Evening star., 1943-05-27
Mats Apt TO SET
New Cate Mark
Here This Year
II Home Dates Draw
125,000;; Leonard Nips
Browns Under Arcs

President Clark Grifnth's predic-
tion that his current Mats would
threaten Washington's attendance
mark of $4,000 established in 1925
is beginning to shape up as one of
his less startling statements, for
crowds are continuing to flock to
Griffith Stadium despite the gas
shortage and its attendant driving
restrictions
Last nights crowd of 1880, which
saw the Mats nip the st. Louis
Browns. 10, and move within a game
of the league lead, was Washington S
fifth sizable gathering in IL home
dates and remarkable turnout in
view of transportation difficulties.
The Mats have found the formula
for pleasing their home crowds, for
they've won 8 of 13 local engage
ments, including a brace of twin
bills. Washington has split 16 road
games to remain in a bitter scrap
for the top spot.
Washington drew 25,093 customers
on opening day, 32,328 for double
header with the Yankees, 17,177 for
night game with the Red Sox
10000 for a double-header with the
Red Sox and 13,50O for last nights
tiff with the Browns, all of which
adds up to 1O7 ,098 customers for five
home dates and an encouraging start
toward successful season.
Browns Foes Again Tonight.
Toss in a conservative $4,000 fol
the Mats other six home dates anC
Washington's surprising team hai
enticed more than 125,0O0 fans te
Griffith Stadium. That's averaging
more than 1000 customers date
With the Mats shadoWing first
place Cleveland and the runneruI
Yankees, another stable crowd is
expected tonight when Washington
and St. Louis tangle for the sec
ond successive time under the lights
at Griffith Stadium at $50 o'clock
Early Wynn, seeking his third vic.
tory, is slated to oppose Al Hol-
lingsworth or Fred Ostermueller or
the mound
The Mats should do all right
from an attendance standpoint ir
the immediate future, too. They'll
play single day game with the
Browns tomorrow, but will face the
White Sox in a night game Satur-
day and double-header on Sunday
They will play four successive night
games next week
Dutch Leonard gratified the fan!
last night with a four-hit brand O.
pitching to register his fourth vic
tory. The Mats nicked Johnny Mig
ceiling for run in the sixth or
singles by Jake Early, Leonard anc
Stan Spence and that, it developed
was ample for the Mats knuckle bal
specialist.
Leonard Keen in Pinch.
Leonard now has permitted onl,
two runs in his last 26 innings anc
in achieving his four triumphs has
permitted the opposition an average
of one run game. His two defeats
were no disgrace. He dropped a g.
oCSAoAoAA w GAIC ACllACCACS anu d u
job to the White Sox.
Washington mustered only five
hits off Niggeling and George Caster
but parlayed those three sixth thinning
singles into second straight shut
out conquest Spence came out OF
his prolonged slump with a brace
Of singles and poked home the Mats
lone run.
Leonard's effectiveness is mirrored
In the fact he struck out eight
Browns. Twice his butterfly bal
escaped Early on strikeouts anc
only once was Dutch is serious diff
Guilty. That was in the eighth wher
he walked Pinch-hitter frankie
Hayes and pitched single to Pinch
hitter Vernon Stephens. But with
the potential tying run on third base
and one out Leonard retired Tony
Criscola on a pop fly and struck out
Harlond Cliff.