Evening star., 1943-07-05
Two Wins in Six TiIts
In West Cut Yanks'
Lead Half Game
BY . Star Stan Correspondent.

DETROIT, July 5.-The Mats thus
far have accomplished no miracles
on their Western journey. WASH
ington, in fact, is having a trouble
some trip, what with losing four
games in six starts, but with all
their woe the Mats have sliced half
game of the Yankees first-place
margin since deserting the Capital,
and the future doesn't loom as
gloomy.
Washington's pitching sagged yes
terday at st. Louis as the Mats
dropped AZ and 1913 decisions to
the Browns, but in that st. Louis
series Manager Ossie Bluege de-
tected a shred OF encouragement
In the suddenly spectacular hitting
Of Outdelder Stan Spence.
At st. Louis, Spence batted 500
In IA trips to the plate, emerging
from a prolonged slump with rush.
He was getting distance with his
blows, too. contributing three home
runs, triple and three singles. all
Of which might indicate the Mats
finally are going to obtain some of
the power they were supposed to
have had when the season started.
Aid Comes to Johnson.
Spences batting improvement
comes as shot in the arm to the
Mats, who are only game behind
the Yankees despite their recent
bad behavior. Stan has perked up
at a time when Bob johnson also
is hot, the burly third baseman hav-
ing hit at .403 clip in his last 18
games, and between them they may
supply Washington the power 1t
has lacked.
johnson has been carrying the
clubs hitting burden on his back
for three weeks and now it appears
he will receive aid. Gene Moore
Johnny Sullivan and George Case
are displaying batting improvement
although Mickey Vernon. Gerry
Priddy and Jake Early still are
struggling to snap slumps.
Sperce's department was the
bright spot in a dull st. Louis per.
formance. though, and with Star
socking as he did last season wher
he batted 1923. Bluege visions ar
improved Washington team. Tht
drawing North Carolina outfelder'
surge could be vital to the Mats a
a time when the American League
virtually is dead heat from frs
through seventh place.
Dutch Leonard and Early Wynn
were to pitch for the Mats here TO-
day as they launched a Again,
series with the Tigers. Today's frs
game was to be played at II oclocl
with the second a twilight affai
starting at 6 O'Clock.
Tigers Hot Now.
The Tigers, who are breathin,
| down the Mats necks, have movet
up since Washington last viewet
them. The Mats had captured fiv
OF eight games against Detroit a
they tangled in this mornings tiff
but the Tigers now are one OF tn
leagues sizzling teams and are fac
ing the Mats after Washington ha
taken a slight kicking around.
In the first game yesterday, Do
Gutteridge and Milt Byrnes greete
Jim Mertz with successive first in
ming doubles to fashion a run, bu
Sullivan thumped his homer to loo
the score at IL in the third. TIL
Browns grasped a 81 lead in tn
fourth as Harlond Cliff singled Mix
Chartak across and boosted it t.
| 81 in the fifth when Chet Laab
drilled a 430-foot homer into tn
center field stands.
Moore delivered home run owe
the rightfeld roof to launch tn
eighth, but George Caster replaced
Steve Sundra at that point ant
squelched any ideas the Mats wer,
nursing of creating rally. St. Loui
picked up its final run in the eighth
off Rae Scarborough. with Pridd,
inserting an error to aid in its pro
duction.
Carrasquel Belted.
| Laabs socked Alex Carrasquel fol
a first inning home run in the nigh
cap. scoring Don Gutteridge aheae
of him, and the Mats never bounced
back after that. The Browns peckec
away at Carrasquel for single run.
in the second. third and fourth in.
nings, added two in the fifth anc
three more in the seventh.
Spence drilled home run ovel
the rightfield roof in the third in.
ming with Case on base. That slicec
st. Louis margin to AZ, but the way
the Browns were betting Carrasquel
Spence's blow merely served to make
the score more respectable. Wash.
ington added its third run wher
Case singled in the sixth to score
Sullivan. who had singled and moved
to second as Al Hollingsworth walked
Carrasquel. The game was callec
at the end of the seventh to permit
the Mats to catch a train.