Evening star., 1940-07-16
Hudson Boosts
Rep With 9Th
Straight Win
Rookie Threatens to
DispIuce Leonard as
Teams Ace Boxmon
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

Teams Ace Boxmon
BY BURTON HAWKINS.
Dutch Leonards accepted status
as Washington's premier pitcher to-
day was being jeopardized by slen-
der Sid Hudson, whose rather medi-
ocre record semi -obscures the rapid
recovery he has authored in the
past few weeks.
Hudson now owns string of six
successive victories and when the
season willis into oblivion he may
be recognized as the outstanding
rookie pitcher Of the year, despite a
sorry start which saw him drop nine
games while winning only two. Now
he has captured eight decisions and
his losses remain at nine.
It was Manager Bucky Harris
who called the turn on Hudson at
spring training camp and it was
Bucky who retained his lofty opin-
ion Of Sid despite his numerous
defeats earlier in the year. He
never has lost faith in the towering
right-hander and Hudson has
started to justify everything COM
plimentary ever said about him.
This may be the turning point"
said Harris less than a month ago
after Hudson had hurled a Init
game against st. Louis. II believe
this will give the boy the confidence
he needs and turn him into a win
ming pitcher. 1t should help him"
Control Makes Him Winner.
1t has. Since pitching that STIR
ring game against the Browns,
Hudson has spanked Chicago. Bos-
ton, Philadelphia, Detroit and Cleve-
land. He still has a tendency to
tire in the late innings, but thus
far it hasn't harmed him.
Il think my bad start was due to
lack of control" says Sid. I never
had been bothered with control
before this season, but earlier in
the year I couldn't seem to find the
plate and couldn't keep my pitches
low. Now I'm pitching where I
want to, most Of the time anyway"
Sid has something there, for in
his last three games he has walked
only f1ve. He Is in trouble rarely.
remaining ahead of the hitter, and
he Is calculated to aid himself both
with his hitting as well as his
fielding.
There is some doubt if the Mats
will accomplish much this season,
but the consistently effective hurting
OF Hudson may serve as balm to
heal their wounds. He probably is
the most promising performer
Washington has owned in several
seasons.
Indians Hitless Until Sixth.
Hudson's comeback borders on the
miraculous. He was being hit hard
and often, yielding more home runs
than any pitcher in the league
before he unraveled that MASTER
piece in st. Louis to fracture the
Mats seven-game losing streak.
Since that occasion he has pitched
like he never intends losing a game.
Against Cleveland yesterday, as he
elevated the Mats to sixth place by
the grace Of few percentage points,
he allowed no hits for five innings,
Roy Weatherly being the only In
dian to reach base over that span,
through the medium of Shortstop
Jimmy Pofahl's error.
Sid weakened in the sixth, sew
enth and ninth innings to allow
two runs In each of those frames,
but only three of those runs were
earned. 1t didn't matter, though,
because the Mats were in a hitting
mood and had constructed a formi-
dable lead.
Washington smashed Al Milnar
for six runs in the first three in
nings, producing five in a hectic
third inning, featured by Rick Fer
rells double at a time when the
bases were crammed.
Krakky Seeks First Win.
Rollie Hemsleys double to left
leading of in the sixth was the first
hit off Hudson and led to two runs.
Weatherly singled sharply to center
to score Hemsley and took second
when Hudson muffed Cases throw
to the plate. Weatherly scored on
Lou Boudreau's single to right.
Cleveland reduced Washington's
margin to 6-4 in the seventh on
singles by Hemsley, Mack and
Weatherly, but Gerald Walkers
triple and Zeke Bonura's long fly
to right sent the Mats into q IA
lead in their half of the inning.
Hudson's double to left and Cases
single stretched Washington's lead
to 8-4 in the eighth, Cleveland
manufacturing two more runs in the
ninth. Hemsley was safe on Myers
error and scored on Pinch-hitter
Beau Bells triple to center. Bell
scored as Myer tossed out Chapman.
Joe Krakauskas, still searching for
his first victory of the season, was to
pitch for the Mats today, with Harry
Eisenstat. slated to sling for the In
dians. who. incidentlly, were dropped
out of the league lead in losing their
second straight game here.
Chicago invades Grimth Stadium
fov q fhrAn ~an> s>,a>. k>~>s.