40 Tribe drops 41 Bosox en route to division summit

Double X marks the spot

It was a battle between the top two teams in the Mack Division that turned this week's matchup into must-see entertainment. Boston, with its high-powered offense that has scored the second most runs in the league (behind 26NYA) versus Cleveland's fine pitching staff and propensity for the clutch hit. Cleveland came into the series 9-2 at its League Park home, tops in the league.

The standings also showed a close matchup from two teams with gaudy records -- Cleveland in first place in the Mack at 13-4 and Boston a game behind at 12-5. Boston's four future hall of famers in its studly lineup -- Williams, Doerr, Foxx and Cronin -- were to face off against Cleveland's great "Rapid Robert" Feller and stellar rookie SS Lou Boudreau.

But while Boston continued its offensive tear -- scoring at least five runs in three of the four games and four in the other -- it was Cleveland that somehow managed to win three of the four games and extend its division lead to three games. Cleveland now has a league-best 16-5 record. Not as good a hitting squad as many other teams in KOD22, the Indians somehow find ways to win.

Game One: Boston starts out on the right foot, winning 11-3 and tying Cleveland for the division lead. It was a very lopsided affair on all fronts, as future Indian Joe Dobson (4-0) went eight innings and only allowed three runs. Bostons' HOF lineup also responded, with Jimmie Foxx going three-for-three with a homer and five RBIs, as he had a great series overall.

Game Two: Boston continued to pound Cleveland pitching, scoring six runs, but their

Benny Beltner ?

bullpen was a disaster, as Cleveland evened the series with a 9-6 win. The Sawks jumped out to an early 5-0 lead off Cleveland's Mel Harder, who came into the game with a 4-0 record, and appeared to be in control behind the pitching of Dickie Newsome. But Newsome faltered in the sixth and seventh, as the Tribe scored five to tie it before Boston scratched out a run in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-5 lead.

Then came Boston's bullpen for a bare-knuckle ride. Cleveland pounces on three Boston relievers for four late runs, as former Red Sox Joe Dobson keep Boston hitters at bay (or Back Bay?). Cronin went four for five with three doubles and a triple for Boston and was a very tough out all series. Ken Keltner led Cleveland's comeback, striking two doubles and driving in three.

Big Mack Attack

Game Three: Kenny Keltner and Cleveland's offense continue to roll in the Indians' 7-5 win. Cleveland jumped out to a 7-0 lead, as Boston's Mickey Harris was banged up for seven runs in six innings. Keltner again led the offense with three more hits. Oddly, Cleveland only managed two extra base hits, one by good-hitting starter Al Smith (2-1), but clutch hitting was the key. Boston attempted a late comeback, scoring five runs in the seventh and eighth, but Cleveland closer Johnny Allen shut it down after that with hitless ball over the last 1.2 innings.

Game Four: Cleveland again got out of the gate quickly,  scoring four runs in the sixth to take a 5-1 lead behind Feller (4-1). But Feller wasn't his sharpest today, walking six to balance his six strikeouts, and Boston came back with two in the eighth to narrow the lead to 5-3. Boston managed to scratch out another run in the ninth but Feller stayed in the game to get the final out in Cleveland's 5-4 win.

The big blow for the Tribe was Ray Mack's sixth inning, three-run homer, which hopefully will propel the second basemen out of his early slump. 

--submitted by Joe Pryweller--