The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-17
|TRAYNOR PEEPS UP PIRATES FOR
 'STRETCH' DRIVE
BIantOn Blanks Reds l0-O; Yanks About "in" as
 A. L. Champs
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press ffSCorrespondent)

United Press StafSC Correspondent Chicago, Aug. l7.-UP). Mid August finds the two major leagues gradually getting around to norma an American League walkaWay and National League dog -doa fight.
 Late last month it appeared thai the Cleveland Indians might offer the Tanks some serious opposition down the stretch. Tine Boston Rec Sox also were hanging on like they might cause trouble. First the h. dians caved in, then the Red Sox.
 Now the New York 9ankees are without serious rival. Widening their lead to eight games, longest oi the season, the Tanks all but settled the pennant race yesterday by knocking over Washington twice, 16- 1 and 6-2.
 Even though the Pittsburgh Pi- rates came out of their slump yes terday and increased their National League lead to five games, the sit uation remains acute for Pie Tray nor's. team. The Giants, Cubs and Reds are all hanging on grimly, and out of this group is likely to come dangerous pennat contender in the drive to the wire. The Giants are five games back, the Cubs seven and the Reds seven and one-half all close enough to overtake the Pi- rates with a sustained drive. The Giants came from a similar position in August last year to win.
 On the Verge
 During the past week the Pirates have indicated that they may be ready for nose dive. Manager Tray nor shook up his lineup yesterday by benching First Baseman Gus Suhr for Bill Brubaker, a third baseman by trade, and Catcher Al Todd for the weak hitting Ray Berres, and it had the desired re- suits for the Pirates blanked the Reds, l0-0. But Traynor's move in juggling his lineup at this stage of the race tipped of the fact that the Pirates may have radical weaknesses which will cost them the pennant in red hot race.
 Cy Blanton plugged up the leaky Pirate craft temporarily at least with masterful eight-hit pitching per- formance. Brubaker, with homer and two singles, and Lee Handley, with triple and two singles, led the Pirates l4-hit attack on Peaches DaUvis and Jim Weaver.
 Brooklyn scored four runs in a ninth inning rally to upset the Giants, "a. Goody Rosen's double with the bases loaded was the vital punch.
 Scoring two runs in the ninth, the Cubs tied the Cardinals and then went on to score 5-4 victory in. the llth when Ken O'Dea, subbing for the injured Manager Hartnett, singled and Frank Demaree tripled. Then the cards came back to win the second game 52, as Curt Davis limited the Cubs to nine scattered hits. Thes pitt enabled the Cubs to gain undisputed possession of third place as the Reds lost.
 Chuck Klein's single in the 1lth enabled the Phillies to trim the Bos- ton Bees, 7-6, despite Tony Cucci- nello's two hobers.
 Lou Hits Hard
 Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing each pitched six-hitter in the Yankees twi triumph over Washington. Lou Gehrig had a perfect day at bat in the opener, four" in. cluding his 22nd homer. Joe Di- Maggie hit home No. p in the night cap.
 Cleveland pounded four St. Louis Browns jitches for 9-6 triumph Ode Hale hit a homer and two singles and Hemsley, Trosky and Campbell connected for triples.
 The Athletics trimmed the Red Sox, l4-1l, in the other American League game. It was the Red Sox sixth straight loss. Lynn Nelson rushed in in the ninth to stop a Red Sox rally after they had scored five runs. Jimmy Foxx hit two homers for the Red Sox and Hays hit one for the As.