Evening star., 1938-05-12
VETS NEW POWER
BALANCES ATTACK
Lead Lost Despite Rocky's
Drive, but He Looms as
Big Threat on Road.
By FRANCIS E. STAN.

~ AS3AANSAo 6s "a NV
That winning streak couldn't last
forever and nobody realized it more
clearly than the Senators. So today,
checked after rolling up seven consec-
utive victories, they turned their at
tention toward starting a new streak
and whatever other new business was
before them.
Johnny Stone ought to come under
the heading of new business. Long
John has been poor but honest en-
ploye of the Washington club ever
since 1884 and he always has produced
a healthy batting average. But this
year Johnny got off to the worst start
OF his career and for while it began
to look as if Stoney was locked in a
death grip with his slump.
That was before this final week Of
home play opened. Rocky banged
the pitching of Vernon Kennedy Of
the Tigers for three of Washington's
seven hits yesterday. The day before
he tagged Buck Newsom and Vito
Tamulis of the Browns for three moro
hits. And the day before that he
raped Oral Hildebrand for q triple
and single.
In his last three games Rocky has
bounced eight hits of his bat in IL
times at the plate. Twice he doubled
and once he tripled. He scored a pair
of runs and drove across two more.
He promises to move back into rank
as one of the Mats steadiest offensive
threats
Knocked Out Of Lead.
The Mats seven-gams winning streak
died quietly yesterday as the Detroit
Tigers, with Kennedy turning in a
seven-hit pitching job. won a 4-to-1
victory. Manager Bucky Harris start
ed Harry Kelley in the box and the
veteran who was bought from Phila-
delphia was charged with the defeat.
He wasn't bad, though, was Kelley.
The oldster for whom the Mats paid
$4,000 still is little short Of top form.
The Tigers scored all Of their runs
in the second inning. Thereafter Kel-
ley, Ken Chase and Bill Phebus held
them scoreless and did a pretty good
job. In fact if Kelley could have re-
tired Pitcher Kennedy with two down
in the second inning the Mats might
have won to 0.
The defeat cost the Mats the Amer
lean League lead by few percentage
points. The Yankees, whipping the
White Sox, moved into first place for
the first time with a 667 percentage,
or with IA wins and Z defeats. Tho
Mats, with IS victories and 8 defeats,
have a .654 percentage.
Mats Hit Road Tonight.
Today was to mark the Senator'S
final appearance at the stadium until
late this month. Tonight they will
entrain for Boston and then will head
West for their first swing around tho
circuit. When they come home on
May % the chances are they will
be established either as a pennant
contender or just another ball club
that got off to a good start.
Stones clouting of the last three
days was an effective antidote for
that beating yesterday. Ever since
the season opened some unexpectedly
fine pitching and the offensive power
of the inflelders have carried the
Griffs to victory after victory. With
Stone in slump the value of the
outfield chiefly was evidenced in q
defensive way. for Johnny is the
howitzer of the hy-chasers
Now it looks as if Rocky is ready
to put his shoulder to the wheel and
help Messrs. Bonura, Lewis, Travis,
Myer and Rick F'errell with the attack
on pitchers. If this development oc-
ours the Griffs will embark on their
(See STAN, Page C-3.)