Evening star., 1954-05-25
Braves Suddenly
Can Do No Wrong,
Even on Night Off
BY the A.soeiatsd Press

Seven magic days have given
the Milwaukee Braves undisput-
ed possession Of first place in the
National League.
Only q week ago they were
Suddenly everything
started coming their way. They
won seven straight. And when
they took the night on last night
the lowly Pirates rose up and
toppled Brooklyn, So, knocking
the Dodgers down to second posi-
ton.
For the Braves 1t was a week
managers like to dream about.
An ailing pitcher found himself.
A rookie pitched q complete
game in his first start. One game
was won with f1ve runs in the
ninth, another with four in the
ninth and still another in extra
innings.
Chet Nichols, the young left
handler fresh from the Army
who was supposed to take up the
slack left by the trades of
Johnny Antonelli and Max Sur
kont. pulled his record above the
500 mark with two impressive
victories. He's now As after
losing his first three.
Ray Crone, making the big
Jump from Jacksonville Of the
Sally League. chalked up a 10
inning victory Sunday.
In winning a doubleheader
Saturday the Braves scored four
runs against Chicago in the final
inning Of the first game and five
in the ninth in the nightcap.
Pirates Provide Help.
But the winning streak alone
Longest of the season in the
National League-waSnt quite
enough to put the Braves on top
by themselves. They were tied
with Brooklyn after Sundays
twin bills. Then Pittsburgh
obliged.
The Pirates decision over
Brooklyn was one of four games
played last night. In the others,
the Cubs defeated st. Louis, 60,
the Giants edged the Phillies,
5-4. and the Yankees whipped
the Athletics. 7-3.
Pittsburgh had lost six in a
row and eight out of nine to
Brooklyn this season, but a two
run homer by Frank Thomas
and a baSes-empty blast by Dick
Cole gave Max Surkont the mar
gin he needed to win his fourth
game.
The veteran righthander al
lowed just four hits and was in
trouble only in the seventh, when
the Dodgers combined a bunt. a
walk and a single by Don Hoax
with two infleld outs to score
both of their runs. Carl Erskine,
Brooklyn's biggest winner last
season, suffered his fourth loss
against four victories.
Jim Davis, a rookie lefthander
up from Seattle, held the Cardi-
mails to seven scattered singles in
his first big league starting as
signment. Stan Musial went hit
less and Ray Jablonski, the
leagues leading hitter, managed
only one hit in four times at bat.
Raschi's Injury Slight.
Vic Raschi started for the
Cardinals, but gave up after one
inning when he was hit on the
right leg by a line drive. He suf-
fered ruptured blood vessel, but
apparently no lasting damage.
He is expected to be back in &C
ton in a few days.
Willie Mays drove in four Of
the Giants five runs at Philadel-
phia. He hit two home runs, one
with a man on base, and a single
that drove in a run. Hoyt Will
helm, who took over from Sal
Maglie, picked up his second VIC
tory.
The Athletics fell into last
place as they bowed on three hits
to Rookie Bob Grim of the YAM
KEGS The victory was Grim's
first complete game since join
ing the champions after two
years in the Marines.
The Yankees got 10 hits, nine of
them off Alex Kellner, who took
his fifth loss. Ossie Van Brabant
and Ed Burtschy pitched well in
relief. but too late to affect the
| decision.