Evening star., 1953-08-29
Porteed Tries to Complete Cycle by Banking Tigers Today
Bob Seeks 17th Win
And Ninth Shufouf;
Vernon Boosts Lead
SpseluI Dispatch 10 The Star

SPee'ul OlSpofen 70 Inc Star
DETROIT, Aug. 2e.-Bob Por-
terfleld continues his quest for
one of the Mats most sparkling
pitching performances since the
days Of Walter Johnson as Wash
ington winds up its final series
at Briggs Stadium today.
Two things are expected to be
in Porterf1eld's mind
in today'S game, which will be
televised by Washington's Sta
ton WTTG (channel 81.
The right-hander needs a shut
out over the Tigers to complete
the Shutout cycle. He has
blanked every other team and
twice has shut out Chicago and
Philadelphia. Secondly, a shut
out would give Porterfield nine
for the season and virtually
clinch the league leadership.
Billy Pierce of the White Sox is
second with six.
Of to Dismal Start.
Porterf1eld takes a 1910 record
against the Tigers, but you could
have gotten odds on May that
Bob wouldn't have won 10 games
this year. He lost his first three,
giving up a total of 20 hits in
2Ob innings Then he got START
ed with a five-hit shutout over
the White Sox, beat Detroit and
then shut out the Athletics on
one hit, a single by Eddie Jost
in the seventh inning.
There are two one-hitters in
cluded in Porterfield's, Is VIC
tories to date. Less than three
weeks ago, Jim Piersall of the
Red Sox singled in the third in
ming to keep Bob from a no.
hitter.
Team-by-team, only the YAM
KEGS and the Browns own an
edge over the former Yankee.
Bob has beaten New York twice,
including one shut-out, and has
lost five. He is 1-2 against St.
Louis. the victory being an eight
hit shutout. He is 81 against
Chicago, 40 against Cleveland,
81 against Boston, 20 against
Philadelphia and IL against the
Tigers.
In his attempt to move closer
to the 20-game circle today, Por-
terfleld will face Bill Hoeft, q
Southpaw with an 8-11 record.
Vernon Boosts Average.
Porterfield hopes to get the
same type of support the Mats
gave Walter Masterson last night
in a IA victory over the Tigers.
Mickey Vernon helped the team
and himself considerably with
two singles and a home run that
boosted his league-leading bat
ting average to 1923. AL Rosen
OF the Indians. his closest pur-
suer. is at 1922, followed by Chi
cago's Minnie Minoso with BIT.
Eddie Yost got three of the Mats
IA hits.
The Mats chased Ned Carver
in the fifth inning when they
scored four runs. The first re-
lief pitcher was an old friend.
Ray Scarborough, who retired
the side and then stepped aside
Tor pinch-hitter. Ray Herbert
finished for the Tigers in score
less fashion.
Carver was charged with his
10th defeat while Masterson
lasted the distance for his ninth
victory. After Pete Runnels
fumbled Ray Boone's grounder in
the fourth inning, Bob Nieman
smashed his 18th home run of
the season, In the eighth Boone
raised his home run total to 20
after Johnny Pesky was safe on
Masterson's error.
Freak Hit Starts Scoring.
The Mats started their scoring
on a freak hit by Yost. Open
ing the first inning. Yost
caromed a 3-and-2 pitch off
the third-base bag for a single.
He took third on Runnels'
single and scored on Vernon's
forceout.
Vernon moved to second on
wild throw by Harvey Kuenn
and scored on a single by Jackie
Jensen, back in the lineup after
nursing a pulled leg muscle for
two days.
In their fourth inning rally
that routed Carver the Mats
batted around. Singles by Run
nels, Vernon, Gil Coan and Jim
Busby were combined with a
pass to Jensen and a tumble by
Boone to produce more runs
than Washington needed to dis