Evening star., 1950-08-30
By Joe ReichIer
Associated Press Sports Writer

Are the Tigers finally cracking
under the pressure of one of the
most gruelling pennant battles
ever waged?
Has the strain of pacing the
pack for 80 consecutive days fin
ally become unbearable?
The answer may come within
the next few days. Then again.
it may not be known until the
waning days of the season. Up to
now the Tigers always have been
able to win the "big" ones.
This Is certain, however. The
Detroit picture was never darker
than it Is today. At least, not
since the Tigers took over the
American League lead June 10
True. they are still clinging to
the top, but by the slimmest OF
margins. Following last nights
5-4 loss to the Mats, the Tigers
once comfortable 42-game bulge
was whitfield to two percentage
points.
Pick Up Full Game.
The Yankees picked up a full
game on the firing Tigers b,
clipping the Indians, 6-5, in II
innings of the first game of ,
scheduled doubleheader. The sec
ond game was postponed aftel
two and a half innings becaus.
of rain. Detroit and New Yorl
are in virtual tie, but the Yank
have won and lost one more thar
the Tigers.
The Red Sox scared to a thirt
place tie with the Indians, over
powering the White Sox, 1876
The victory moved them within
two games of the top.
Detroit is in it's worst slum]
of the campaign. The one
vaunted pitching staff appear
riddled. Shortstop Johnny Ii
pom is playing with a protectiv
pad that covers a 10-stitch spik'
wound on his right leg. Out
fielder Vic Wertz bats with ,
catcher's shin guard to protec
a foot injury. and Slugger Hoo
Evers is out for an indef1nit,
period.
AS II that isn't enough, tn,
clubs hitting has fallen off. Sine,
the Tigers started their Eastern
swing last Tuesday leading b.
three and a half games, here i
how they've hit enemy pitching
Jerry Priddy, 1858: Don Kollo
way. .231: George Kell, 1926; VII
Wertz, .156 Hoot Evers, .206
Johnny Groth, 324; Johnn,
Lipon, .308; Aaron Robinson, 143
and Bob Swift, 200.
The chief offender has beer
Wertz, the teams No. l run-pro'
ducer. He's made only five hit!
in 80 times at bat, driven in onl.
one run and made only one ex
ira base hit-a double. The team
has hit only four homers in th'
last nine games.
Rain and wet grounds possibl,
cost the Yankees a chance t,
sweep a pair from the Indians
They were out in front, 40, in tn
last half of the third, and ha
runners on second and thir
with none out when Umpire Bil
Summers ordered the postpone
ment.
Yank Protest Overruled.
The Yankees filed a protest con
tending the field was playable.
League President Will Harridg,
denied the protest. The twt
teams were to play two game.
this afternoon.
| A single by Hank Bauer with
two out and the bases loaded ir
the 10th inning decided the frs
game in favor of Vic Raschi.
The Indians missed a chance tc
win in regulation time when Luke
Easter was called out for not
touching first on an apparent
double in the second inning. Two
following singles were wasted.
Second baseman Bob Avila suf-
fered a groin injury in the sew
enth inning of the opener and
will be lost for several days
Shortstop Ray Boone hurt his
back in the second inning of the
unfinished second game. He may
be back in action today.
Bobby Doerr's two homers
spanked the Red Sox to their 14th