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Gromek Says Fast Start Result of Steady Work Tiger Ace Has Hurled and Won Five Complete Games to Date By LLOYD NORTHARD United Press Sports Writer DETROIT, Mich., May 13. Steve Gromek, winner of five straight games for the Detroit Tigers this season, said today "a chance to pitch regularly" is the reason for his fast start. The 33-year-old right hander, peddled to the Tigers by the Cleveland Indians last season, insisted hes throwing the same stuff hes always thrown. "I just never got a chance to throw often enough With the Indians," he said. Gromek has started and completed five games to date, including an 11-inning battle against the Chicago White Sox. His victims include the White Sox, Indians and Washington Senators, once each, and the Baltimore Orioles twice. "My sinker seems to be working better this year than in the past," Gromek admitted. "But thats partly because Im pitching regularly. Schoolboy Rowe helped me a lot with the sinker this spring, especially on control." Rowe, a former Detroit pitching great who rejoined the Tigers this year as a coach, termed the sinker Gromeks best pitch. ""Steves sinker is a tough pitph to hit," Rowe said. "Most of the batters just beat the ball into the dirt. And his control has been almost perfect. Hes walked only four batters in 47 innings." Gromek said he held no contempt for Lou Boudreau or Al Lopez, two managers he worked under at Cleveland, for not using him regularly. "I dont blame Boudreau or Lopez," he said. "They had Bob Feller, Early Wynn, Bob Lemon and Mike Garcia as starters and could use me only when doubleheaders popped up." He said when he came to the Tigers last June 15 with Ray Boone, Dick Weik and Al Aber in a trade that sent Art Houtte-man, Bill Wight, Joe Ginsberg and Owen Friend to Cleveland "it gave me a new lease on life." "I know Ill be out there on the mound every four or five days and that gives me confidence," he said. Gromeks best season was in 1945 when he won 19 and lost nine with the Indians. Since then, he has reached double figures in victories only once. In 1950, he won 10 and lost seven. He managed only seven victories in each of the last three season.
