Evening star., 1954-06-07
By Joe ReichIer
Assoeioisd Press Sports Writer

Orestes (Minnie) Minoso,
called by Ted williams "poten-
TALLY the greatest player in the
American League" has thrust
himself boldly into the running
for the most valuable player
award.
Largely because of the all
around brilliance of this feet
product of Mantanzas. Cuba.
the White Sox have been able
to keep within striking distance
Of the league-leading Indians.
No player-and that includes
Williams. AL Rosen and Yogi
Berra-has done more for his
club than has Minoso. AS the
season approaches the one-third
mark, the 30-year-old outflelder
leads the league in runs batted
in, runs scored and triples. He's
tied for the lead in stolen bases
and in the top five in hits. home
runs, doubles and batting. His
team value is reflected in his
ability to do workmanlike job
at third base. as well as any
where in the outfleld.
Minoso was Chicago's big gun
again yesterday as the White
Sox swept a double-header from
Washington. 5-3 and 60, to run
their winning streak to five
straight and stay within eight
percentage points of first place
He smashed his 10th home run
with a man on base to provide
the winning margin in the
opener. He collected three sim
giles, drove in his 50th and 51St
runs, scored his 46th run ano
stole his seventh base in the
nightcap. He is hitting 1888.
Dodgers Boost Lead.
Cleveland protected its first.
place margin by sweeping dou-
ble-header from the Athletics
81 and 7-5, while Brooklyn
boosted its National League LEAD
to two games, defeating the
Cubs. Ga, in 10 innings, for its
ninth straight victory.
The Orioles held New York
to a split to drop the third-place
Yankees three and half games
behind the pace. Veteran Joe
Coleman, continuing his fine
comback, beat the Yankees. IA
for his sixth victory but the
Yankees won the second game
So, as Allie Reynolds outpitched
Don Larsen.
The Red Sox went on a home
run binge to defeat Detroit, IA
Homers by Ted Lepcio, Milt
Boiling, Harry Agganis and
Jackie Jensen accounted for all
Boston'S runs as Willard Nixon
turned in his fourth triumph
The Red Sox have hit 10 hon.
ers in their last IL games.
Slugging PhiIS Climb.
The Phillies outslugged the
Cardinals, 11-8, to tie Milwaukee
for third place and advance
within q game Of the runnerur
Giants. The Phils got all theil
runs in the first and seventh
innings. Bobby Morgan's grand
slam homer highlighted the six
run first.
The Giants and Redlegs >ex-
changed 80 decisions. The
Giants won the first game on
Monte Twins 10th homer Of the
season in the eighth. The Reds
took the nightcap in the ninth
when Bob Borkowski singled to
score Chuck Harmon from sec
ond.
Pittsburgh overcame a grand
slam homer by Milwaukee's Eddie
Mathews-his second in four
days-to win the second game
Ga, after Jim Wilson had pitched
the Braves to a 40 victory. The
veteran righthander permitted
only four hits in his first start
Of the season. Four successive
pinch hitters came through in
the seventh inning of the night
cap to put Pittsburgh in front.
Kennedy Wrecks Yanks.
Three triples paved the way
for Cleveland's victories over
Philadelphia. Two of them came
in the second inning of the
first game and helped Bob Feller
record the 251st victory of his
career. They were hit by Dave
Philley and George Strickland
Each scored on a sacrifice fly
to beat Arnold Portocarrero, who
hurled a three-hitter. The third
triple was hit by Catcher Hal
Naragon with the bases full in
the fourth inning to provide Art
Houtteman the margin of VIC
tory in the second game.
Bob Kennedy's two-run triple
highlighted a four-run seventh
that chased Bob Grim and gave
the Orioles an uphill victory over
the Yankees. Reynolds allowed
only five hits and famed eight
to record his sixth triumph
against one defeat in the second
game.
Four straight singles of Hal
Jeffcoat by Peewee Reese. Duke
Snider, Jackie Robinson and Gil
Hodges after two were out in the
10th snapped a A tie and en-
abled the Dodgers to sweep their
four-gsme series in Chicago.
Robinson, with four hits includ-
ing a home run, took over the