DETROIT COBBLES TOGETHER A WIN

MANAGER'S MOVEMENT TO TOP OF LINEUP TRIGGERS 16-8 ONSLAUGHT

By Calvin J. Butterworth
Detroit Free-Enterprise

July 6, 1924

Leaving home on a sour note is never a desirable choice when it comes to ball teams, and with the Tigers' second eastern safari on the docket beginning tomorrow, losing a Navin Field finale to Elam Vangilder and the Browns could derail their train five yards out of the station.

Thankfully, Ty Cobb realized Vangilder's weakness against portside swingers and shifted his own bat to the top of the heap, replacing righthanded Rigney. It paid dividends early, as Ty singled home Bassler in the 2nd to begin the day's scoring. With our usual relief men unavailable, Ed Wells had been ordered to pitch for the duration, but as has been his trademark of late, his pitches were soft and crushable. Vangilder doubled to start the St. Louis 3rd. Gerber singled him in. Sisler got to second on an atrocious Lu Blue misplay at first. Norm McMillan doubled. Baby Doll Jacobson swatted the next pitch toward the nearest Great Lake, and we were trailing 5-1 in no time.

It was here that Manager Cobb showed some rare mettle. Normally one to berate his own players and push them deeper into their failing fog, Tyrus said nothing and pounded his mitt in support. After a Severeid double, Wells managed to escape the inning, and when Cobb dropped his glove on the edge of the field with his players, he gave Ed a firm pat on the shoulder.

Every one of Wells' teammates no doubt witnessed this, and it was a gesture that would bear immediate fruit. Three singles and a Bassler double gave us two runs right back. A Cobb walk and Blue double made it 5-4 in the 4th, and then the ceiling collapsed on the poor Brownies. Burke and Jones singled to begin our 5th. After Wells fanned, Cobb singled to fill the sacks. Rigney then powered a triple into the nether-regions to clear said sacks. Blue reached on a Syl Simon gaffe. Heilman tripled again, just missing a circuit clout. Bassler singled an out later and six runs had graced the dish.

Vangilder was long gone, and a Rigney double off Lyons in the 6th added two more. Wells grew tired in the 8th but emerged from a 3-run rally with the game's outcome intact. After four singles, a walk and Burke doubled finished the day's explosions in the 8th, Detroit's had its eight-run final margin, and the short ride down to Cleveland to begin the eastern journey would surely be a festive one. For the day, Cobb reached base all six times up, and with the good news from Washington adding to the mood, the road just might be a happy home for us in the next few weeks.

SLB 005 000 030 - 8 11 3
DET 012 152 04x - 16 20 1

Other American League games today:

YANKEES 6-16-0, at SENATORS 4-17-2 (11 innings)
Certainly one of the most thrilling contests of the season at Griffith Stadium. Mogridge takes a 3-0 lead early, but the Yanks, who for some uncanny reason seem to play their best against Washington, battle back to take a 4-3 lead into the 8th behind Shawkey. Harris gets himself plunked by Gaston with the bases loaded to tie the score, but Judge pops out to end the threat. The Nats leave them loaded again the next inning, while their relief ace Russell escapes a handful of Yankee jams. Finally, a scoring fly by Scott and infield hit by McNally off Stan Speece seals the eventful win. The teams combine to leave 33 runners on base, Washington with 18 of them, and Detroit picks up another full game in the race.

INDIANS 15-19-1, at WHITE SOX 7-12-2
Sloppy Thurston earns his nickname once more, giving the Tribe three runs in the 2nd, before running for cover in the 6th after three straight singles, and a double-walk-double to put his team behind 9-0. It's 13-0 when Chicago bats wake up in a large fashion, battering Shaute for seven runs in the last three frames, but the Indians' victory war dance was finished long before then.

AMERICAN LEAGUE through Sunday, July 6
Washington Senators	52	29	.642	—
Detroit Tigers	46	36	.561	6.5
Chicago White Sox	44	36	.550	7.5
New York Yankees	40	39	.506	11
Cleveland Indians	36	45	.441	16
St. Louis Browns	36	45	.441	16
Boston Red Sox	34	44	.436	16.5
Philadelphia Athletics	33	47	.413	18.5