The Washington times., 1938-06-22
KELLEY ASSURED
STARTING ROLE.
by SHUTOUT WIN.

CHICAGO, June 22.-Tottering
on the brink Of baseball oblivion,
a couple Of days ago. Harry Kelley
cut loose by the Athletics and
bought for the waiver price by the
Mats, awoke this morning to find
himself a regular starting pitcher
on the Washington pitching staff.
Kelleys quick change of fortune
came about with his superb shut
out victory over Chicago'S White
Sox yesterday when the veteran
32-year-old right handler allowed
the White SoX five widely scat
tered hits.
1t was, as Bucky Harris said;
"It's the first ball game we've
played this year that 1 was able
to sit back and relax. Kelley
was ahead OF them all the way
and there was never any doubt in
my mind that he wouldn't win"
1t was Harris, by the way, who
nursed Kelley along. The day
Washington left town, Clark Grit
fifth was on the verge of sending
Kelley away, for the Nat owner
was displeaSed with the ex-Ath-
letic's repeated failures.
| BANKED ON KELLEY
Harris, however, retained the
firm opinion that Kelley would de-
velop into a winning pitcher if,
given sufficient time. And the
fat and bald highlander finally
rounded into condition.
II studied Harry carefully"
said Harris today. 81 saw in him
the making of our pitching staff
and yesterdays performance did
nothing to alter my opinion. I
haven't seen a better pitched
game in a long while. He was
ready, I thought, when he left
Washington. But after they
booed him that day I didn't
want to take chance on him.
I know he's in form now, and
he's pitching regularly for us
from now on"
Just as yesterdays 7-to-0 victory
gave Kelley a brighter outlook, the
Mats, likewise, take on roster pros
poets for an exceptional season,
for if Kelley enjoys continued sue.
cess the Mats will automatically
become a sound first division club
9 1t may be the turning point in
2 WaShington's fortunes.
!. KRAKAUSKAS IMPRESSIVE
J. Should Ken Chase, Yves Ferrell
|. Dutch Leonard and Pete Appleton
!. maintain their present form, the
/. Mats, pitching situation will be
l. comparable to the best in the
/. league, for there is a great posi-
!. bility that Joe KrakauSkas, the
young southpaw, may continue his
= good work. Beaten in Cleveland
1 KrakauskaS was none the less i'm
e preSSive.
S Yesterdays victory, incidentally
brought the Mats even on theil
: current Western tour, since Wash
g ington has won four and lost four
f In the Mats last trip around the
s Western circuit there were but
t three victories to show when the
n team returned home. Moving along
t at 500 clip, to say the least, is
e encouraging. Similar success the
f rest of the trip should push Wash
q ington within hailing distance OF
first place, because the Mats have
= yet to meet st. Louis, Boston, New
Y York and Philadelphia, in thai
: order, before returning to Griffith
o Stadium July 4.
il Coincidentally, Kelley predicted
s he'd beat the White Sox before
r leaving the dressing room for the
e game.
"I've simply got to win," sale
). Kelley, "and that's why I can't
+ lose" After the game he said: 81
e knew when I reached the fourth
inning was going to pitch shut
d out. They weren't hitting me anc
S my arm was getting better as
t went along"
:. There is some doubt here that
: George Case, injured while max
h ing the final putout OF yesterdays
l. game, would be ready to play this
t afternoon against the White Sox