Evening star., 1950-04-24
Braves, Impressive
In Early Play, Look
Like Pennant Threat
BY the Associofed Press

BY the Assoeiotsd Press
Give the Boston Nationals
another reliable starting pitcher
and you can start making World
Series reservations at Braves
Field for next October.
Five games may not be a true
standard. but they've given the
following indications:
i. The rebuilt Braves have one of
the hardest-hitting clubs in the
league.
2. The outfield is the best since
Manager Bill Southworth took
over five years ago.
3. Pitcher Johnny Sain. ace of
the 1948 champions, definitely is
on the comeback road after a poor
'49 season.
4. First Baseman Earl Torgeson,
out most of last year with a
shoulder separation, is fully
mended.
S. The big winter deal that
brought Outfielders Sid Gordon,
Will Marshall and Shortstop
Buddy Kerr in exchange for in
fielders Eddie Stanky and Alvin
Dark has improved the club at
least Is per cent.
6. Del Crandall, 20-year old
sophomore catcher, appear
headed for greatness.
New Lights Rule Used.
The Braves lost their first game
OF the young season yesterday
when they bowed to Philadelphia,
6-5, after winning the first game
Of the double-header, 4-3. The
opening-game triumph was their
fourth. Sain allowed only six hits
in winning his second victory.
A new note was added when the
lights were turned on in the eighth
inning as darkness ,crept over
Braves Field. 1t was the first Ma
tional League game finished under
lights since the league adopted the
rule after last season.
The split dropped the Braves
into third place. Chicago's sur
prising Cubs, rained out of their
game with st. Louis, remained on
top with a 80 rating. Rain also
washed out the Brooklyn New
York Giants game. In the only
other National League activity,
Pittsburgh ran up it's fifth straight
triumph. vanquishing the winless
Cincinnati Reds, 5-3. 1t was the
fourth straight loss for the Reds.
Chicago's White Sox handed De-
troit its first defeat of the season,
5-4. It was the first Sox victory
in five starts. The Tigers had won
four straight.
The Red Sox and Athletics di-
vided a double-header. The AS
won the opener. ga, and Boston
came back to take the nightcap,
1872. The game was halted after
six innings because of darkness.
Lemon Stars Both Ways.
Cleveland swept both ends of a
twin bill from the st. Louis
Browns, 9-6 and Us, with dark
ness ending the second game after
seven innings. Pitcher Bob Lemon
was the hero of the two triumphs.
He hurled a five-hitter to beat the
Browns in the opener, then hon.
cred as pinch hitter in the sec
ond game to put his mates ahead.
Ken Wood, rookie Brownie out
fielder. hammered two home runs
to drive in all six St. Louis runs
in the opener. Dick Kokos,
another of the Browns pony out
f1elders, clouted a grand slam
homer in the second game.
Billy Pierce turned in q brilliant
relief pitching job to help the
White Sox gain their first victory.
The former Tiger lefthander re-
lieved Bob Kuzava with two out
in the fifth and held his former
mates scoreless the rest of the
way.
Rookie Bob Hooper's relief pitch
ing was contributing factor in
the AS f1rst-game triumph over
the Red Sox. Hooper replaced
Bobby Shantz in the seventh with
the bases loaded and none out. He
retired the side without a score.
The Sox clouted three pitchers
for IA hits in the second game to
enable Mel Parnell to register his
first victory Of the year. Al Ia
rilla and Tom Wright, subbing for
Ted Williams, cracked three hits
apiece.