The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-08
CHICAGO CLUBS
 SKID BADLY IN PENNANT RACES
Cubs Close to Cellar Her= man, Lieber Benched;
 Ruling Wins Four
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY Limited Press Staff COrreSpOndentl

New York, May 8-(UP)-Chica go's baseball fortunes sank to a new low today-lashed on the one hand by a cruel blow from the Yankees and on the other by strange, inter- nal forces that not even the wisest diamond analyists can fathom.
 What happened to the White Sox and their high hopes built by su- perb baseball the last 10 days is easy to understand. The Tanks moved into Chicago yesterday and before a throng of 35,000 dealt killing blow to the White Sox, 15-4.
 After winning 10 out of 12 games and with chance to knock the Tanks out of second place, the White Sox ran afoul of an old-time Yankee field day. Nineteen hits, 34 total bases, every Yankee with at least one hit including two homers by Joe Gordon and one by Red Rolfe.
 But what's happening to the Cubs no one can understand. Last years champions have completely curled up and today were only half game out of the cellar. Yesterday the Cubs lost their fifth, game out of six starts in the east as they were routed by the Giants, 10-3.
 In desperation Manager Gabby Hartnett today planned to bench Capt. Bill Herman for the first time in his eight-year career. Herman, National Leagues all-star second baseman for the past five years, will be replaced by Steve Mesner, a rookie. Hank Leiber, obtained in the big winter deal with the Giants, also will go to the dugout with an- other rookie, Jimmy Gleeson, taking over center field.
 Knocking down the White Sox en- abled the Tanks to regain the Am erican League lead as the St. Louis Browns conquered the Boston Red Sox, 6-3. Buck Newsom held the Red Sox to seven hits in snapping their seven-game winning streak. Three errors helped the Browns score four runs.
 Allen Knocked Out
 Cleveland won a 10-inning battle from Washington, 8-7, with Johnny Allen pitching seven innings in his first start. Odel Hale's pinch sim gle drove in the two deciding runs. In the other American League game the Athletics slugged out a 10-3 triumph over Detroit. Earl Bruck- CT hit homer with the bases load- ed. It was the Tigers seventh straight defeat.
 Running up their biggest score of the season, the Cincinnati Reds walloped the Phillies, 1894, and held their National League lead. Paul Derringer let the Phils down with nine hits for his third triumph. Wal Goodman led the Reds barrage with three hits, driving in four runs. Frank Mccormick and Harry Craft hit homers for the Reds.
 Brooklyn gained undisputed pos session of second place by nosing out the Cardinals, 2-1, before 27,318 flatbush faithful, largest Dodger crowd this season. Babe Phelps single, one of the four hits made off Bowman and Warneke, with the bases filled in the fourth gave the Dodgers the victory. Vito Tamulis held the Cards scoreless until the ninth.
 The Giants moved into tie for fourth place with the Cards by knocking off the feeble Cubs, 10-3. Cliff Melton allowed only six hits to win his first game of the season. Mel Ott hit four to lead the Giants 16-hit assault on Clay Bryant.
 Pittsburgh slammed Posedel, Shoffner and Barley for IA hits and beat the Boston Bees, 9-2. It was the Bees fourth straight lDss and dropped them to third place. Bob Klinger gave up only six hits. Gus Suhr drove in four Pirate runs.