The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-21
YANKEE FIRST. EASTMAN SEEMS.
 TO BE THROUGH.
Red SOx Pitching Star Looked Good" Though
 Beaten By Yanks
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Staff Correspondent

(Umted Press Staff COrreSpOndent)
 New York, April 21-CUP)-With attendance tagging considerably be- hind last year, the Major Leagues hoped for better weather today and for sahrp upturn at the turn stiles.
 Only 10 games have been played in four days because of rain and cold weather. Total attendance thus far is 183, 1882, far below expec- tations. The largest opening crowd was 47,000 for the Tigers White Sox game at Detroit. The smallest was 1852 for a morning game between the PhilS and Bees at Boston.
 Three teams have yet to play their first games-the Indians and Browns in the American League and the Cubs in the National League.
 Baked three times by the wealth CT, the New York Yankees got away yesterday and polished off their most dangerous rivals, the Boston Red Sox, 20, before a surprisingly small crowd of 30,278 at Yankee Stadium. Red Rufiing outdueled Lefty Grove in pitchers battle in which each allowed only seven hits. Bill Dickey's homer and Jake Pow ell's triple which scored Rolfe &C., counted for the Tanks two runs.
 Gehrig Through
 While the Tanks won in impress sive style, there was sad note to the proceedings. What they've been saying about Lou Gehrig is true. The iron horse is about to crumble. He looked feeble afield and at bat. He went hitless and twice hit into double plays. Going down the base path he looked like he was carry ing two other fellows on his back. A ball was knocked out of his hands by Bobby Doerr and the runner was safe. He missed another throw completely, but Joe Gordon recov- cred the ball before any damage was done. Gehrig's number is def initely up.
 One oldtimer headed for the exits, and another one coming back. It all evens up. Lefty Grove, whose arm suddenly went dead last sum- mer, pitched so impressively in de- feat that there is every indication that the 39-year-old southpaw will again prove one of the big Red Sox winners.
 Hank" Hits Elm
 Thunder rolled off Hank Green berg's bat in the 14th inning and the Detroit Tigers subdued the Chicago White SoX, 8-7. Green berg, who hit 58 homers last year, rattled No. 1 of 1899 off Thorn ton Lee. He also hit a triple and a single. Barney McCoskey, Tigers rookie center fielder, led Detroit's 19-hit attack with four blows, two of them doubles. Dixie Walker also homered with one on for the Tigers. George Caster, allowing only four hits, pitched the Philadelphia Ath- letics to 20 shutout over Wash ington before small opening day crowd of 7,100 at Shibe Park. Earl Brucker, As catcher, drove in one run with a double and scored the other one.
 Hot Potato" Luke Hamlin, af- flicted with siege of boils which may shelve him at any time, cooked off the New York Giants as Brook lyn evened the series with a 5-3 win. He allowed only seven hits, one of them a homer by Mel Ott. Hal Schumacher was driven out of the box with 3-run attack in the sixth. Fred Sington's double and singles by Coscarat, Hamlin and Rosen did the damage.
 Lou Fette, Boston Bees veteran, pitched brilliant 3-hit shutout in beating the Phillies, 20. Al Sim mons single, a sacrifice, and Mill ler's single scored one run. Cuc- cinello's single drove in the other tally.