The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-31
PITTSBURGH IS FAIRLY CERTAIN
 OF N. |. GROWN.
Lead of 61z Games Over Giants Look Good; Red
 SOx Skid Again
By GEORGE KIRKSEY

p By GEORGE KIRKSEY
 United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York, Aug. 31.-(UP)-The Pittsburg Pirates, 1t seems certain, are going to win the National league pennant but they weren't the best ball club. in their loop in August. They weren't even one-two- three four on their August form. They were bad fifth.
 The Boston Bees, fired up by that irrepressible puffoon of the diamond, Casey StengG set the pace in the National league in August with 19 victories and IF defeats. for per- centage of .613. It's too bad the Bees were so far bs <z in the ruck when they started tileir August spurt or they'd be up there now battling for the pennant.
 On their August showing, the Cardinals were the leagues second best club with 18 and 13; the Reds third with r and 14; the Cubs fourth with 16 and IA; the Pirates fifth with IS and 15; the Giants sixth with 12 and IS; the Dodgers seventh with 13 and IT; and the Phillies last with g and 19.
 Seems Safe
 As far as all outwards appearances are concerned Pittsburg can't blow the pennant nnw with a lead of 6 1-2 games over the Giants and Cubs and seven games over the Reds. If they keep up their August pace of 500 it'll take near mira cle for any one of the other three clubs to overtake them. The Giants are as good as out of 1t now with their International league mfield and hopelessly crippled pitching staff. All the puffing and huff1ng of Gabby Hartnett hasn't been able to breath any fire into the lacka- daisical Cubs.
 If any club seriously threatens Pittsburg it seems likely that 1t will be Cincinnati, another humpty- dumpty club but one that is due to get hot again after its prolonged slump. The big chance of the Reds lies in the fact that they have nine games left to play with the Pirates.
 Cincinnati showed flare of pen- nant fever yesterday when the Reds thumped the Dodgers. twice, 5-4 and "A and moved within a half game of second place. Paul Derringer, al- though allowing. Il hits, skinned through to his 18th victory, more than any other National league hurler has. McCormick,s double and crafts single won the opener. Whitey Moore pitched a five-hitter in the nightcap in which Lew Riggs and Ival Goodman delivered the telling hits.
 Pittsburg conquered the Giants, 7-1, and seemed to be over their "pennant jitters" for the time be- ing. Jim Tobin held the Giants to five hits and the Pirates pounded Relief Pitcher Dick Coffman, who became starter out of dire neces- sity, was pounded out of the box in six innings. Gus Suhr featured the Pirates 13-hit attack with 8 triple, double and single for perfect day at bat.
 In the other National league games the Bees dumped the Cubs, 8-1, on Jim Turner's f1ve-hit pitch ing and the Cardinals and Phillies broke even in twin bill. The Phils won the first game on six hits, 4-3, and the Cards took the nightcap, 8-7, in 10 innings.
 Can't Mass
 Fifteen games in front, the New York Yankees have virtually clinch- ed their third straight pennant. The Tanks won their fifth straight and their ninth game in 10 starts by defeating Detroit, Bel. Crosetti's homer, singles by Rolfe and DiMag- gio, 'Behrig's walk and Dickey's sin- gle accounted for all the Tanks runs in the first inning. Spud Chandler let the Tigers down with five hits in winning his 18th game.
 Red Kress. driving in four runs, and Buster Mills, driving in three, led the St. Louis Browns attack on their ex-teammates to beat the Red Sox, 9-5. It was the Red Sox third straight loss.
 Cleveland outslugged the Athletics to win, 10-8, and the White Sox nosed out Washington. 3-2, in the other two American league games. Jeff Heath hit two homers and Bruce Campbell hit a homer, triple and double to lead the Indians as- sault. John Rigney pitched six hitter in beating the Senators.
 YESTERDAYS HERO-Gus Suhr, Pirates first baseman, who tripled