Evening star., 1953-10-03
Erskine Gives Team
Fighting Chance for
Record Comeback
BY Burton Hawkins
Sfor Stdff Correspondent


BROOKLYN, Oct. 3.-Brook-
lyn's World Series hopes, which
required oxygen after losses to
the Yankees in the first two
games, could be revived COM
pletely if young Billy Loes de-
livers for the Dodgers today.
Loes not only could square the
series at two games each but
also level the pitching prospects
of the clubs in remaining games.
Manager Casey Stengel of the
Yankees then would be forced
to scratch around for reliable
starters.
Today's affair is a key game
for both clubs following the dra-
matte 80 victory of the Dodgers
yesterday before a crowd of 35,-
270, largest ever to see a series
game at Ebbets Field. Carl Ers-
kine's brilliant IA : strikeout
pitching, plus the welcome bat
ting support of previously power
less Jackie Robinson and Roy
Campanella, has given the Dodg-
ers a fighting chance of pulling
off the most spectacular come
back in series history.
Ford Is Barrier.
No team ever has won a seven
game series after dropping the
first two contests, but victory for
the Dodgers today could make
their prospects decidedly roster.
Striving to chill those ambitions
will be the capable Whitley Ford,
left-hander who compiled an 18-
6 record during the regular sea-
son.
Allie Reynolds, who pitched in
the first game, isn't expected to
start again because of a pulled
back muscle. although he may
be available for relief. Ed Lopat,
the Second-game winner, is 35
years old and accustomed to
resting five or six days between
assignments. Vic Raschi, yes
terday's loser, is "a years old and
may not have the resiliency to
be effective on short notice.
Thus Stengel might be COM
PEELED to start Johnny sSain, his
flrst-game reliever and winner,
tomorrow. Sain is a highly COM
petent pitcher and 14-game
winner during the regular sea-
son. But the Dodgers will have
Russ Meyer, who also can be
sharp, as his 1916 mark will
testify.
Picking Gets Harder.
Thereafter Stengel might be
pressed to pick from among Tom
German, Bob Kuzava, Jim Nc
Donald, Steve Kraly, Bill Miller
and Art Schallock, who aren't as
impressive as his front-line
hurlerS.
Chuck Dressent also would be
forced to risk one of his less
dependable pitchers, since Err
skine isn't likely to be called on
as starter again unless the
Series travels the limit. But
he has Johnny Podres (9-4), Bob
Milliken (8-4), Glen Labine
(11-6) and Ben Wade (7-5) rest
ed and ready. AS long shot he
also has Joe Black (6-3), who
won the Series opener last year
and recently displayed flashes of
his winning form after slumping
badly most of the season.
A win today also would restore
the Dodgers confidence, which
perked up a bit as the result of
yesterdays outcome. They got
record breaking pitching from
Erskine, who gave one of the
all-time displays of effective
ness. and the batting of Cam
PAMELA. and Robinson buoyed
their Sagging spirits.
Erskine, who allowed six hits,
smashed the World Series mark
established by Howard Ehmke
of the Athletics against the
Cubs in 1929. Ehmke struck out
13 in the first game of that
Series to set a record which
stood until Erskine wiped it off
the books.
IL Left-Handed Victims.
Erskine's performance gained
additional lustre because his
victims on IL occasions were
left-handed hitters. The talented
right-hander, Brooklyn's lone
20-game winner during the
regular season. struck out Joe
Collins and Mickey Mantle four
straight times each.
Carl was under pressure all
the way, getting his biggest lift
in the eighth when Campanella,
playing with what may be a
broken right hand, slammed the
eighth home run of the Series
into the lower leftfield stands to
break a % tie.
Campanella hadn't gotten the
ball out of the infleld in eight
prior attempts. 1t came as a
surprise to most fans that he
was in the lineup, for he had said
after the second game that he
wouldn't play unless his hand
(Coa CEDTEC poon A10A