Evening star., 1948-10-08
Tribes S|uggers
Hold Edge in Big
Cleveland Park
Slab Situation Also
Fovors lndiuns With
World Series Even
By Burton Howkins
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

SLEV VGLAND, Oct. 6.-1ne BOS-
ton Braves aren't staggering, but as
the 1948 World Series shifted to the
vast Municipal Stadium here today
weather permitting. they were pom
dering how long their popgun power
would survive against potential how
itzer hitters. Cleveland's more dam
gerouS batters didn't deliver their
customary long-range hitting in the
first two games of the series. The
Braves are aware, though, that
they're perched on a keg of TINT
that could explode with no notice
The Indians squared the series at
one game apiece yesterday at Bos-
ton when they pecked out a Al
victory before crowd of 1858, but
Cleveland'S customary power was
restrained.
The Indians have fashioned only
two extra base blows thus far, but
batting order which contains six
players who have belted IA or more
homers during the regular season
isn't likely to remain subdued.
Cleveland has delivered only II
hits in its first two games which
could be tribute to Boston's pitch
ing. There is a suspicion, however,
that the Indians will get around to
mauling the Braves hurlers with
more authority.
Braves Batters Not Feared.
Meanwhile. the Indians are ex-
pressing little concern over the pos
sibility of an avalanche of clouting
from the Braves. Boston has i'm
pressed most observers as a team
Of single-slappers which must re-
ceive superb pitching to Offset bat
ting deficiencies.
The loss of Outfielder jeff Heath.
their leading home-run hitter, is
becoming severe jolt to the
Braves. 1t rapidly is being demon
strated that when Heath sustained
a broken leg on September 20 the
Braves power was -circuited.
Bob Elliott, the Braves No. 4 bait
ter, is potential threat to break
up a game with a big blow, but
against him the Indians can muster
such long-range hitters as Lou
Boudreau. Joe Gordon, Ken Keltner
and Larry Doby-plus the less-con-
sistent but very dangerous Allie
Clark, Jim Hogan and Eddie Rob-
inson.
The Braves. despite entering the
third tussle of the series even with
the Indians. were backed against
the wall. For the third straight
day they were to face a top-flight
pitcher in Gene Bearden and
against him they planned to pit
the less highly regarded Vernon
Bickford.
Bearden. who lifted the Indians
to the American League pennant
with an impressive performance
against the Boston Red Sox in the
playof game, was calculated to give
Cleveland a decided edge in the
pitching pattern of the series.
A 20-game winner, the left-handed
Bearden was hoping to swing Cleve-
land into commanding position
If he won today, the Indians could
afford to gamble with Bob Muncrief
or Satchel Paige or Sam Zoldak-
giving Bob Feller an extra day of
rest-while the Braves probably
would be forced to employ Johnny
Sain with two days rest.
The Braves could have created a
disturbance yesterday with timely
swats in several instances, but it was
Cleveland which was providing pay
of blows in vital circumstances.
Cleveland collected only eight hits,
but six were injected into innings
in which they scored. Meanwhile,
the Braves only run stemmed from
an error by Second Baseman Joe
Gordon in the first inning.
Boston spurted into 10 lead
after Gordon gummed up Alvin
Dark's grounder with one out. Earl
Torgeson and Elliott followed with
singles. scoring Dark, but the In
dians escaped further damage when
Bob Lemon and Boudreau collab-
Grated to pick Torgeson off second
and Marv Rickert struck out.
BOudreau Sparks Attack.
Boudreau provided beacon for
the Indians first run of the series
when he doubled off Warren SPAIN
to open the fourth inning. Gordon
promptly fetched him across with
a single to left with Joe continuing
to second on the throw to the
plate. Keltner fouled out, but Dolby
scored Gordon with a sharp single
to right.
Cleveland boosted its advantage
to 81 in the fifth when Dale
Mitchell singled, Clark sacrificed
and Boudreau singled to shell SPAIN
from the premises. The Indians in
flicted no damage to Red Barrett,
but scored on Nelson Potter in the
ninth after Shortstop Dark fumb1ed
Hegan's grounder. Hogan moved to
third on grounders by Lemon and
Mitchell to score on Bob Kennedy's
looping single to center.
The Braves had repeated scoring
opportunities against Lemon, but
couldn't get a hit to capitalize on
their chances. Three times after
the first inning the Braves got two
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