Evening star., 1950-08-19
Di Mag S First Homer
Since July 80 Wins
Big One for Yanks
By Jock Hand
Associated Press Sports Writer

Joe Di Maggio's dramatic ninth
inning home run in Philadelphia
last night recalled his stirring
deeds of 1949 and started fans
wondering whether he can dupli-
cate them. Last year he came of
the bench, plagued by injuries, tc
loosen a home run furry that
spurred the Yankees to the pen
nant and worlds championship.
Thus far in 1850 Di Maggie has
been a bitter disappointment, sc
r,u IF a flop that Casey Stenge.
-onched him last week for q
rest" They whispered that Joe
was washed up, never again coulc
demand a 100000 salary. Maybe
they were wrong.
Restored to his old No. 4 spot in
the batting order last night, Di
Maggie responded with a home
run that beat the Athletics, 80.
1t was his first homer and first
run batted in since July 80.
Di Maggie had gone hitless until
the ninth of a tight battle between
Vic Raschi and Lou Brissie. With
one out and nobody on base, he
hit Brissie's first pitch about 400
feet into the upper left field stands
at Shibe Park.
1t was an important win for the
Yankees as both Detroit and
Cleveland were rained out. So
New York gained a half-game on
each and now trails the league
leading Tigers by four games.
The Red Sox reeled off their
sixth straight at FenWay Park
beating Washington, 7-6. and also
gained on the Tigers and Indians
They are six games out of first
place.
Dodgers Gain on PhilIies.
In the National League, the
race tightened as Brooklyn
chewed a full game off the Phil
lies lead. BY whipping Boston,
8-3, while the Giants dumped the
Phils, IA, the Dodgers moved to
within 51a games of first place.
Big Jim Hearn, the $4,000
bonus bargain, beat the Phils for
the second time in a week. The
highlander, a castoff from the
Cardinals, allowed only five hits,
including homers by Andy Sem
mick and Willie Jones.
Hearn never has lost to the
Phils, having a record of TO
against that club. He has won
five and lost one since joining
the Giants.
For today's second game of this
important series, the Phils are
sending Ken Johnson, another ex-
Cardinal, against Larry Jansen,
the Giants ace.
Struggling to get back into the
thick of things, the Dodgers will
send Preacher Poe against the
Braves, looking for his 18th win.
Mickey Haefner, waived out of the
American League recently. will
make his first start for the Braves
SPAIN Routed in Fifth.
Carl Erskine almost lasted the
route last night for the Dodgers.
He had a no-hitter until Sam
Jethroe beat out an inf1eld hit
with two out in the sixth. After
the Braves got to him for three
in the eighth, Ralph Branca came
in to relieve him in a ninth-inning
jam.
The Dodgers knocked out War
rem SPAIN in the fifth inning.
They piled up IL hits in all, in
cluding Duke Snider's 22d homer
Red Schoendienst's 11th-inning
single got the Cardinals home in
front of Cincinnati, 2-1. A throw
ing error by Grady Hatton set the
stage for the winning run.
Stan Musial left the game in
the 10th because of a twisted left
knee. The extent of the injury
was not learned.
The Pirates staged a four-run
first inning to f1atten the Cubs
Walt Dubiel, 9-3. Cliff Chambers
allowed nine hits in winning his
10th game.