Evening star., 1948-10-09
Tribes Tight Hurting
Against Punch|ess
Foe Du||s Series
By Burton Hawkins
Stor Stoff Correspondsnt

CLEVELAND, Oct. 9.-The l94Y
World Series, despite close scores
and magnificent pitching, rapidly is
deteriorating into a drab affair. In
confetti-littered Cleveland there is
occasion for rejoicing, what with the
Indians holding a 2-l edge as they
entered the fourth game of their
battle with the Boston Braves, but
the Series is following the blueprints
too exactly to be exciting.
1t is a Series of superb pitching
and, by the same token, puerile hit
ting. The Indians power has been
conspicuous by its absence, but
Cleveland has been getting by with
out it. Boston is equipped with what
amounts to no power and the In
dians' sharp pitching therefore has
been duued by the fact that it
doesn't take great pitching to beat
the Braves.
Clevelands power paralysis-14 of
its II hits in the first three games
were singles, with the other three
doubles-has come as somewhat OF
a shock to the Indians followers.
They aren't hitting, but the Indians
still have the edge because at their
worst batting form they're superior
to the Braves.
Sain Is Outnumbered.
Boston's Johnny Sain, distin-
guished pitcher, is stacked against
three men of distinction in Cleve-
lands Bob Feller. Bob Lemon and
Gene Bearden. The Indians thus far
have shown more pitching and more
polished fielding than the Braves.
Cleveland, it seems, can be In q bat
ting slump and still wallop the
Braves. The Braves have stirred up
Is hits and 13 Of them have been
singles, the other two doubles. To
blend with that miserable mauling,
they have a pair of infielders-
Shortstop Alvin Dark and Third
Baseman Bob Eniott-who have been
resembling fugitives from the sand
lots. Each has been charged with
three errors.
Boston has scored two runs in
three games and one of those was
an unearned tally which stemmed
from an error by Second BaSeman
Joe Gordon-the Indians only mis-
cue of the series. The Braves have
shown tolerable pitching, inept
fielding and an attack which would
be regarded as poor even for Wash
ington's punchless Mats.
Slumping Tribe Outclasses Foe.
If Boston wins this series it will
be the greatest upset since David
disposed of Goliath. The Braves
have been outclassed by a Cleve-
land club in the throes of a batting
slump. Cleveland's pitching is bet
ter and deeper, its fielding is less
inclined toward nervousness and
its batting potential is more dan
gerous.
Cleveland was hoping to get by
Sain, coming back today after two
days rest, and end the series here
tomorrow. The Indians could afford
to gamble with one of their second
string hurlers today, granting Feller
another day Of leisure.
Bearden, nicked for three hits
in the first four innings yesterday
in whipping Boston. 30, before a
crowd of 70,306, had an easy time
of it in the final five innings. He
permitted only two hits down the
stretch.
The left-handed Bearden, who
lifted the Indians into the Series
with shit victory over the Boston
Red Sox in the American League
pennant playof1 on Monday, had his
control clicking. He walked none
and famed four.
Only Stanky Reaches Third.
Eddie Stanky was the only
Brave to reach third base and only
two others reached second Stanky
singled in the third inning and
moved around to third on Vern
Bickford's sacrifice and Tommy
Holmes grounder but was stranded
when Dark flied to Walt Judnich in
right.
The Indians produced a run in the
third after Bearden doubled with
one out for the first of his two hits.
Dale Mitchell walked and Larry
Dolby grounded to Stanky, whose flip
to Dark forced Mitchell as Bearden
took third. When Dark rushed his
throw to first for an attempted
double-play he threw wild and
Bearden scored.
Bickford,s fifth walk-to Keltner
launching the Indians mingled
to run. Judnich struckout, but
Robinson and Hogan singled to score
Keltner. When Bearden singled to
I'LL the bases Bill Voiselle was rushed
to the mound. Against Voiselle and
Charley ReO Barrett the Indians
fashioned only one hit in the final
four innings.
The game consumed only / hour
36 minutes-the shortest World
Series contest since 1908.
hs44 T~~S@eS. CI-lJ