Evening star., 1938-06-06
APPLETON EARNS
RANKASSTARTER
Shows Real Class Against
Indians, Despite Mats
10-Inning Defeat.
By FRANCIS E. STAN,

For the second time this season the
Senators magic spell in Griffith Sta
dunn has been broken. During the
early hours of May the Yankees made
of with a series in the local ballyard.
Today, after winning or tying six
straight series, Bucky Harris band
experienced the sting of having the
Indians not only duplicating the
champions feat but, in the process,
lengthening their lead in the nag
chase. .e -.
But even in this moment Of sorrow
the Griffmen were not without con-
ISOLATION. For one thing Pete Apple
ton turned in q wel-pitched ball
game yesterday. He didn't deserve
to lose that 10-inning 5-to-4 decision.
The Cleveland run which tied the
score in the ninth round and sent
the game into extra innings was un-
earned. And Willis Hudlin's game
winning double in the tenth was an
out-and-out fiuke.
Appleton proved, in throwing that
l0-hit job at the Indians, that he can
start ball games as well as finish them.
Pete had pitched himself into ranking
as the best relief hurler on the staff.
Today Manager Harris is comforted
with the thought that Appleton can
hold his own as starter with any of
them. And 1t may become necessary,
with hot weather and double headers
coming up, to change Pete's status to
that of starting pitcher.
/, Myers Comeback . Success,
Buddy Myer had a chance yesterday
to send the crowd of more than Il, 900
home happy in Washington's half of
the tenth. The winning run was on
first base and the tying run on second.
but Myer grounded out to end it. The
incident merely emphasized that not
even the good clutch" hitters can
do it every time.
Myer Is q second ray Of sunshine
in the lives Of the Senator'S today,
Buddy didn't have to break up the
ball game yesterday to prove himself
As q mater Of fact, Myer broke It up
once. Not only did he insert a vital
blow In the three-run rally that tied
the score, 3-S. in the fifth inning. but
1t was Buddy whose double to opeu
the seventh gave the Mats a 4-to-s
lead which looked good enough until
two were out in the ninth inning.
Consider, If you please, Buddv,s
record. With q batting average ot
1897 he is pressing Cecil Travis for the
batting leadership OF the club. In 81
games he has scored 23 runs and
made 81 hits. In the field the vet
eran is better than he has been in
years. exhibiting, among other thinrs
a stronger arm.
Bluege Likes System. Too.
Myers comeback this year definitely
can be called success. Useless to ths
Senators in 1887 and 1896, when he
was i'll, Buddy apparently is taking
up where he left off in 1885. when
he won the batting title in the Amer
lean League and put In his finest
season.
1t Is to be remembered, Of course
sa1"' "yeI 10 NOT playing against all
types OF pitching. Buddy has been
used this year only against right
handlers, with Ossie Bluege taking
over second base when southpaws
have faced the Griffs on the tirina
line.
The system has struck q most re-
sponsive chord with Bluege, too,
Playing in is games ossie ranks third
among the Mats in batting, placing
just behind Myer with 1888 average.
And Ossie,s fielding, Of course, comes
Is close to being faultless Is is hu-
manly possible.
Today, with Ken Chase working for
the Mats and Earl Whitehill pitching
for the Tribe, the Cleveland series
will come to an end. which is all right
with the Griffs. Invading the stadium
next win be the st. Louis Browns. who
long have been easy pickings. The
Red Sox will inherit the Job Of trying
(See APPLETON. PAGE A-I73