Evening star., 1948-08-02
Four-CIub Flag. Race
Hottest in AL Annals
After Big Week End
By Joe ReichIer
A,eo<ict~d praxx Snortx Wrifsy

An ordinary Scent postage stamp
can cover the first four teams in
the closest four-club pennant race
the American League has enjoyed
in its 48 years of operation. Only
eight percentage points separate the
first four teams. +
Here is the picture as 1t appears
today. The Philadelphia Athletics
are back in first place, but are only
eight points ahead of the fourth
place Boston Red Sox. In between
are the Cleveland Indians and New
York Yankees.
Based on games won and lost, the
Red Sox are in a virtual triple tie
for second place with the Indians
and Yankees. All are one, game
behind the AS. But once* again
that old percentage oddity crops up.
The Indians have won SIS and lost
38 for .591 to hold two-point edge
on the Yankees, who have won Sc
and lost 80 for $50. The Red Sox
have won 81 and lost 40 for 588.
Here is how one days activity
scrambled up the junior leagues
first four teams:
Connie Macks AS. in second
place after Saturdays games,
jumped into first by defeating the
Tigers in Detroit, Az, yesterday.
The Indians advanced from third
to second by sweeping a double
header from the Red Sox, 1872 and
81. The double defeat dropped Joe
McCarthy's Red Sox from first all
the way down to fourth. The
Yankees moved up from fourth to
third by vanquishing the Chicago
White Sox twice. 80 and rs.
Marchildon Is A'S Pillar.
Phil Marchildon, the Canadian
right handler, gained the honor of
boosting the grab-bag Athletics to
the top, Sunday. He limited the
Tigers to five hits for his eighth
victory, but had to have help in
the ninth from Charley Harris when
he walked three men and hit an
other to force in a run.
Ferris Fain, draft-purchased first
baseman, led the 13-hit AS attack
against Dizzy Trout with a two
run homer and three singles. Fain
drove in three runs and scored two
himself. 1t was Trout's 18th loss
against 10 victories.
Bob Lemon and Sammy Zoldak
held the hard-hitting Red SoX to-
three runs and 13 hits in making
it three in a row over Ted Will
liams and company. A Cleveland
crowd of 7O,7O2 saw the Tribe get
a route-going affair for the first
time since July IS, when Lemon
limited the Sox to six hits in the
opener. It was No-Hit Bob's l4th
victory of the year. Zoldak per-
mitted seven hits for his sixth tri-
umph. A ninth-inning home run
by Ted Williams spoiled his shut
out bid.
Lemon and Dolby Homer.
Lemon and Larry Dolby smashed
homers in the opener for the In
dians and Joe Gordon and Allie
Clark did likewise in the nightcap.
Vic Raschi and Southpaw Tommy
Byrne pitched the Yankee vic
tories. Raschi allowed the White
Sox only six hits in the first game,
and batted in three runs to win
his 18th game. Joe Di Maggie
helped with his his oath home
run. Byrne was ahead IL in the
ninth of the nightcap when he
gave up a single and walked three
men in succession before he was
relieved by Frank Hitler. Hitler
was nicked for two hits and three
runs before he gave way to Joe
Page, who snuffed out the rally.
A four-run fifth inning against
veteran Nelson Potter enabled the
St. Louis Cardinals to defeat the
Braves in Boston, SO. The defeat
cut the Braves first-place National
League margin to five games over
the New York Giants Four Boston
errors aided the Redbirds.
Marty Marion paced the Cards
15-hit attack with a double and
three singles.
Rain washed out scheduled dou-
bleheaders between Chicago and
New York at the Polo Grounds,
Pittsburgh and Brooklyn at Ebbets
Field and Cincinnati and Phila-
delphia at Shibe Park.