Evening star., 1938-04-24
HOMER SNUFFED
WITH ; YANKS0N
Right Fielder Leaps High
AGAINST Barrier to Grab
Dickey's Drive.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN,

otku SOIICSpOuOc1lt Ol u0 SLAI.
NEW YORK. April 23.-Long John
Stone stretched to the peak Of his
6 feet in height. leaped high OF the
soggy green turf in right field and.
with q spectacular stab. broke the
Yankee Stadium jinx for the Mats
today and preserved 7-to-4 victory.
Stone dipped deep into the most
fanciful chapter of the Merriwell feats
to save this ball game in the ninth
inning for Wesley Cheek Ferrell and
keep the Washingtons among the
American League leaders.
twenty-five thousand hoarse in
mates Of the big ball park were
sensing last-minute Yankee kill.
The bases were loaded, all on walks
by fast-tiring Ferrell. and two were
out. At the plate. danger written all
over his long frame. was Catcher Bill
Dickey, one Of the Yankees more no.
torious home-run hitters. A four
bagger by Dickey would break up the
game and bring the world champions
an 8-to-7 victory
Dickey did his part. He slammed q
terrific drive that seemed certain to
clear the 3-foot barrier and sail into
the stands. But Stone, taking one
look at the ball. dug for a spot. He
reached his destination. whirled, and
crashed against the barrier as he
lcaped. For one agonizing moment it
looked as If Stoney might fall back
ward into the stands and drop the
ball. but he kept balance. with an
effort, and then sprinted triumphantly
for the clubhouse
Ferrel Fighting" Pitcher.
Thus the surprising Mats scored
their first New York victory Of the
year and maintained their terrific
pace. It was Washington's fourth VIC
tory in five games and Ferrell's second
straight slab win. Yves was no hurting
gem today. but he was a fighting
pitcher faced by prohibitive odds. Be-
fore the game he rigged up q white
flannel neckpiece to wrap around his
Adams apple and keep his stiff neck
warm and loose. From the stands
Wes resembled . man with q cast for
broken neck, but. snarling at him.
self, berating the umpires. leering at
the Yanks. he forced himself to whip
across those lazy. loping pitches and
clip the corners of the plate.
He was in serious trouble twice and
both times 1t was his fault. In that
dramatic ninth, holding 7-to-4 lead,
WeS retired pinch-hitter Red Ruffing,
but walked Frankie Crosetti. He got
Red Rolfe, but he walked George Sell
kirk and Lou Gehrig, filling the bases,
and Dickey at the plate represented
the winning run. 1t was from this
hole that Stone extricated his fiery
teammate.
The Mats licked a time -honored
enemy today in Vernon (Goofy) CO.
mez, the skinny-legged left-hander
who beat them six straight times last
year. They took Al lead off him
and then, after the Yanks tied the
score at "A in the sixth inning they
chased Gomez to the showers with a
two-run uprising in the seventh.
Yanks First to Score.
The Yanks scored first, showing
across a run in the opening inning.
With one down Rolfe doubled and,
with two out, Gehrig sent q long fly
to center. Rookie George Case, patrol
ling unfamiliar territory, was timid
about approaching the barrier and the
ball fell for double, scoring Rolfe.
The Mats served warning on Gomez
IN their second. which Zeke Bonura
opened with single. Big zeke raced
to third on a double by Stone (that
man again. Here Gomez tossed
out Cecil Travis. nobody advancing,
but Ossie Bluege walked and Rick
Ferrell slashed a single to left, scoring
Bonura and Stone and making the
score 2-l.
The Mats bounced right back in the
third inning and boosted the count to
Al. Buddy Lewis opened with q sim
gle and Al Simmons socked a mag
nif1cent triple to left center, scoring
Buddy. Bonura bounced to Rolfe and
was thrown out, Simmons holding
third, but Stone walked. Here Travis
lifted a fly to center, but 1t was too
short to allow Simmons to score. A
moment later, Crosetti muffed Bluege,s
line drive and Simmons scored.
Crosetu make up for his mum in
the Yanks' half of the third inning,
leading on with a home run that cut
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