Evening star., 1940-09-21
Relief Of Harder
ByFe||er Draws
Fire Of Critics
Worn Ace Is Beaten
After BengoIs Find
First HurIer Tough
BY DALE STAFFORD,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

DETROIT, Sept. 21.-The opening
battle was ended, but the argument
ragged on today as the Detrait Tigers.
a full game up on their foes, squared
of against the Cleveland Indians
in the second part of the American
Leagues pre-World Series triple
feature.
As usual the argument centered
on the No. man in most of Cleve-
lands disturbances this year-Man-
ager Oscar Vitt-against whom II
of the Indians rebelled last June 13.
This time Wits strategy was under
fire as result of the eighth inning
of yesterdays contest in which
Detroit scored five runs to lock up
6-to-5 victory after appearing
hopelessly defeated. Witt was being
criticized for:
% Removing Pitcher Mel Harder
after he had allowed only four
singles and one run in seven and
one-third innings;
90 Sending Bobby Feller in as
the relief hurler when the young
Iowan had benefited from only "a
hours rest after going all out to
defeat Washington, 2 to l, on We'd
nesday.
Harder Tired, Witt Claims.
Witt showed no surprise when in
formed that he was being "panned"
in some quarters.
I'D do the same thing in the
same situation today" Witt said.
Harder, who is past 80 years Of
age. was firing and had lost his
control"
Second-guessers pointed out that
Harder had stood the Tigers on
their heads and that walk to
Barney McCosky and single by
Charley Gehringer with one man
out was the sole damage that had
occurred in the inning in which he
was removed A five-minute huddle
involving Witt, Harder. Catcher
Frank Pytlak and Shortstop Lou
Boudreau preceded Harder's de-
parture. Capt. Hal Trosky did not
participate in the discussion.
It feel badly about losing" Witt
added, but there are two games left
in this series and We aren't out OF
it yet by long shot"
Feller Warmly Greeted.
Concerning Feller, the experts
contended that it was an unwise
move to use the overworked and
underweight freballer because De-
troit and Hank Greenberg in par
ticular are tough foes for him.
Moreover. Feller needed a rest in
order to be in good form when he
starts against the Tigers on Sunday.
Greenberg and the other Tigers
didn't wait to put the youthful
pitcher on the spot, landing on
Feller's offerings to make him
losing pitcher against them for the
fourth time this season.
Greenberg, who is ,atting All
against Feller for the year, greeted
Bobby with a sizzling line single
to center and Rudy York and Frank
Higgins singled to right to send him
to the showers. Joe DobSon came
in and yielded two singles and a
walk before finally retiring the side.
Tribe Rakes Newsom.
Yhe Indians accumulated the stag
gering total of Is hits-11 of them
off Louis Buck Newsom-as COM
pared to Detroit's nine. Even more
jittery than when they lost three
straight games here earlier in the
month. the Tribesmen committed
four errors.
The Tigers sought to make it two
straight and increase their league
lead to two full games today by
pitching Lynwood Rowe, their come
back hero. Rowe. who was sent to
the minors with an ailing arm two
years ago, has IS victories and de-
feats to his credit. Al Milnar, who
will start for Cleveland, boasts a
record Of Is wins and 9 losses.
The weather prediction was con-
tinued warm. Briggs Stadium Of
f1cials predicted sel1out attendance
in excess of $1,000. Yesterdays
game drew a disappointing throng
OF 22.508.