Evening star., 1947-09-24
Staff's Performances
Improving in Fight
For Coveted Call
By jack Hand
Assocjoied Press Sports Editor

New York Yankee pitching, incon-
sistent since mid-July, is looking
better with every passing day. In
stead of crippled, sore armed
staff, Manager Bucky Harris now
has four starters bidding for the
coveted opening World Series job
with their best performances of the
season.
Bucky seems to have solved the
age-old problem of keeping the boys
interested in the intervening days
between the pennant clinching and
the series opening.
He has most of the staff outdoing
one another in a wholesome rivalry
for that No. l job against the
Brooklyn Dodgers. Allie Reynolds,
Frank Shea, Bobo Newsom and Bill
Bevens are in the running, with
Spud Chandler beginning to show
signs of life.
Reynolds and Shea did good jobs
yesterday in beating Washington
20 and 81. Reynolds, working
eight innings, blanked the Senators
with six hits, before yielding to a
pinch hitter. Shea gave only two
hits, although he walked seven, in
his eight-inning chore. Reynolds
shutout was his 10Th success and
Shea picked up win No. IA.
In each case Lefty Joe Page
stalked from the bull pen to tune
up his soupbone with a one-inning
stint. Unless it's a case of reaching
the peak a week ahead of time, the
Yanks are ready.
Page, incidentally, equaned a
long standing Yankee record set by
Jack Chesbro in 1904 when he ap-
peared in his 55th game in the
nightcap.
Chandler has not pitched in a
league game since September /,
when he threw to only three batters
| on relief IN Boston. Bone chips in
his arm may keep him out of this
series. However, Chandler has been
throwing harder in recent days and
might surprise all.
Hatten Wins No. II.
Brooklyn also started work with
the series in mind, instead of worry
ing about the Cardinals, who finally
have been eliminated mathemati-
cally. Joe Hatten was given a five
inning outing against New York to
gain credit for his 17th victory, 6-1.
Dan Bankhead tossed the last four
innings after Hatten went out for
pinch hitter and most of the re-
serves were thrown into action.
Even Jackie Robinson, who was
presented with a new car, television
set, $500 watch and other gifts in
Robinson Day ceremonies, yielded to
Ed Stevens midway in the game.
st. Louis, a bit concerned about
Boston's challenge for second money,
disposed of Pittsburgh, 8-4, despite
Ralph Kiner's 51st homer. AS a
result, the Cards now are two full
games ahead of the Braves. Kiner's
blow put him one ahead of New
Yorks Johnny Mize.
Chicago trounced Cincinnati, 7-2,
in the other scheduled National
league dCbfOil,@ ROuItQilS JOillluyl
Wander Nicer and two successors for
II hits. All Cub runs came in the
fourth inning
Tigers Gain on Red SOx.
The American League second
place squabble warmed with Detroit
showing half game ahead of Bos-
ton by Al triumph over Chicago,
while the Red Sox split two with
Philadelphia. Hal Newhouser hooked
his 18th win despite 10 White Sox
hits, and the Red Sox came back
to win 6-5 for Earl johnson after
bowling to the AS Phil Marchildon
in the opener, 9-3. 1t was the 18th
win for Marchildon.
Bob Lemon, Cleveland's hottest
pitcher of the moment. hoisted the
Tribe to within a game and a half
of the second-place Tigers by IA
night win over ST. Louis before only
TAT fans, a new low for a night game
this year.