Evening star., 1938-08-02
bATTERS PR|MED
FOR BROWNS SET
Eyes Cleared in Fray That
Ends Losing Run, Puts
Club Fourth Again.
BY FRANCIS e. STAN,
StaE CORRESPONDENT of The Star.

BY FRANCIS E. STAN,
stac Correspondent Of The Star.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 2.-The skies had
cleared, q losing streak was gone
fourth place again was held and the
future looked roster today to the
Nationals as they rolled into Brown
town for a three-game series on lap
No. 3 of their Western tour. In short,
Bucky Harris fumbling band has
prospered in the last "a wondrous
hours.
With their first victory on the swing
Of the West, an 11-to-8 affair
wrenched away from the Indians, the
Griffs (D ended their five-game losing
streak, ca reclaimed fourth place
from the Detroit Tigers, beaten by
the AS, and 90 showed signs of re-
gaining their batting eyes.
Items Nos. l and always are SUBJ
ject to change on short or no notice
at all, even among the best Of. ball
teams. But in pounding Messrs. Bob
Feller, Johnny Humphries and Willis
Hudlin for IA hits yesterday the
Mats served notice they are in hit
ting mood. Thus, no matter how poor
the pitching, they must be conceded
a chance, especially against the
Browns and the White Sox.
Lewis Emerges From Slump.
Any number Of interesting posi-
bilities have cropped up overnight.
Buddy Lewis, who put in bad three
day stand in Detroit, banged out three
big singles and got base on balls
during the course of the 3-hour Is
minute ball game, driving across four
runs (including the winning rum and
scoring another himself.
George Case. who hadn't been able
to hit since the Mats left Washing
ton, yesterday surprised by banging
two off Feller, scoring a run and driv-
ing across pair from the lead-off
position. Al Simmons collected only
one hit, but that was home run of
Feller, and last. but not least, was
Buddy Myer, who celebrated his re-
turn after a one-day benching by
getting three hits, scoring twice and
driving over the tying run in the
ninth inning. thereby sending the
game into the tenth and victorious
round.
The pitching, of course, still is bad,
but apparently nothing can be done
about that matter until the Mats re-
turn to Griffith Stadium The home
park seems to be the only spot in the
league where the Washington hurlers
can conduct themselves in the man
ner of major leaguers.
Krakky Matches Feller.
But while the pitching as a whole
could be called spotty, there were two
performances out of four by Nat hurl-
ers that were interesting to note. The
first of these was delivered by Joe
Krakauskas, the Lithuanian wild man
who relieved Dutch Leonard. Our
Mr.. Krakauskas entered the battle
when Feller. who later weakened and
was driven out. was pitching fast and
furiously.
The Feller fast ball was sizzling and
banging into Rollie Hemsleys mitt at
the time. but Robert had nothing on
Krakky.
In the first of his four innings
Krakky struck out two hitters. In the
next frame he famed one, while giving
up a hit. This happened to be a
triple and wild pitch by Joe scored
the runner. In the third inning he
famed the side. Keltner, Hemsley and
Relief Pitcher Humphries.
Krakauskas might have gone on tc
big things had not his support turned
against him. He didn't strike any,
body out in the seventh inning, which
was his last, because Zeke Bonura
picked up ground ball and threw ii
away and when the inning ended the
Indians had two more runs and an
8-to-6 lead. So it was that Krakky
was lifted for pinch hitter, but not
before he had registered six strikeouts
in four innings and staked his claim
to a real honest-to-goodness pitching
Job.
Hogsett Gets the Game.
Incidentally, there was something
OF a power of suggestion behind
Krakky's performance. A year ago,
give or take q few days, it may be
recalled that Joe came to Washington
from the Eastern League and pitched
sensationally to win four out of five
starts. Late summer and early fall,
apparently, are right down Krakky's S
alley. It may develop he can't win
early in the year, but that he can
hang up the victories in the late sea-
son.
Bucky Harris intends to give Joe a
chance to prove this holds true again.
If Krakky can do 1t the Mats stock
is destined to rise They may even
have a chance to finish fourth, which
would be remarkable enough in view of
the manifold shortcomings of the club.
Oh, yes, after the Indians had built
up that 8-6 lead the Mats scored in
the eighth and ninth against Hum
phries. Then, to lead off the tenth,
Elon Hogsett, who also pitched well,
and who was credited with the game,
singled. A sacrifice by Case followed
and then Lewis singled the Chief
across. Two more runs followed
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