The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-05-04
Underdogs Are
Rising In The
Pe1sn0nt Races
By JOE RElcHL Err
APP SporfsWrifer

AT SPotfSWTueE
u wasn't so long ago that every
body was feeling sorry for Boston's
Red Sox and Pittsburgh's Pirates.
Those poor" Pirates were near
unanimous pick for the cellar while
the Tragedy" Red Sox weren't
picked much higher. But look at
the two clubs today.
The Red Sox, with six victories
In their last seven games, are the
hottest team In the American
League. They won their sixth
straight yesterday, walloping the
st. Louis Browns, 14-5, in the open
er of their double-header, but were
nosed out, SIS, in the nightcap.'
The Pirates, winners of five in
succession, are the surprise of the
National League. They pounded out
an 80 triumph over the st. Louis
Cardinals to climb within game
Of the first division. The Red Sox
are in fourth place, hard on the
heels of the league leaders.
What Is the reason for this sud-
den reversal Of form? Simple. The
Red S0x have found the formula
for winning on the road, something
they haven't been able to do in
years. The Pirates are combining
good pitching with solid smuggling,
something they found impossible
last year.
The Red Sox lost ground yes
terday to the pace-setting New
York Yankees, who rallied for four
runs in the ninth to nip the Detroit
Tigers, 6-5. Cleveland's second
place Indians advanced to within
one game Of the Yanks, taking
two from Washington, TO and IS.
Philadelphia's Athletics moved in
to third place with q pair of tri-
umphs over the Chicago White Sox,
az and 1916.
Philadelphia Phillie deadlocked
the Dodgers for first place in the
National League, whipping the Chi
cago Cubs twice, SCI and 20. The
scheduled twin bill at New York
between Cincinnati and the Giants
was rained out.
II took three-run eighth-inning
rally by the Browns to snap the
flaming Red Sox' winning string.
Roy Sievers struck the winning
blow with q scoring fly ball after
a walk, an error, Bob EIliott's
single and Don Lenhardt's double
had erased q SIS Boston lead.
Boston blasted out II hits to win
the opener as rookie center fielder
Tom Umphlett cracked four hits.
scored three times and drove In
two runs.
Rookie outfielder Frank Thomas
waIloped his third home run Of the
season and raped double and
single to lead the Pirates attack
on three Redbird pitchers as S.
year-old John Lindell won his first
game in the National League. The
former Yankee outfielder who
turned knuckleball pitcher per-
mitted only four hits.
Pinch-hitter Irv Noren's two-run
single followed by relief pitcher
Art Houtteman's wild pitch ell
NAKED the Yanks' winning outburst
in the ninth against Detroit.
A two-run homre by Larry Dolby |
gave Cleveland's Mike Garcia the |
margin OF victory after Early |
Wynn had pitched 4 three-hit shut
out in the opener over the Sena-
tors.
Southpaws Bobby Shantz and
Alex Kellner teamed up to give
the As their double win. Shantx
spaced eight hits for his third vic
tory In the opener, helped by Allie
Clark's two-run homer. Clark also
batted in three runs In the night !
cap that featured q seven-run sec
ond inning BY Philadelphia.
After Robin Roberts Of the Phil |
lies had limited the Cubs to six
hits in the opener for his fourth /
straight victory. Simmons. his
southpaw pitching mate, bettered
that performance with q five-hit
shutout. Each now has I'll rec
ord.
Junior Gilliam's seventh-inning
single scored Don Thompson from
second with the run that snapped
q b tie and gave Brooklyn its
victory over Milwaukee.