Evening star., 1952-08-23
Schedule UniavorabIe
For Mats Hopes Of
Escaping 9Th Place
H Burton Huwkins

The Mats brave bid to escape
the second division for the first
time in six years has struck a
snag. Regarding the remainder
of the league from sixth place to-
day, the Mats are confronted with
a schedule which may thwart their
ambitions.
Dropped into the second divi-
sion by q combination Of their 20
defeat by Detroit last night. the
Athletics pair Of victories over
the Browns and Chicago's con-
quest of the Red Sox, the Mats may
find the road back to classier COM
Ipany a bit rocky.
The Mats have only 80 games
remaining, including today's con-
test with the Tigers in which Julio
Moreno was to take the mound
against Detroit's Hal Newhouser.
Nine of those engagements will be
with the tough Red Sox, six with
Chicago, five each with New York
and Philadelphia and four with
Cleveland.
Washington virtually has COM
lpleted skirmishing with the sup
posedly weaker teams. Detroit and
st. Louis. After today's game
they'll have only two dates with
the Tigers and one with the
Browns.
Thus, while it's a short haul
from sixth place to third, the Mats
may discover the distance difficult
to close. They're sagging, produc-
ing only six runs in their last -four
games, while Philadelphia and
Chicago are showing new signs Of
life.
/ Gray Wins Six-Hitter.
Detroit has been cuffed around
by other clubs, but against the
Mats they have been formidable
outfit. The Mats owned only a
I1O-9 margin over the Tigers en-
Itering today's tussle. following
Ted Gray's six-hit triumph over
luckless Bob Porterfield last night
/ Porterfield. who has been the
victim in seven of 10 shutoutS lost
by the Mats, was operating with
a 10 deficit in the bottom halt
of the eighth inning, which he
opened with a double.
Bob took a generous lead of
second base and when Gray
pitched wide to Eddie Yost. who
was trying to sacrifice, Porterfield
was picked off second on Catcher
Joe Ginsberg'S crisp throw to
Johnny Pesky. 1t was a jolt, for
a moment later Yost walked for
the Tooth time this year. Man
ager Freddie Hutchinson of the
Tigers protested the call on the
third ball to YoSt and was elected
by Plate Umpire Grover Froese.
The Mats hopes flared anew
when Mel Hoderlein beat out a
bunt down the third base line, NOV
ing Yost to second, but First Base
man Walt Dropo grabbed Jackie
Jensen's liner and whipped the
ball to Pesky, catching YoSt of
second for q double-play.
Detroit picked up a run in the
second inning when Jim Delsing
beat out q, slow roller down the
third base line, shifted to second
on Steve Souchock's grounder and
scored on Ginsberg'S single to cen
ter.
Miss Chance in Ninth.
4 Washington missed a chance to
tie the score in the second when
i Ken Wood doubled and took third
when Mickey Vernon grounded
out, but Jim Busby famed ano
Fred Hatfield threw out Mickey
The Tigers boosted their lead tc
20 in the ninth after Pesky':
pop fly dropped in front of the
numbering Wood for a double witt
one out. Hatfield scratched 8
single off Pete Runnels' glove fol
his fourth hit, sending Pesky tt
!, third, and Pesky scored when Por'
terf1eld made a wild pitch.
The Mats still were breathing
with one out in the ninth wher
Wood again doubled, but Vernon
grounded out and Busby sent &
game-ending fly to- Souchock il
rightfeld.
Porterfeld, who lost his 12ttl
decision, gave up IL hits. The vic.
tory was Gray'S 11th against l;
, defeats. He has whipped Wash.
ington three times.