Evening star., 1949-06-18
Once -Despised Outfit
In Race After 15Wins
IN Last 10 Games
BY Joe Reiehlsr
Assosictsd prsss Sports Writss


It's about time somebody start
ed paying attention TO those
"Fightin' Phillies" from Philadel-
phia.
While they're at it. they could
also give the dottble-O TO the
Phils' young bonus pitcher. 22-
year-old Robin Roberts.
A chronic second-diyision club
since 1882. the Phils weren't given
a tumble III preseason polls Only
the most optimistic favored them
with a first-division berth.
Now here it Is the middle Of
June and Eddie Sawyer's scrappy
bunch are in the thick OF the
pennant fight-two games from
the top. And judging by the way
the Phils have been knocking off
all opposition of late. it would
come as no surprise if they took
the league leadership from Brook
Ign before the. month is out.
They've won Is Of their last l9
games.
The Phils achieved their most
noteworthy feat of the year last
night. cooling Harry Brecheen and
and the st. Louis Cards, so.
Roberts gave o brilliant pitching
performance.
Eighth Win for Roberts.
The victory extended Philadel-
phia's winning streak to six
straight games and moved them
into a virtual tie with the Cards
for second place. The Cards have
an .005 percentage point advan-
tage because they've played four
less games than the Phils.
The victory was Roberts eighth
of the year. to tie Brooklyn s
Ralph Branca for the league lead
ership. He has lost only three. 1t
was his second shutout and his
sixth straight win.
The Dodgers snapped a two
game losing slump, winning a
tough 81 decision over the Chi
cago Cubs. Don Newcombe out
pitched young Warren Hacker
with q six-hitter for his fourth
victory against no defeats. Gil
Hodges single which scored Duke
Snider from second broke up a
IL tie in. the ninth. The defeat
was the cellar-dwelling Cubs
sixth in Q row.
Cincinnati dumped the Boston
Braves into fourth place. knock
ing OF Billy Southworth's crew,
7-2. HOWE Fox. aided by Walker
Cooper's first-inning home run
with two aboard. won his fourth
game. Johnny Sain suffered his
seventh defeat.
Shelling Clint Hartung from the
hill with q four-run barrage in
the first inning, the Pittsburgh
Pirates went on to defeat the New
York Giants, Ga, in a night game
In Pittsburgh. Big Ernie Bonham
spaced seven hits for his second
yictorys Wal1y Westlake drove In
two runs for the victors with a
couple Of singles.
Indians Continue Drive.
The upsurging Cleveland In
dians whipped the New York
Yankees. 1914, at the Yankee
Stadium to extend their winning
streak to six games. The Tribe,
definitely on the move. now is four
games over the 500 mark and
only 5hz games from the top.
Five Of Cleveland's eight hits
OIL Ed Lopat went for extra bases
Ken Keltner. emerging from q
protracted slump, hammered two
hon1ers and a single. Larry Dolby
and Pitcher Bob Lemon also
homered. while Manager Lou
Boudreau hit double.
The Boston Red Sox won both
ends Of an afternoon might dou-
BILE header from the Chicago
White Sox. 4-3 and 1913. Joe Dob
son survived q three-run first in
ming to win his fifth game in the
opener.
Boston pounded out Is hits in
the nightcap. Stephens smashed
his 10th home run and williams
his 18th. Lefty Maurice McDer-
mott, called up from Louisville
earlier this week. walked nine but
allowed only three hits In seven
innings to gain his first major
league victory.
The Philadelphia Athletics
moved to within half o game Of
the second place Detroit Tigers,
defeating the st. Louis Browns,
SIS. Joe Coleman weathered two
bad innings to 60 the route and
register his sixth victory.