The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-25
OTIS BAT KEEPS
 GIANTS ON TOP .0F MAJOR LOOP
Home Run Yesterday Beat Cubs = FitzsimmOns Is
 Stars for Brooklyn
By GEORGE KIRKSEY


 New York, June 25- UP) - He lifts his right leg high in the air when he takes his stride at the plate, an Unorthodox style used by no other batter. He came up a catcher, was converted into an out fielder and then after II years in the outer patrol he switched over- night to third base for the good of the team. He never pops off, never grand stands" never does anything to interfere with playing the best he knows how for the New York Giants.
 His name is Melvin Thomas Ott, and without him the Giants would nit be leading the National league
 Again yesterday Ott won game sirgle-handed for the Giants and kept them a game and half ahead of the high-f1ying Cincinnati Reds. With the score tied, 3-3, in the eighth, Ott hit homer No. 18 to de- feat the Chicago Cubs, 5-3, in "a rain soaked battle at the Polo Grounds. In addition he hit single to account for a run in the first inning.
 Ties For Top
 His homer gave him a tie with Ival Goodman, Reds, for the Nation al league leadership and his three runs batted in gave him seasons total of 61, to top the league. It was the third time, Ott personally has beat the Cubs this season, and if the Giants had a few more ball players like him they wouldn't be worrying about the Reds or the Cubs.
 The Giants batted Bill Lee out of the box with three-run, five hit attack in the first inning but the Cubs pecked away at Slick Castle man and Cliff Melton until they tied the score in the eighth. Then Otis blow off Tex Carleton settled the issue.
 Cincinnati hammered out GA victory over the Phillies, collecting 12 hits off Al Hcllingsworth, Wayne Lamaster and Al Smith. Ernie Lom- bardi's long single with the bases loaded in the first inning drove in three runs. Joe Cascarella relieved peaches Davis in the ninth to head off Philly rally.
 Fat Freddy Shines
 Freddy Fitzsimmons drove in three funs and pitched brilliant ball for eight innings as Brooklyn down. ed the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-2, in the only other National league game. When Pepper Martin and Don Gut teridge doubed in the ninth Fitz- simmons was relieved by Luke Ham, lin who retired the side without further damage. Ernie Roy led the Dodgers attack with three hits. Cleveland staged three-run rally in the seventh to defeat the Boston Red Sox, 7-6. The victory increased the Indians American league lead to 1-2 games over the New York Yankees who lost to Detroit, 12-8 Hal Trosky's double with the bases loaded in the seventh won the game Johnny Humphries, Indians rookie limited the Red Sox to six hits. Ken Keltner hit homer No. 12.
 Hank Greenberg hit homers No 19 and 20 to go into three-way tie with Jimmy FoXx and Rudy York for the league lead, as the Tigers knocked off the Tanks for their fourth straight victory. Greenberg drove in five runs. Don Ross, Rock ie third baseman, collected four hits in five times at bat. DiMaggio Gehrig and Gordon hit homers for the Tanks. The Tigers made 16 hits off Chandler, Andrews and Sundra Eisenstat and Wade worked for De- troit.
 YESTERDAYS HERO Mel Ott whose single and 18th homer, led the New York Giants to 5-3 vic- tory over the Chicago Cubs.