Evening star., 1944-07-07
Fourth by a Fraction,
Can Gain 500 First
Time Since June I
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

While the Mats stage their War
Relief benefit tonight at GrifIith
Stadium with an elaborate pregame
program sponsored by the Touch
down Club and the District Depart
ment Of the American Legion they'll
be seeking some relief themselves
relief from winning percentage
under 500 that has been theirs since
the day after they routed the St.
Louis Browns on the home lot Of
the latter on June l.
Tonight they meet these same
Browns, who since that June l lick
ing have been moving down the
opposition at hot clip to maintain
the American League lead. But the
Mats have done right we'll for them
selves in this current invasion by
the Western clubs, 50 we'll that q
triumph tonight would give them
$3.50 standing on their seasons S
performance.
To Milo Candini has been assigned
the task of turning back the Browns
in the trying tussle. His record of
four wins against six losses may not
appear so impressive, but recently
Candini swung into superb pitch
ing stride and easily could surprise
the amazing st. Louis club.
Mats Regain First Division.
Manager Luke Sewell has named
the right-handed Jack Kramer as
his hurting choice. 1t was Kramer
the Mats trounced on June to re-
gain a 500 standing after a series
OF reverses and that was the second
trouncing Of this pitcher by them
this year.
Besides striving to hit the 500
mark. the Mats also will be pro-
tecting a first-division berth held
by them for the first time since
June 16. In toppling Chicago's
White Sox, SO, last night to cop
the series. three games to one, the
Washington club moved ahead of
Jimmy Dykes outfit to fourth place.
The difference between the Mats
and the White Sox in percentage is
a mere .00061. but that's enough to
make the Mats feel they will 60
somewhere worthwhile at last.
1t was a sparkling slab Job by
Mickey Haefner, the portsiding
knuckler, that helped get the Mats
across in the finale with the White
Sox. Mickey gave up just four
singles-and two of these weren't
made until after two were out in
the ninth inning-and three passes.
The passes were spread over three
innings and each came after two
were out.
Haefner Masters Chisox.
Haefner registered only two
strikeouts. but he had the White
Sox under his thumb all the way.
Only two got by first base, Wally
Moses going to third on an error by
Bob Ortiz in the third inning and
Ralph Hodgin making second when
the pitcher gave up the two hits in
the ninth.
Incidentally, the victory moved
Haefner up to the 500 mark, max
ing his record six and six.
The Mats won the game of Orval
Grove in the first inning when a
clean single by George Myatt, a
scratchy one by Joe Kuhel and an
Intentional pass to Stan Spence
fllled the bases. Ortiz got an in
field hit to tally Myatt and Kuhel
crossed when Tom Turner dropped
a throw to the plate from Grove,
who tried for a forceout after field
ing Gil Torres tap.
The Mats got six hits of Grove
IN the five frames he toiled, bunch.
ing two in the third for a score and
backing a walk and an error with
one for a marker in the fifth. Joe
Haynes finished, giving up three
hits with two accounting for a run
In the eighth.
Kuhel had fine time at bat
against his former clubmates. In the
three games he played in the series
he went to bat a dozen times for
SIX hits and an even 500 average.
He carried across five runs.
Thurman Tucker, White Sox out
fielder who went into the start of
the series last Tuesday as league
batting leader with a rating of .375,
came out Of the four games far OIL
the top with an average of 346. He
didn't get hit in Is times at bat.
There has been no further word
from Harlond Cliff, third baseman
due in Chicago yesterday, but he
is likely to get here tomorrow.
Manager Os Bluege said today he
probably will alternate Torres, now
at third, and Myatt at second base
with Torres facing the portside
pitchers and Myatt the right
handlers.
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