The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-09
REDS ON TOP AS PIRATES FADE;
 DETROIT DOWN
Martin Steals Home on Brooklyn Pitcher: Giants
 Perk Up
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Staff CcrrespondentD

United Press Staff CcrrespondentI
 New York, May 9.-(UPl - An eight-club pennant race-the dream of all baseball magnates-was an actuality today in the National League.
 Only two-and-a-haf games sepa- rated the league-leading Reds from the last-placc Pirates. The gap from second to seventh place was one slim game. It's only early May but the topsy-turvy state of affairs in the National League has left the soothsayers gasping.
 Five clubs already have been on top or shared the lead. No club can be counted out of the race. The Pi- rates, who looked hopeless in drop ping eight out of their first nine. have bounded back and may be next weeks pacemaker. The Bees who shot to the front so bravely toppled back to fourth today with five straight setbacks.
 The Giants have recovered from their early slump and are making threatening gestures. The Reds, a game in the van, are blowing hot and cold. The Dodgers and Cardi- nals are now in a spirited battle for second place. Tine Cubs, wracked with injuries and internal problems, are fighting to rekindle their early spark. And the Phillies, who look so futile when you analyze them, are skipping down their foes without regard for regulations or reason.
 What were Sundays second divi- sion clubs all turned on the upper strata clubs yesterday and whaled them. Most humillating defeat of all was handed the pacemaking Reds Leading 6-3 going into the eighth. Cincinnati blew an 8-7 decision tc the Phillies. Johnny Wander Nicer for the fourth time this season failed to finish and set the stage for the Phils' triumph by his wildness. The Phils' five-run rally in the eighth was crowned by Chuck Klein's tri- pie with the bases loaded.
 Pittsburgh knocked off the Bees 3-2, when pitcher Jim Tobin dou- bled in the ninth, scoring Lee Handley. Pepper Martin stole home to give St. Louis To victory over Brooklyn and a tie for second place with the Dodgers. Big Bill Lee pitched and batted the Cubs to a Az triumph over the Giants.
 High spot of the Giants game was Carl Hubbell's return to the box for the first time since August g last year. Coming in as relief pitcher in the eighth, Hubbell was accorded one of the finest ovations ever hand ed a ball player by the crowd of 5000 at the Polo Grounds. He faced six men, retiring them in order. the first three in the eighth on three pitched balls.
 Idle because of rain, the Red Sox regained their American Leagus lead when the Yankees were south paved to defeat by the White Sox, 5-3. Edgar Smith, Athletics castoff, let the Tanks down with seven hits and inflicted the fourth defeat on them by a southpaw. Wes Terrell made his first start and, despite only five hits, was beaten by wild- ness.
 The collapse of the Detroit Tigers continued as the Athletics plastered the Bengals with a 6-5 setback, dropping them to the American League cellar. Rookie Bill Nagers homer was the winning blow.
 Scoring six runs in the seventh, Cleveland routed an old jillx, Ken Chase, and beat Washington, 6-2. The Indians had waited 2s innings before giving Willis Hudlin a run.
 YESTERDAYS HERO - Pepper Martin. who came tash:ng homo while Red Evans was going through an artistic windup for the only run in the Cards 10 victory over Brooklyn.