Evening star., 1947-08-09
Cards. Improved Over 40 on Hill Make F|aq Move
Hearn, Munger Help
Trio Who Bore Bio
Burden Last Year
By jack .Hond
Associated Press Sports Writer

Eddie Dyer's st. Louis Cardinals
are making their move toward a
second straight National League
pennant with a well-balanced pitch
ing staff, superior to the three-man
crew which carried the burden dur
ing the 1916 stretch drive to victory.
A year ago, Howie Pollett, Murry
Dickson and Harry Brecheen had
to stumble along with only occa-
sional help from the other staff
members. Now Dyer has that same
trio, once again approaching their
46 effectiveness and fine rookie in
Jim Hearn plus a better conditioned
George Munger.
Munger could very well be the
key to the pennant race. Much
was expected of him off his pre-
war record but he has failed to live
up to expectations. That is, he had
failed to live up to them until last
night when he shut out Pittsburgh
with three hits for an eighth straight
Cardinal triumph, 60.
Picture Is Encouraging.
In the last nine Cardinal games.
counting the series finale with
Brooklyn which was lost 81, six ST.
Louis pitchers have gone the route.
Dickson and Pollet, two each, and
Harry Brecheen and Munger each
once. Hearn, the flre-balling fresh
man with a fine 8-4 record, was
lifted once for pinch hitter and
yanked once in the ninth after hurl-
ing shutout ball for eight frames.
All in all it's an encouraging pic
ture for the world champs who have
closed the Dodgers lead from 10
to games in weeks time. Their
important test comes in an extended
Eastern tour starting at Brooklyn
August 18.
While the Birds were blanking
the Bucs, Brooklyn was shutting
out Philadelphia, SO, lambasting
Dutch Leonard and Charley Schanz
for l3 hits. Ralph Branca, who had
failed three times in search of his
18th win, finally made the grade,
scattering eight hits to earn his
fifth shutout.
Braves Win in Tenth.
The Boston Braves overcame New
York Giant home runs by Buddy
Kerr and Jack Lohrke to hand up
a rs win in the tenth inning on a
squeeze bunt by Johnny Hopp and
a single by Frank Mccormick. Bill
Voiselle. making his first start
against his old Giant mates. almost
had his revenge but he was lifted
after walking the first two batters
in the eighth with a 5-3 lead. New
York came on to tie the score and
the eventual decision went to Re-
liefer Clyde Shoun over Hooks lott.
Bill Nicholson's inning homer
enabled the Chicago Cubs to shade
Cincinnati's Ewell Blackwell, 81, in
the only day game played in the
majors. 1t was the third loss in a
row for Blackwell following his
string of 16 straight victories. John
seventh success by Cub triple play
in the seventh inning.
Boston, opening a door die series
against the league-leading New
York Yanks, hammered out a 60
decision that cut the Yanks' Amer
lean lead margin to 12la games.
Homers by Bobby Doerr, Jack Jones
and Sam Mele told the story of the
loss charged to reliefer Joe Page
who replaced Vic Raschi. Doerr got
his off Raschi but the other two
came off Page.
Top Million in Attendance.
Detroit and Cleveland both went
over the million mark in paid at
tendance. The Tigers total hit
1.014,S07 after their 40 twilight loss
to Chicago. Rudy York's two-run
homer did the trick in the 10th,
sending Hal Newhouser down with
his 18th loss. Luke. Appling had a
perfect evening with four straight
hits, helping Frank Papish to his
ninth win.
Al Gettel pitched Cleveland to. a
Al nod over the st. Louis Browns
before 34,O65 customers, boosting the
season paid to 1012847. Gettel held
the Browns to six hits while the
Tribe plastered Ellis Kinder for 10
of their IL hits and his eighth set
| back,