Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-28
By Joe Reichler
Assoeiatsd Press Sports Writer

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Five teams are waging a bit
ter battle to gain first place by
the Fourth Of July-the date
that tradition has marked as
championship day."
Since the turn Of the century.
approximately seven out Of every
10 major league leaders on July
4 have gone on to win the pen
nant.
With only q week to go. no
team is assured Of the top spot
on the midseason holiday. The
Giants lead Brooklyn by one
game today, but the National
League pace-Setters face a
crucial" three-game series with
the Dodgers at the Polo Grounds
starting tomorrow.
Cleveland boasts a game-and-
a-half advantage over Chicago
in the American League. but the
White Sox can dislodge the In
dams with q sweep of their four
game series in Cleveland next
week end. A letdown by both
would pave the way for the
Yankees to move into the lead.
While the Indians and White
Sox are at each others Threats,
the Yankees will meet the Sen
ators in q four-game set in New
York.
Indians Salvage Finale.
The Indians widened their lead
to a game and a half yesterday
by salvaging the last of a three
game series from the Yankees.
4-3, while Chicago was held to
a split by the Red Sox. Beaten.
81, in the opener. the White Sox
bounced back to trounce Boston.
81, in the second game OF their
double-header. The Yankees
loss left them three games be-
hind.
The sizzling Giants maintained
their one-game advantage over
the Dodgers with an uphill, 81
victory over the Cubs in 10
innings.
Banked by Warren Hacker
with two hits through eight in
nings, the Giants tied the score
at % when Whitley Lockman
hit two-run homer with two out
in the ninth and won in the 10th
when Willie Mays doubled, stole
third and scored on Bobby Hof-
mans pinch single of Hal Jef1-
coat. It was the Giants 21st
victory IN their last Is games and
the Cubs 10th straight defeat.
Five Homers Stop Haddix.
The Dodgers equaled a team
record by blasting five home runs
to polish of the Cardinals, S-6,
for a sweep Of their three-game
series. Gil Hodges drove in four
runs with his 10th and goth
homerS and Jackie Robinson, Roy
Campanella and Junior Gillian
each had one. Duke Snider's
hitting streak was broken after
II games. ~ :.
Harvey Haddix, the RedbirdS'
brilliant lefthander. was the VIC
tim of all the home-run blasts
that ended his 10-game winning
streak. Preacher Roe failed to
last the eighth, out was credited
with his third triumph.
Granny Hammer was the OF
fenSive star as the Phillies swept
a dourle-header from Milwau-
kee, A-3 and 2-1. He banged a
three-run homer to give Curt
Simmons his seventh victory in
the opener. Hammer tripled with
one out in the ninth to drive in
both runs in the nightcap.
The Braves second loss was
charged to Warren SPAIN, who
relieved in the ninth. The Slen-
der southpaw who won % games
last season now has a 7-8 record
after losing three straight games,
all by 2-1 scores.
Frank Thomas ninth-inning
single gave Pittsburgh a 4-3 vic
tory after the Reds had won the
opener, 80, behind Corky Valen-
tines five-hit pitching. Ted
Kluszewski drove in two Cincin-
natl runs with a double and two
singles.
First BaSeman Dick Kryhoski
drove in the winning runs in