Evening star., 1938-08-16
MATS SEEK TO END
POTENT YANK J|NX
Champs, Here for 4-Game
Set, Offer Big Hurdle for
Ambitious Griffs.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN,


Safely installed in fourth place but
still four games out OF third, the
Senators today faced the obvious
necessity Of beating their severest
critics If they mean to move ahead
in the American League flag race.
Perhaps the reference to a flag race
Is ill-advised. The New York Yankees.
now ~ games in front of their closest
rivals, move into Grifiith Stadium
today. The chances are that nobody
will overtake the world champs. They
are of again to third straight pen
nant and the issue now Is second
place.
But If the Yankees four-game series
at Grandpappy Grifiths ball yard
means little as far as a pennant Is
concerned it means much to the GrifTs
as they continue to seek higher place
in the league standing. Having hand
lily disposed of the Red Sox in a three
game set the Mats now face the task.
of perpetuating their winning streak
the hard way.
Blew Series in New York.
For the last two years the Yankees
have been plain poison to the local
firm and so far this season they have
done almost as they pleased. They
have taken nine of IL games with
Washington to date and exhibited even
more mastery in Griffith Stadium than
they have at Yankee Stadium.
AS they plot to overtake the third
place Red Sox the Mats find the odds
against them. The Sox. also playing
at home. are entertaining the seventh
place Athletics. Having won 33 and
lost only IL home games the BosoSn
do not figure to lose series to the
AS. The Bostons are pretty we'll
broken up, what with Grove on the
sidelines and Higgins and Foxx hob
bling on bad legs, but they still rate an
edge over Connie Mack's band
The Mats can only hope that at
long last their i'll luck against the
Yankees will not continue to hold. m
a recent series in New York the Griffs
were in a position to sweep the set.
They grabbed the opener behind Ken
Chase's pitching, 4 to 2. but they blew
the last two games after holding leads.
Ferrelfs Now q Yankee.
Getting the Yankees into Griffith
Stadium figures to give the Mats all
the advantage possible. At home the
Washingtons have compiled an en-
viable record of 80 victories. Is defeats
and tie. Only the Yanks have
gained an edge over the Griffs in
local battles.
Still holding to the theory that
left-handers can whip the champs.
Manager Bucky Harris today was to
send Chase and Joe Krakauskas to
the box in the double header. Dutch
Leonard, with two fine victories to
his credit. was to work one Of the
games and Aunt Minnie probably will
mop up.
The Yanks are dignified with the
presence of Wesley Cheek Ferrell, who
was released last week by the Griffs
on grounds of incompetence. Wes'
sin was winning Is games and losing
only g. Uncle Clark Griffitn decides
he was a bad influence on his ball
club and gave Ferrell his uncondi-
tional release 1t was terrific blow
to the temperamental gentleman from
Carolina, who promptly went to New
York and signed with the club which
Is going to represent the American
League in the world series.
Griff was hoping. for box-office
purposes, that Ferrell would pitch
today. 1t develops he isn't to work
but there is a chance he may start
the third or fourth game of the set.
Ferrells facing the Mats during
the series would be at once a blow and
q boon to Griffith. With Wesley ad-
vertised to pitch. the customers might
swarm to the ticket windows, but II
Ferrell happened to beat the Mats.
none other than Uncle Griff, Of all
people, would be paying him. Griff.
you see, must pay Yves his salary fors
10 days after his release.