Evening star., 1954-08-06
PorterfieId AiImenf
Boon for White Sox
Against Senator's
By Burton Howkins
Star Stoff CORRESPONDENT

Star Stoft Correspondent
CHICAGO, Aug. 6.-The alb
scessed ear which prompted the
return Of Bob Porterfield to
Washington also could promote
the pennant prospects of the die
hard White Sox. seeking an
eighth straight victory tonight
in the opener of a four game
series with the Senator'S.
The White Sox have been
chipping away at the edges Of
Cleveland's lead while the YAM
KEGS and Indians were attracting
all the attention in the American
League. The Chicago club has
sneaked within five games of
the top and is looking forward
to meeting Washington pitch
ing staff minus the accomplished
Porterf1eld.
The Senators have won only
4 of IA games with the White
Sox and Porterf1eld took three
of the decisions. Two of them
were 81 games and the other
was a 10. defeat for Bob Keegan.
Barely Missed Shutout.
Perterfield was scheduled to
pitch in the White Sox series,
but persistent earaches dictated
a return to the Capital for treat
ment. Before leaving Bob asked
and was granted permission to
work against the Tigers yester-
day. He notched his 18th win,
Al, on a six-hitter. missing a
shutout with two down in the
ninth inning, when Wayne Be-
lardi popped a double into left
field and AL Kaline singled to
score Billy Hoeft, running for
Belardi.
Bob is expected to rejoin the
Senators in Boston Tuesday
when they open a five-game
series.
Johnny Schmitz, only other
member of the Washington staff
to whip the White Sox. will face
them tonight. with Dean Stone
due to oppose them tomorrow
Chuck Stobbs will be one of
Bucky Harris choices in Sun
days double e-header.
The White Sox will send Virgil
Trucks. who has a record of Is
victories and five defeats, OF
Morrie Martin (4-6) against
Schmitz tonight.
Mickey Vernon launched
Porterf1eld toward his triumph
yesterday with his 17th home
run leading off the fifth inning
The clout. which broke a score
less duel between Bob and Steve
Gromek, struck the facing OF
the second deck. Pete Runnels
followed with a double to cen
ter and scored on Roy Sievers
double to left.
Fans Two in Clutch.
The Senator's added two runs
in the seventh after Vernon
walked. Singles by Jim Busby
Clyde Vollmer and Ed FitzGeralo
accounted for the damage,
Porterfield eased out of a bases
loaded jam in the second inning
by tanning Frank Boiling and
Gromek. then retired Is batters
in order before Belardi nickeo
him for a single in the seventh
Bob struck out five and the only
walk he gave up was intentional
NOTES: Runnels got two o1
the Senators II hits and coulC
have had two more barring ex.
ceptional fielding by Centerf1eld-
er Bill Tuttle. The rookie
roamed into left center for q
stab of Pete's well-kissed liner ir
the seventh. then raced into
right center for a shoe-top grat
OF Runnels' low drive in the
eighth.
Sievers has contributed slid.
ing, sitdown catches twice in tive
days, racing in to take Gromek'.
looper in the fifth in that fash.
ion. Vollmer replaced Ton
Umphlett in right field and sup.
piled two singles. The Sena.
tors victory reduced the margin
separating them from fourth.
place Detroit to 11a games.
VerrOn has boosted his average
with two hits in four tries in each
| ~ kAS Ia aek