Evening star., 1954-05-15
9 Big League Clubs
Faring Better Than
They Did Last Year
BY the Assoeiafed Press


nant races just into their second
month, nine Of the 16 teams find
themselves better off than they
were at this stage q year ago.
Two are all even with their
1853 pace. Even the five who
have fallen behind aren't too far
back of where they were after
the first month of last season.
Based on games behind the
first-place team, the Detroit
Tigers have made the biggest
gain. A dreadful last at this
point in 1858, when they were
IL games behind, the Tigers now
find themselves only a game and
a half of the pace of the first
place White Sox.
In the National League the
most improvement has been
made by the Cincinnati Redlegs.
with the surprising New York
Giants a close runnerup. The
Redlegs were last, seven games
behind. Now they're only one
game back, even though they are
laying fifth in the skin-tight Ma
tional League race.
Washington 212 Games Behind.
The Giants, who moved into
a virtual first-place tie with
Philadelphia by winning their
sixth straight last night. are 51a
games better of than in 1858.
A quick breakdown on the
other clubs shows Cleveland
plus two, the White Sox plus
~, Baltimore half a game
ahead of the pace Of the old
st. Louis Browns, the Phila-
delphia Athletics all even, the
New York Yankees a game be-
hind, Washington 21a behind
and Boston three behind.
In the National League the
Chicago Cubs are plus two, st.
Louis plus w, Brooklyn plus
one-half, Philadelphia all even,
Pittsburgh 11a behind and Mil
Yaukee two behind.
The Yankees trimmed Detroit,
Ga, in the only day game yes
terday. In night action, Cleve-
land beat Washington, So;
Baltimore thumped Boston, 7-2,
and Chicago shaded Philadel-
phia, 4-3, in the American
League.
White SOx Boost Lead.
The Giants defeated the Cubs,
9-6; Brooklyn absorbed a 1O-1
thrashing by the Cardinals, Gin
cinnati edged the Phillies, 10,
and Pittsburgh broke a seven-
game losing streak at the ex-
penSe Of Milwaukee. 80, in 10
innings in the National League.
A run in the ninth inning on
singles by Cass Michaels and
Minnie Minoso plus an error
enabled the White, Sox to beat
the Athletics and pull a full
game in front in the American
League race. Don johnson.
with two two-hit shutouts to his
credit as a starter, picked up
his fourth victory while work.
ing in relief.
The Yankees kayoed Steve
Gromek, who had won i've in a
row for Detroit. with q dozen
hits in the first six innings
Gene Woodling led the barrage
with a double and q triple. Bob
Grim. who took over from Harry
Byrd in the fifth. won his first
major league game but he needed
help from Johnny Sain in the
ninth.
Bob Turley won his fourth
game and raised his league lead
ing strikeout total Of So by fam
ming II as the Orioles whipped
Boston. Five runs in the eighth
inning broke UP q "a tie.
Raschi Wins Fourth Straight.
It was q long time In coming,
but when the Cardinals scored
their first victory at Ebbets Field |
since September of 1852 they did |
it in f1ne style. They smashed II |
hits. Stan Musial hit his 1lth
home run and, drove in three
tallies. Walt Aston homered. |
And Vic Raschi. back in Brooklyn |
for the first time as a National |
Lacquer. rationed eight hits for
his fourth triumph without q
loss.
Art Fowler of Cincinnati /
blanked the Phillies on eight |
hits as he protected o one-run |
lead from the first inning. Bob |
by Adams, who made the only |
hit on Robin Roberts the night |
before. opened with Q single |
and scored after . sacrifice and