Evening star., 1952-07-15
Indians and Yankees
In Five-Game Series,
White Sox in Boston
By Joe ReichIer
Associated Press Stoff Writer

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two titans of the American
League, clash head-on at Yankee
Stadium tonight in the first of a
vital five-game series with first
place at stake.
The Indians, preseason pen
nant favorites, can wrest the top
rung from the Yankees. but they
must win all five games to do so.
They trailed Casey Stengel's crew
3R games on the eve of the
series.
At the same time, Chicago's
third-place White Sox and Bos-
tons fourth-place Red Sox meet
in the first of a three-game series
at Fenway Park. All four con-
tenders suffered surprising de-
feats by second-division clubs yes
terday.
Four Top Teams Lose.
The Yankees bowed to Detroit's
tailend Tigers, 80; Washington
whipped the Indians, 15-4; the St
Louis Browns beat the Red Sox
Us, and the Philadelphia Ath.
letics nosed out the White Sox
2-1, in 10 innings.
In the curtailed National League
activity, Brooklyn maintained 1t:
5h-game advantage over New
York with a 60 triumph in st
Louis after the Giants had van
quished the Reds, 60, in Cincin'
natl. Rain postponed the Phillies'
Cubs game in Chicago. Bostor
and Pittsburgh were not scheduled
The Indians have Early Wynn
Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Mike
Garcia and Steve Gromek lineC
up for the New York series, which
includes a single game tonight ant
double-headers tomorrow ant
Thursday. If it weren't for tht
enforced absence of Eddie Lopat
the Yankees also would have theil
five best pitchers ready. Lopat
with a 34-9 lifetime record agains
the Indians, is suffering from {
sore shoulder and has no ides
when he will pitch again.
Stengel will open with Bot
Kuzava, his fast-improving south
paw, who came to the Yankees /:
months ago from Washington
Rookie Bill Miller and veteran
Johnny Sain will work in tomor.
rows matinee twin bill and Allie
Reynolds and Vic Raschi will Close
out the series in Thursdays twi.
night bill.
Easter Back With Indians.
Cleveland has won three of foul
in New York this season. AL
three triumphs came in the open
ing series here in May. Tht
Yankees have captured four O
six in Cleveland.
The Indians will be bolstereC
by the return of Luke Easter, the
big Negro first baseman who wa.
recalled from Indianapolis yester.
day. He is to join the team ir
time for tonight'S game. Lux
was sent down June 80 in wha
was regarded as a punitive mov'
"to regain his confidence and bat
ting eye." He was hitting .208 a
the time and had been guilty o
many fielding lapses.
In his first five games with th'
American Association Club, Easte
batted 1886, hit four home rum
and drove in seven runs. Thu
Indians could have used that kim
of hitting yesterday as they wer'
held to eight hits in losing tt
Washington.
Dave Madison hurled eigh
scoreless innings for the Browns
but was batted out of the box il
a hectic ninth when the Red So,
got all their five runs. Dicl
Gernert hit a three-run home rul
and Dom DiMaggio followed will
a two-run homer off Earl Har
|rist. The Browns had teed off OF
Ray Scarborough for five runs il
the first.
i Billy Hoeft, rookie Detroit south
Ipaw, spaced 10 Yankee hits effec
lively to record his first majo
league win. He was supported b
Ia nine-hit attack, five coming OF
Continued on Page A-19, Col. 2.