Evening star., 1954-06-10

Bob PorferfieId.
Could Be 1O-1
With Any Luck
Error Ruins Shutout
And Brings Fourth
Defect by One Run
By Burton Howkins
By Burton Hawkins

It's all in. the realm Of make
believe. but Bob Porterf1eld
doesn't have to stretch his imag-
ination too vividly to vision him
self with a 10-1 record at this
stage Of the season. The Sena-
tors crack highlander is spe-
cializing in losing games by one
run.
Bob. who has dropped three
straight decisions by one run to
blend with an earlier 2-1 defeat
by Detroit. twice has seen errors
wreck him. On two other occa-
sions he weakened at critical
moments with victory in his
grasp. It adds to q 6-5 record
when he could have been top
ping the leagues pitchers.
There's still a long way to
go and Porterf1eld could repeat
as a 20-game winner, but his
luck will have to improve in a
hurry. He has pitched 10 sue
cessive complete games, being
belted out only by Boston in
his first start, but he's trotting
on a treadmill.
Wertz Breaks No Hitter.
Bob dropped a 10 affair to
Cleveland's Mike Garcia last
night before 1906 fans at Grif-
fifth Stadium. The Indians run
stemmed from an error by Eddie
YoSt after Porterf1eld'S thoughts
of a no-hitter vanished with Vic
Wertz's single to right with one
down in the seventh inning.
Wertz' blow was followed by
Dave Philley's single to left,
sending Wertz to third. Rudy
Regalado slapped a grounder to
Yost, who bobbled the ball, then
threw to the plate too late to
catch Vic. That was the game,
for Garcia was permitting the
Senators no liberties.
Porterf1eld retired the first IL
batters. with the aid of spectacu-
lar fielding. but at the end Of
four innings Garcia was hang
ing with him nicely. The Sem
ators hadn't obtained a hit,
either, and when it came it was
no lusty blow. Jim Busby beat
out roller to Regalado to start
the bottom of the fifth.
Three Hits for Busby.
The Senators produced only
five. hits off Garcia, with Busby
collecting three. Jim'S single to
center with two out in the ninth
was the only Washington hit
which carried beyond the con-
fines Of the infield.
Washington stirred up a threat
in the seventh when Roy Sievers,
Busby and Ed FitzGerald
scratched hits, but with two out
Wayne Terwilliger forced Fitz-
Gerald at second base with a
grounder to Shortstop George
Strickland.
The only other time the Sena-
tors moved a runner beyond
first base was in the sixth in
ming when Terwilliger walked,
shifted to second on Porter
fields sacrifice and to third on
Yost'S grounder. He was stranded
when Pete Runnels grounded
to Wertz at first base.
Third -Four Hit Job.
Porterfield pitched his third
four-hitter and he also has a
three-hitter to his credit. The
Senators were giving him
splendid support until Yost's
error. Busby later saved him
more grief by contributing a fine
running catch of AL Smiths
drive to left-center in the
eighth. It choked off more
scoring, for with two out Sam
Dente beat out a hit and Larry
Dolby doubled, but Porterfeld
whipped a third strike past
Wertz.
Bob Lemon. bidding for an
eighth win, will oppose the
Senators Dean Stone, unbeaten
rookie striving for his fourth
victory. in today's 2::30 game.
Baltimore follows the Indians to
town for night games tomorrow
and Saturday and a double
header Sunday.