Evening star., 1941-06-07
Young Star Takes Up
Slack His Skiddinq
Boxmates Leave
Shutout Win Is Fifth
Of Season for Johnny;
FeIIer Blanks As
BY JUDSON BAILEY,
Associated Press Sports Writer.


There doesn't seem to be any
question that this is going to be the
best year for Johnny Wander Nicer
since he reached his double no-hit
pinnacle in 1888
In fact, he may better his seasons
record of that year, even If he
doesn't match its artistic success.
He pitched a one-hit' game last
night in shutting out the Phila-
delphia Phillies, TO, for the world
champion Cincinnati Reds. The
only hit against him came in the
second inning, when Danny Lit
whiler beat out an infield smash to
Shortstop Eddie Joost. He famed
II, allowed but two men to reach
first and retired the last % batters
In order.
However, there have been other
signs that Vandy was right" again
this spring, Last nights triumph
was his fifth of the year and, on his
last time out, the young southpaW
star stopped the then pace-Setting
St. Louis Cardinals on eight scat
tered hits. In his other complete
games he pitched a four-hit 10
shutout against the Chicago Cubs, a
couple of six-hitters and one seven
hitter.
Wander Nicer Big Help.
In his best year Wander Nicer won
IS games, and since he already has
achieved five victories, he has a
good chance to improve on that
mark this summer. What is more
important from the standpoint of
the f1oundering Reds is that he is
taking up the slack left by the
backsliding of Paul Derringer,
Bucky Walters and others of Gin
cinnati's once invincible pitching
corps.
The Reds backed up Vandy last
night with an 11-hit offensive.
Chuck Aleno hit a homer. Frank
Mccormick singled with the bases
loaded and Ernie lombard SmaCked
two doubles for three runs.
Kirby Higbe, the 100000 question
mark of the Brooklyn Dodgers. also
proved last night that the invest
ment in him was sound one He
held the Chicago Cubs to four hits
and socked a double himself for two
runs in sixth-inning rally that won
the game, Al, and maintained
Brooklyn's half-game lead in the
National League.
1t was Higbe's sixth victory
against three defeats and he flashed
an impressive fast ball that baff1ed
the Bruins. He ended the game by
striking out pinch hitter Hank
Leiber.
Big Day for Pitchers.
All things considered, yesterday
was quite day for pitchers. Bob
Feller chalked up his twelfth tri-
umph as the Cleveland Indians shut
out the onrushing Philadelphia Ath-
leticS, 20. He allowed just four hits,
struck out II and, for the second
time in his entire career, did not
issue a base on balls.
Lon Warneke kept the st. Louis
Cardinals in a challenging spot in
the senior circuit with a six-hit per-
formance that beat the Boston
Braves, 81.
The Pittsburgh Pirates captured
double header from the New York
Giants, 5-4 and 4-3, with Max
Butcher spacing six hits for his
fourth straight victory in the first
game and Truett (Rip) Sewell al
lowing just five in the nightcap, be-
sides setting new National League
fielding record for pitchers by ham
ding II chances f1awleSsly He had
II assists, three in one inning, tying
two records.
Two of the hits given up by Sewell
were home runs by Master Melvin"
OFT, the enduring star of the Giants,
who thus ran his total for the sea-
son to II and for his lifetime to 402
Homers Win for Red SOx.
Home runs provided the Boston
Red Sox with all their scores in a
5-3 decision over the Chicago White
Sox.
Jim Foxx hit one with two on. Ted
Williams one with one on and Jim
Tabor one with bases empty.
The Red SoX got only six hits and
Me White Sox seven, although each
side used two pitchers.