Evening star., 1950-09-12
BY the Associated Press

The see-saw American League
pennant race roarS into the West
today with the pressure heavier
on the invading Yankees and Red
Sox than on the Tigers.
Casey StengePs Yankees, leading
by half-game. begin nine-game
tour of the West with two-game
series in Cleveland tonight. The
third-place Red Sox. game-and-
a-half out. open an eight-game
road trip in Chicago. The second
place Tigers begin a 10-game home
stand with the Mats.
The Yanks, who forged to the
front yesterday by sweeping a
double header from Washington,
ST. and 6-2, face no easy task.
So far the Yankees have won 81
and lost IA in the West, with
Cleveland their best stop and De-
troit their poorest. The 1949
champions have taken seven out
of nine in Cleveland, but only two
out of eight in Detroit.
Indians Could Be Tough.
However, the Indians. virtually
knocked out of contention over
the week end when they dropped
four straight games to the lowly
Browns. are out for blood. They
are smarting under a spanking by
their general manager, Hank
Greenberg. who blasted them for
mot hustling and playing stupid
ball"
Besides the Yanks' top Indian
killer. Eddie Lopat. probably will
not be available for duty. Lopat,
who holds a 27-6 lifetime record
over the Indians and a SO record
against them this year, worked
nearly five innings in relief yes
terday against the Mats.
Allie Reynolds C13-1D is slated
to oppose the Indians Early Wynn
d6-D tonight. Wynn has beaten
the Yanks three times.
The Red Sox, installed by New
York odds-makers at 71a-to-5 IA
vorites to win the pennant, are
the hottest team in the race at
the moment. They have won %
of their last 26 games, but are
known as a poor road club. The
Yanks and Tigers are quoted at
2 to /, and the Indians at Is to /.
Boston's record in the West this
year is a $3.50 1917 and was built
up primarily at the expense Of the
Browns. The Red Sox have
knocked off the Browns eight
straight in st. Louis. but else
where they have not Jared so well.
Their record at Chicago is SIS; at
Cleveland, 2-7, and at Detroit, As.
Home Advantage for Tigers.
The Tigers have schedule adj
vantage over the Yanks and Red
Sox. They haye II games re-
naming at home, where they
have won a and lost 19 for an
impressive .698 pace.
The crucial games of the West
ern trek begin Thursday, when
| the Yanks invade Detroit for three
games. The Red Sox follow the
Bronx Bombers with a two-game
series beginning Sunday.
| Mel Parnell, Boston top pitcher.
will start for the Red Sox tonight
in Chicago. The recent series with
the Tigers left Manager Red Cor
riden of the White Sox hard
pressed for pitchers. He indicated
he would use either Bill Wight (S-
14 or Ken Holcombe (3-10.
The Red Sox were further
buoyed by the possibility that Ted
Williams might return to the line
up. The slugger. whose elbow was
injured in the All-Star game July
II, has swung his bat recently as
a pinch-hitter. Manager Steve
O'Neill says Williams can return
to left field whenever he's ready"
O'Neill did not say definitely
what he would do with Billy Good
man when Ted comes back.
Goodman, who can play any posi-
ton either in the infield or OUT
field, replaced Williams after Ted
was injured and now is batting
.361.
However, O'Nefll says Williams
(See BASEBALL, Page A-18.)