Evening star., 1943-06-23
Mats Push Yanks
As They Show
Stick Power
Vernon Tops 30 Win,
Virtual Tie Possible
In Two TiIts Today
BY BURTON HAWKINS,


NEW YORK. June 23.-At long
last, as the Duke of Windsor would
put it, the Mats are beginning to OBJ
tain some of that power they were
supposed to own and as a direct re-
suit Washington today had moved
within two games of the league
leading Yankees.
BY sweeping a twin bill with the
Yankees here today, the Mats would
vault into virtual tie for first place
in the American League, although
New York still would possess an in
finlteSimal percentage edge of 005
In an attempt to do that, Manager
OSSle Bluege was to send his two
leading hurlers into today's engage
ments.
Milo Candini, who had won six
games without defeat this season,
was Bluege's choice to pitch the first
game and Alex Carrasquel, who had
won seven games and lost two, was
to hurl the niehtcap. Spud Chand-
Ter and Ernie Bonham, New York
aces, were to oppose them.
Mickey Vernon and Bob Johnson
supplied the punch that dealt the
Yankees a 80 trimming here yester-
day, with Mickey inserting a home
run and triple into the proceedings
and johnson following Vernons
triple with another in the eighth to
fetch Washingtor's winning run.
Lead in Runs Batted In.
Vernon has found the Yankees
pitching a soft touch in the current
series. In three garnes he has
thumped a comriendable 1862 and
included among his blows have been
two homers and triple. Mickey,
in fact. has delivered three-ffth of
the Mats home runs this season,
having poled one previously at De-
troit.
johnson also has been hitting at
a fashionable figure recently. In his
last % trips to the plate, he has col
lected IA hits, including two triples
and three doubles for a 600 average
johnson and Vernon are the Mats
leading contenders for runs -batted-
IN honors. Boo has 35 runs batted
IN and Mickey trails him by 2.
Yankee Stadium also has served
10 fracture the batting slump OF
Second Baseman Gerald Priddy. He
had gone hitless IN 13 successive trips
10 the plate before connecting for
three hits in the second game of a
double-header Sunday, and yester-
day he added two more hits in three
attempts.
With Vernon. johnson and Priddv
acceleratlng their batting attack, the
Mats carried a record of four VIC
tories IN five games on their current
road trip into today's games. The
Mats will be idle tomorrow. but will
play successive arc tilts at home with
Philadelphia Friday and Saturday
nights and double header with the
Athletics Sunday before invading the
West.
Early Lead Shifts.
Early Wynn was no small fpure
in the Mats triumph Yesterday in
achieving his fifth win of the year.
He limited the Yankees to five
scattered hits in the seven innings
ne tolled before being lifted for a
plnch-hltter, and it wasn't his fault
the Mats were trailing at that point,
With Two out in the fourth inning,
Vernon slammed a home run into
the lower right-fleld stands off Hank
Borowy to present Washington a 10
lead, but that existed only briefly.
In the fifth the Yankees grasped a
2-1 advantage.
Ken Sears opened with a single
OIL Wynn's leg and Nick Etten sac
rlflced. Gordon walked and Bill
Johnson scored Sears with a single
10 LETT. BoroWy popped out and
TUCK Stalnback then grounded to
ShortStop Sullivan, who messed IN
the play. He threw low and wide to
Prlddy at second base attempting to
| force johnson and when the ball
escaped Priddy, Gordon scored.
Case Slated to PLAY.
with two out in the eighth. the
Mats did something about the Yank-
eeS' Il lead. Stan Spence singled
to right and Vernon dashed a long
triple to left center to tie the score
johnson then tripled off the left
held barrier, scoring Vernon, before
Marius Russo replaced Borowy and
retired Gene Moore.
Rae Scarborough protected the
Mats lead nicely He retired Charley
Keller, Johnny Lindeu and Sears in
order in the eighth. Etten opened
the ninth with double to right,
but when Gordon attempted to sac
rif1ce Scarborough scooped up his
bunt and threw to Ellis Clary at
third to nip Etten. Bill johnson
then forced Gordon and Priddy
threw out Pinch-hitter Bud Meth
eny.
George Case. suffering with a stiff
neck, was replaced by Moore, but
Case was expected to return to