Evening star., 1945-08-22
Grifk Trail by Game
After SIugging Win
Over Indians, 11-S
BY JOHN b. KELLER,
Star Staff Correspondent.

| CLEVELAND, Aug. 22.-Baseball
analysts for years have claimed
that pitching is the greater part of
the game. Generally, results of
games bear out the claim. But
there are times when hitting alone
tells. Certainly 1t was what the
Mats did at the plate yesterday that
today had them within a game Of
the Detroit Tigers, leaders in the
mad scramble for the American
League championship.
There was little Washington
pitching to boast about in the fifth
tilt Of the Cleveland series played
yesterday in Band Box League Park,
but there was abundant Washing
ton hitting. Consequently the Mats
are showing an 11-8 win for their
frs scrap of the season in the
Indians privately owned ball yard
and an edge of four games to one
over the Tribe in the current seven--
game set.
The victory also put the pennant-
pursuing Mats ahead of Cleveland
in their annual series for the first
time. It was the ninth victory for
Washington over Cleveland in II
games.
Also it was the 18th win for the
Mats on this last swing through the
West this year and it assured them
Of better than an even break for
the tour.
Wolff, Holborow Get Nod.
A double-header today was to
wind up the final invasion OF the
West and Manager Os Bluege was
prepared to 60 all out with his
pitching staff. Roger Wolff, with
1913 record, definitely was nom
mated for the hurting in one of
the contests. In the other. Bluege
expected to start Walter Holborow,
reservists, but every other member
of the Washington slab corps was
to be in readiness for service if
needed.
Keeping the pressure on the pace
setting Tigers for the time being
is all well enough, Bluege feels, but
nothing would please him more than
to bring home a Washington club
in first place. From now until the
last game of the trip is played in
the double-header against the Ath-
letics at Philadelphia next Wednes-
day night, the Mats hurlers will not
be spared.
The tussle yesterday in the Indians
own ball park was pitching strug-
gle. But only in quantity. There
was little quality displayed by either
side. 1t was a knock down and
drag-out affair with each club hav-
ing on the hill at the finish high
class moundsman who had appeared
previously in the series.
Haefner Is Ineffective.
Mickey Haefner opened fire for
the Mats, but the stout little knuc-
kleballer had nothing like his GUS
tomary effectiveness. After stag
gering from the fourth round,
Haefner gave way to Santiago Ull-
rich in the seventh and Ullrich was
lifted in the eighth when the Tribe
pulled to within run of the Mats.
So Marino Pieretti, who had shut
out the Tribe only the night before,
stepped in to quell 1t again.
Ed Klieman, big highlander, was
the Indians starter. He was driven
out in the fifth when the Mats came
up with four runs for what ap-
peared healthy lead. Jack Salve-
son came in to finish the fifth, but
took sound pasting in the sixth.
Then the Indians brought on an out
fielder to do their pitching.
Myril Hoag blanked the Mats,
surprisingly, for two rounds, al
though he had to have two double
plays supplied by his support. Then
Pat O'Dea, another outfielder, bat
ted for Hoag in the eighth and
would have gone to the hill in the
ninth against Washington had not
Cleveland scored once to cut the
Mats lead to one run.
Here the Tribal board of strategy
decided to rely on a slab ace, Allie
Reynolds, who had upset the Mats
Sunday. ODea might have been a
better choice for the Mats got two
runs off Reynolds after two were
out in the ninth and that was too
much for the Tribe to overcome,
what with the relief work Pieretti
e,,prliad