Evening star., 1952-05-17
Sub Fleet Blue Man Expected to Repeat Ses Duel in Preaness
|Shea's Hurting Lifts Mats
Into Challenging Position
By Burton Howkins
Stor Ssoff Correspondent

By Burton Howkins /
Ssor Ssoff Correspondent
CLEVELAND, May 17.-Juliol
Aoreno was in q position to ele-
ate the Mats within q half-gamel
# the league lead today as they
angled with front-running Cleve-
and's Bob Lemon.
Lifted into an enviable chal-
enging spot by the continued I'M
,ressive pitching Of Frank Shea
whose two-hit victory over the In
dians last night marked his third
straight win since. landing with
the Mats, Washington remains IN
solid contention despite feeble
hitting. |
Shea could be the comeback
king Of 1852. Even in his fine
freshman season with the
Yankees in 1947-his only win
ming year in the majors-Shea
never was q more commanding
figure. He has started three
times with Washington since be-
ing cast aside by New York and
every performance has been
sparkling.
Inside Information.
Spec didn't pitch an inning
with the Yankees this season and
came to the Mats as an unknown
quantity in the deal that sent Irv
Noren to New York. There was
some doubt If he had recovered
completely from the aches and
pains that beset him in 1948 and
apparently wrecked his career.
But Bucky Harris had acquired
information from inside the
Yankees organization that Shea
was fit. He insisted on Specs name
being tossed into the trade and
said at the time, II have q lot
of faith in the person who told
me Shea is ready to 60 again."
Of what Shea has shown.
Bucky's faith has been more than
justified. In 25h innings-Spec
left one game in the eighth due
to a cramped finger Shea has
yielded two runs. He has per-
mitted only /? hits. He has struck
out 21-as many as Bob Feller
has accumulated in II innings.
Makes Pitching Staff Solid.
Shea's presence has given the
Mats a solid sort Of pitching staff.
In II games the Mats pitchers
have allowed only 28 runs. To
carry it a bit further, Washing
ton pitchers have given up 10 runs
in their last six games.
Spec hasn't permitted . run
since Gus Zernial belted him for
a low line-drive homer in the Sec
ond inning Of his second start at
Philadelphia. Shea since has COM
piled 16 scoreless innings. He
whipped the Browns, 1871, and
the Athletics, 81, in previous
starts. His earned-run average is
a brilliant 0.70.
And Harris is grateful for the
! presence Of Shea'S bat, too. Spec
started the Mats two-run upris-
ing in the sixth against Early
Wynn last night with a single
That Is the lone hit delivered by
the bottom three men in the Mats
batting order in their last Al tries
i Eddie Yost followed Specs sin
lgle with a double to right. Jim
Busby took a third strike, but
Jackie Jensen, another ex-Yankee
, gave the Mats their first run.
after 10 futile innings when HI
ripped a single past First Base.
imam Luke Easter.
NO Hitter Until Fifth.
Shea, who struck out nine, hat
a no-hitter until Ray Boone sin
gled to center with two dow
in the fifth. He was in trouble
in the sixth with two out whel
Bobby Avila walked, AL Rosel
singled and Larry Dolby walke
, to f1ll the bases, but Dale Mitchell
lifted a fly to Busby.
. Specs triumph was in leopard
e with two out in the ninth. H
walked Rosen, struck out Dob
for the third time and got Mitch
ell on a fly to Coan, but he Wake
Easter to place the tying run o
base. Pete Reiser, batting II
Boone, took Shea to a 80 coun
= then watched q game-endin
e third strike.
e Moreno, beaten by the Indian
n 6-2, for his only loss this seaso,
j. was hoping to place the Mats
i bare .006 percentage points baG
Of the Indians today. He carrie
st a 2-1 record into the game, viii
l. Lemon had a 80 mark.
le NOTES.-The Mats move on
er Chicago tomorrow for a doubl,
header, then shift to st. Louis II
le three night games. A crowd
IL SO, $50 saw last nights game. b,
le the Mats were paid of on $40
p The others were optimist
Q: Cleveland rooters who had 81
q piled for World Series tickets la
n season Every applicant WI
y sent two tickets good for gam
n this year. -. The game was play:
n in a light rain.
r Fred Marsh is swinging himse