The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-27

PITCHERS SHOW
UNEXPECTED
BAT STRENGTH
BY CARL LUNDQUTST

United Press Stan CorrespOndentD
New York, April "a - UPO - In
his major league season, already
trimming over with baseball oddi-
ties, the ninth spot in the batting
order no longer Is a long-shot LA
bility for a manger who needs a
hit and doesn't want to remove the
pitcher for a pinch-hitter.
The evidence was mounting today
that this Is going to be q year for
the pitchers not only on the hurting
hill but at the plate IS well. Al
though there Is no rule which re-
quires q manager to place his
pitcher arbitrarily at the bottom Of
the batting order, there usually isn't
much dispute since the pitcher
isn't expected to do more than go
to the plate, take his swings, and
return to the dugout TO think Of his
mound chores.
Move EN- Up
But If the present trend continues
some forward-looking manager may
decide to let his pitcher bat ahead
Of few Of his weak-hitting coll
leagues. Especially, If they do as well
as they did yesterday.
Take Nelson Potter, the 34-year-
old right handler for the Browns.
With the score tied Sail in the
ninth at Cleveland, st. Louis Man.
ager Luke Seweu must have debated
before letting Potter bat. But his
judgment was vindicated when Pot
ter hit single which scored Len
Schultz from second with the win
ming run. Potter's pitching was on
the sharp side, too. He turned in
a SEVENTH job to give the Browns
their first victory since the season
opener.
Harry Feldman Of the New York
Giants was just as impressive with
his pitching and hitting. He shut
out the visiting Philadelphia Phil
lies, 2 to 0, on flve hits and scored
what proved to be the winning run
In the third on Manager Mel Otis
double after he had singled. Catcher
Ernie lombard, leading the league
in runs-batted in with IA, scored
the other Giant run with a homer,
his third.
At Washington, 40-year-old John
Niggeling, got double and single
to pace his team at bat In q 4 to /
victory over the Boston Red Sox,
who haven't won a game to date
and have lost seven. Niggeling,
tough in the clutch, yielded 10 hits
but left nine men stranded on the
The Philadelphia Athletics scored
all their runs in the fourth inning,
wiping out S to deficit to upset
the visiting New York Yankees, 7
to 5. The Yankees had made all
their runs and Pitcher Wal Dubiel
appeared to be coasting to victory
when the AS teed off on him, get
ting three singles, three walks and
a double to score four runs. Rookie
Allen Gettel came in and walked
Charley Metro to force home the
tying run. Hal Peck's single and
Bobby Estalella's fly provided the
other runs. Dubiel in his only times
at bat got double and O single in
the losing cause. Relief Pitcher Joe
Berry won the decision, holding the
YankS to one hit for five innings.
Hits That Won
There have been other striking in
stances Of pitchers holding up their
end in batting this season. Hal New
houser Of the Tigers won his only
game with an 18th inning single,
Curt Davis Of the Dodgers hit
homer in winning effort and
Claude Passeau of the Cubs gained
mis- FIRST victory by hitting his first
homer in three seasons along with
a timely single. Ed Lopat Of the
White Sox won his own game with
homer against the Browns.
All other major league games
were postponed yesterday.
YESTERDAYS STAR - Nelson
Potter Of the Browns, who ended
five-game losing streak for the
Browns with a five-hit victory over
Cleveland and drove home the win
ming run with a ninth inning single
for 4 to 3 victory.