Evening star., 1946-06-24
Quit Cellar, Near First
Division by Capturing
II Of Last 3 TiIts
By Joe ReichIer
Associated Press Sports Writer

Baseball fans, ever ready to cheer
for the underdog, have switched
their allegiance from Tom Yaw-
keys millionaire Boston Red Sox to
Bob Carpenters from-rags-to -to-riches
Philadelphia Phillies, who threat
ened today to bolt the National
Leagues second division where they
held an ironclad lease for 13 years.
All ovel the Nation fans who are
watching the amazing Phillies' gall
liant bid for at least fourth place,
are saying "It's about time" For
the Bluejays, only once pennant
winner, have ventured out of the
darkness of the second division only
once since 1917.
Less than a month ago, the Phils
futile Phils then-were languish-
ing in their familiar cellar abode
with eight victories and twenty four
defeats. Philly fans were resigned
to another eighth-place club, which
looked as If 1t might set new rec
ord for games lost, something it
came close to doing last year.
Win II of Last % Games.
Since that date, May 20, the Phils
flaming Phils now-have won IT
of % and have climbed to sixth
place. only one and a half notches
away from fourth place-and the
first division.
Not since the halcyon days of the
Athletics of 1881 have PHILADELPHIA
fans shown so much enthusiasts SIN,
They have f1ocked to Shibe Park in
such large numbers that already
the attendance in Is home games
mas topped last years season total
by more than 125, 900. Following an
all-time Philadelphia record crowd
OF 22,663 Saturday spectators, a
standing-room- m-only crowd of 33.949
paid admissions watched their IA
yorltes earn a victory and a tie in
their double header with the Gin
cinnati Reds yesterday.
Both contests were overtime duels.
with the Phils winning the first
game, 5-4, on Jim Tabor's 18th
inning home run for their fourth
In a row, and the second halted by
Pennsylvania's Sunday curfew law
with the score tied at 3-3 at the
end of II frames.
The American League-leading Red
Sox appear to be back in their win
ming stride after their double drub-
bing OF the Cleveland Indians 81
and 60. Jolted by eight losses in
their last 10 games, the Red Sox
received a much-needed lift by the
stylish Boston pitching debut of Bill
Luber. The veteran Highlander,
obtained only last week from the
New York Yankees via the waiver
route. hurled a splendid three-hit
shutout in the afterpiece following
Mickey Harris six-hit performance
in the opener. Ted Williams, who
drove in two runs in the first game,
poled his 18th homer in the third
inning OF the second.
The sweep enabled the Red Sox to
increase their t1st-place lead to
seven games over the Yankees. al
though the Bronx Bombers defeated
the Detroit Tigers, 1913, in IL in
nings with Tommy Henrich's two
run homer, his second of the game
and the sixth for the Yankees, set
Ting the game in the 18th.
Dodgers Increase Lead.
Brooklyn increased its National
League lead to two and half games
over the runner-up st. Louis Cardi-
mails by taking the rubber game of
the three-game series with the Red
birds. 4-2. Joe Hatten. continuing
to show improvement over his early
season work, spaced eight hits and
was helped by Dixie Walker who
belted two triples, both resulting in
runs.
The Boston Braves moved into
fourth place with a double victory
over Pittsburgh. 4-3 and 40. with
Johnny SAN, racking up his eighth
triumph in the second game.