Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-31
Pierce Becomes
Leagues Best,
Makes Sox Roll
Lefthunder Posts
Eighth Win, Drops
Tribe Four Behind
BY the Associated Press


into his own, perhaps as the best
pitcher in the American League,
after standing in the shadow Of
Cleveland's long-reigning staff
and Yankee standouts.
With their boyish looking. 30
year-old southpaw on the move.
the White Sox may be ready to
roll.
Pierce has had his moments
leading the league in strikeouts
t186) in 1853 and in earned-run
average (1.9D in '55-but 1t
wasn't until last year that he
finally had a 20-victory season.
Most of the time. he was just "a
good little lefty" behind Cleve-
lands Teller. Lemon. Wynn and
Garcia and the Yankees Rey-
holds, Raschi. Lopat and Ford.
He's leading the league land
the majors) in victories after
claiming his eighth with a three
hit. nine-strikeout job against
Cleveland that gave the White
Sox a sweep Of the Memorial
Day double header. Pierce's 81
victory. nailed on his own RBI
single in the fifth, followed a
Ga opening success and length
ened the White Sox' first place
margin to three games.
Tribe Drops to Third
The Yankees gained a full
share of second place, defeating
Washington. 80, after the Sena-
tors had won their fourth in a
row. ST.. in the opener. The
Indians slipped to third, four
games back. Detroit held on to
fourth. defeating Kansas City,
6-5. in 10 innings and So. Bos-
ton remained a half-game be-
hind the Tigers by beating Bal
timore. TO in 10 innings and
1876.
Everybody split in the Ma
tional League. leaving Cincinnati
Ia games ahead Of Brooklyn,
two ahead of Milwaukee and
three up on Philadelphia.
The Redlegs won the nightcap
at st. Louis. 7-3, after losing,
To. Brooklyn won at Pitts
burgh. 4-3. then lost. 81. Mil
waukee was beaten by Chicago,
Az. after defeating the Cubs,
So Philadelphia nipped New
York. 2-l in 10. but the Giants
won the second game. 81.
Errors Hurt Garcia
Pierce didn't allow a hit after
the fifth inning while putting
together his fourth consecutive
complete game and finally edg-
ing ahead in his career decisions
against the Tribe, 24-23. A walk
and George Strickland's triple
tied it at l-all for Cleveland in
the fifth--the first Indian run
of Billy in 20 innings-but two
errors and an intentional walk
loadeL the bases against Mike
Garcia and set up Pierce's clinch-
ing single.
Dick Donovan, who held Cleve-
land to one hit last Saturday
was tagged for IL hits in the
opener. but he struck out five
and walked none while driving
in three runs himself.
Jackie Jensen had himself q
whale Of a day for the Red Sox,
winning the opener and breaking
a three-game Boston slump with
the first of his two home runs.
He was 5-for-7. driving in four
runs and scoring six. Bob Porter
field won his first. in relief. in
The opener. and Dick Sisler gained
his fourth victory as Billy Klaus
sand Jim Piersall matched Jen-
sens two-run homer in the after
piece. Ted Williams was 2-for-4
sitting out the nightcap.
Sleater Homers
Charley Maxwell's two-run
double brought Detroit a ninth
inning tie in the opener and re-
Iliever Lou Sleater then won his
first with his first home run in
Ia five-year major league career.
Frank Boiling hit two home runs
in the second game, with Paul
Foytack winning his fifth on a
Throwing error by Vic Power,
who shifted from first to right
field to replace the injured
Harry Simpson.
George Grove. Gus Bell. Frank
Robinson and Ed Bailey hon.
cred for the Redlegs in the Sec
ond game. with Bell and Robin
son connecting back-to-back
against Wilmer Mizell in q four