Evening star., 1945-09-14
Masterson Is Brilliant
In Subduing FeI|er;;
Clip Lead 10 ! Tilt
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

+, Pennant fever still has the Mats
burning up and they are not crying
for any ice packs. If the tempera-
ture continues to rise, it will be all
right with them.
A game ahead of the leading De-
troit Tigers in the win column, Just
two games behind in the loss totals
and but half a game OF the top
OF the American League, the Mats
look better than at any time since
they began their amazing drive in
late June.
For the sixth time, they are In a
position where one days results on
the diamond could make them the
league leaders.
With only II games remaining,
the road ahead is rugged, for the
pace-setting Detroiters have IA
more engagements on their sched-
ule. Yet should both clubs move
along as they have since the West
ern outfits began their final invasion
of the East last week, the Tigers
would do no more than lie the Mats
for the pennant.
In the last nine days, the Mats
have won 10 of 13 games. Over the
same span, the Tigers have taken
8 OF 13. The Mats pace certainly
has been more of the championship
kind.
Masterson Whips Feller.
Bolstering Washington's hope of
Its fourth American League flag was
its 4-to-0 win over Cleveland's In
dians last night in which the Mats
not only overcame the Indians famed
fastball pitcher, Bob Feller, but also
came up with a remarkably i'm
proved pitcher of their own in Wal
ter Masterson.
Just out of the Navy and in a big
league game for the first time since
late in the 1912 baseball season.
Masterson was everything he was not
when he entered Uncle Sans serv-
ice. He clearly outpitched his ex-
Navy mate and in a manner indi-
eating he will contribute heavily to
the Mats in their drive through the
championship stretch.
Where formerly Masterson had
been noted mainly for his lack of
control and the lack of a pitch
quick enough to get him by In the
big show, this time he appeared to
have everything necessary to make
him big Lacquer. Poise, control and
courage in addition to real pitching
ability were displayed by the right
handler who had rejoined his club
only the day before.
Griffs Rich in Pitchers,
Masterson's graduation into the
higher pitching class gives the Mats
a squad Of tested starting pitchers
eight deep, apparently enough to
carry them through the trying times
before them. His success also should
hearten the Mats for their final
clash of the year with the Tribe
tonight.
Lou Boudreau, Cleveland pilot,
had Allie Reynolds in line for the
Tribes last tilt here when his club
arrived Wednesday, but Os Bleuge
was uncertain today about the
Washington starter. He had con-
sidered sending AL Carrasquel to
the hill, but Pete Appleton, another
newcomer to the Mats, or Marino
Pieretti might get the call.
Masterson gave a superb exhibi-
ton in blanking the Tribe. He
gave up only two hits and three
passes and he struck out three
pitching two of the strikeouts at
critical moments. Only in the third
inning did the Tribe have as many
as two on the runway at one time,
but Masterson easily mastered this
situation.
Masterson SqueIches Rally.
With one out in the third, Ci-
hocki singled and Feller walked.
A passed ball advanced both a notch.
Here Masterson frightened to strike
out Mackiewicz for the second time
before Rocco lofted into retirement.
Heath was the next Indian toI
reach base. He walked with one out
in the seventh, only to be forced by
Ross after Meyer had fouled out.
Hayes began the eighth with a sin
gle and moved up as Pinch-batter
O'Dea grounded out. Pinch-batter
Seerey struck out and Travis easily
took care of Mackiewicz.
Feller never was the Feller of the |
years before the war, despite his six
strikeouts. The Mats combed him
for seven hits in his seven innings
and one of the three passes he is
sued was converted into a score.
One Of Cleveland's three errors hurt
him, but the Mats already had beat
en- him before they got their un-
earned run.
They did it in the fourth. Lewis
at the outset and Kuhel
placed fine bunt between Feller
and the first baseman for a hit.
Travis struck out, but Binks cele-
orated his return to the game with
a double scoring two. After Ferrell
vent out. Torres singled Binks home.
That was enough, so it made no
difference that Pete Center retired
The Mats in order in the eighth.