Evening star., 1949-07-18
Red Soxs Stephens Taking Play From Williams
Little Slug Leading
League in Homers
And Runs batfed In
BY Joe ReichIer
Asseeiotsd Press Sports Writer

HIIV NUIlS OOIIVO
BY Joe ReichIer
Asxoeiofsd Press Sports Writer
If Marse Joe McCarthy's Boston
Red Sox fail to overtake the New
York Yankees in the American
League pennant struggle, it will
not be the fault Of Vern (Junior)
Stephens.
The stocky little McAllister,
N. M, shortstop is enjoying his
best year at the plate. Little Slug
is threatening to take season
honors in his circuit in the two
power departments-home runs
and runs batted in.
Stephens currently is pacing
the field in both with % four
baggers and 90 runs batted in.
His closest pursuer is Teammate
Ted Williams. who has 81 homers
and 80 RIBS.
Vern stepped we'll in front yes
terday when he lashed out two
homers and drove in all Boston's
runs as the Red Sox divided a
doubleheader with the Indians in
Cleveland before a gigantic crowd
of 1889.
The homers were especially
noteworthy since they came on
the road where he's collected IA
round -trippers compared to only
nine in Fenway Park. He's hit at
least one in every park except
Washington. Stephens often has
been accused of being a Fenway
Park hitter. where righthanded
power batters have the advantage
Of a comparatively short left field
wall.
Vernon Supplies Punch.
With First Baseman Mickey
Vernon knocking in three runs
with a double and single. the
Tribe won the opener. AZ. Ste
phens batted in both Boston runs
with a home run and a single in
three Official times at bat.
The Red Sox came back to win
the nightcap, FL, as young Chuck
Stobbs outpitched Veteran AL
Benton. Again Stephens fash
ioned both Boston runs. He sim
gled to score Johnny Pesky with
the tying run in the sixth inning.
and won the game in the ninth
with his 23rd homer. He added
another single to give him five
hits for the day and boost his
average to an even 800.
Cleveland Pitcher Early Wynn
helped win his own game for
Cleveland in the opener with an
eighth-inning round-tripper. 1t
was his seventh victory in eight
decisions. Winless Jack Kramer
absorbed his sixth straight set
back.
The split prevented the two
clubs from making any gain on
the pace-setting Yankees. but the
Red Sox were able to vault past
Philadelphia into third place. The
Athletics dropped into fourth
place. losing a double header to
the Tigers in Detroit. 80 and Sd.
The Yankees retained their S "
game margin over the Indians by
splitting a twin bill with the
White Sox in Chicago. Joe Di
Maggio's sixth home run in the
seventh inning aave the Yankees
the opener. 2-1. and Vic Raschi
his 14th triumph against only two
losses. The White Sox pounded
Fred Sanford and Frank Shea
for IA hits to earn a 7-3 triumph
in the nightcap.
Di Mag Is Too Much.
Randy Gumpert allowed only
six hits in the, opener-as many
as Raschi-but couldn't handle
Di Maggie, who got q single in
addition to his homer. and scored
both runs. Twenty-two-year-old
Billy Pierce gained his fifth vic
tory in the nightcap. He was
helped by Herb Adams. George
Metkovich and Cass Michaels,
who collected three hits apiece.
Paul Campbell, little used first
baseman, shared the hero's role
with Southpaw Ted Gray as the
Tigers moved down the AS twice
to climb within a game and a
half of the mackmen.
Campbell slammed a home run
with the bases full and added two
singles as Gray blanked the AS,
so, in the opener on three hits.
The Tiger first baseman then won
the second game with an 11-th-
inning single that drove in the
winning run in Detroit's second
game 5-4 triumph.
Virgil Trucks, in relief, gained
his 11th triumph after a months
wait. He hurled four hitless in
nings. Bobby Shantz Joined Joe
Coleman in the losing side for
the AS.
Brooklyn retained its game
and-a-half lead over runner-up
st. Louis, edging out the Chi
cago Cubs, 4-3, while the Cardi-
nails were lacing the Giants IN
New York, 10-1. The third-place
(See BASEBALL, Page A-17)