, which
Is . record of different color from
what they compiled on the road. In
enemy territory. you see, Washington
only won five games and lost -.
Most of the plaudits from the 5000
customers in the pews were reserved
for chubby Mr. Leonard. who had been
threatened with an attack of round
heel-itis following three successive
kayoes. But yesterday Dutch, throw
ing his butterfly ball often and get
ting 1t over the plate most of the time
masterfully scattered 10 hits. His
mound opponent. young Jim Bagby,
jr.. kept pace with Dutch for six
innings, but finally surrendered the
winning runs in the sixth and
seventh innings. Bagby's greatest
TYo~ t,sS
running.
Leonard Spreads Hits
For the Nationals, the victory was
most timely. They gained half
game on the pace-setting Indians. who
were rained out. Today the Wash
ingtons are only four games out Of
first place. They picked up full
game on the runner-up Red SoX and
, now are only game and half out OF
second place. AS for third place, they
lack only half a game to tie the
Yankees, who lost to the AS, of all
people.
In notching his fourth victory of
the season Leonard was not what
you'd call unhittable. The Sox got
their hits regularly. but that was the
secret of Dutch's success. He saw
they hit too regularly for the good of
the Bostons. In giving 10 safe blows
Leonard spread them out, one in every
inning except the seventh. when he
allowed two hits after two were down.
Dipping into the details. Boston
scored first, thanks to boot by Buddy
Myer. It happened in the fourth in
ming, when Leonard walked Jimmy
Foxx after one was out. Poppa Joe
Cronin followed with dribbler to
Myers left 1t should have been con-
verted into an out, but Buddy kicked
, the ball into right field, Foxx winding
up on third base and Cronin reaching
frst. This left it up to Pinky Hig-
gins, who smartly pushed a bunt
down the first base line, Foxx scoring.
Mats Come Back for Tie.
This 10 lead promptly was wiped
out by the Nationals in their half of
the fourth inning and it was all done
after two were down. When Johnny
Stone came up he bounced drive off
the right field fence for two bases.
moved to third when Zeke Bonura
blushingly beat out a f1uker to Bagby,
and scored when Cecil Travis fash
ioned a double off the gloved finger
tips of Higgins. This made it IL,
for Melo Armada flied out to end the
frame.
Bagby, son of the one-time Cleve-
land pitching star, braced after this
splurge, but in the sixth the Grill
men began to be difficult again. To
open this round, Round Man Taft
Wright chopped double down the
rtght-field line, took third on Stones
neat sacrifice, and scored when Bonura
sent a soft single into center.
Leonard's 2-l lead grew fatter in
the seventh when Bagby started by
walking Rick Ferrell. A sacrifice by
Leonard followed, putting Rick on
second. Here Buddy Myer popped
out, but Buddy Lewis inserted a single
to right, scoring Rick. 1t is barely
possible the rally might have con-
tinued. but Lewis attempted to make
second and was caught by three
lengths.
But with the clients breathing more
easily, Boston made an eighth-inning
bid to grab the decision. In this In
ming was packed most Of the after
moons drama for it found Leonard
staggering, Pete Appleton warming
up vigorously in the bull-pen, and
the Red Sox placing the tying run on
third base.
Almada's Catch Stops Bosox.
It all started when Higgins opened
with a two-base drive to center. Leo
Nonnenkamp was sent to bat for
Bobby Doerr, but Leo never got q
chance. Leonard walked him. Gene
Desautels twice tried to sacrifice, but
failed. On the third strike, however,
he laid down perfect bunt and all
the Bostons needed was single to
tie the score.
Leonard saw they didn't get it.
Yanking Bagby from the game. Mana
ger Joe Cronin sent Johnny Peacock
to hit. The utility catcher rolled q
dribbler to Bonura, who made the
put-out while Higgins scored and
Nonnenkamp moved to third. Then
Rog Cramer sent long fly to center.
For a brief instant it looked good for
three bases, but Almada made one of
his copyrighted catches and the in
ming was over.
Dutch didn't give the Sox much
chance in the ninth. He got the
first two batters before Foxx singled.
Then Cronin lifted another fly to
AlmAda, which is as sure a method
Of ending q ball game as any.