The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-22
YANKEES, BACK
IN FOURTH SPOT,
TACKLE INDIANS
AIl-ImpOrtant Three Game
Series in New York;
Reds, Dodgers Lose
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY

NONAbCW EOoS 0tbA OVAAOoRVAA0OAASJ
New York, Aug. 22-(UP)-The
Yankees are making menacing ges-
lures again. They've won 10 out Of
their last IL games and open a g.
game series with the Indians today
which may determine whether they
are going to be a vital factor in the
American League stretch drive.
There's little doubt that the
Yanke are playing the best ball in
the league right now. They could
keep on doing that from now until
the last day of the season and still
not win. Time is working against
them. Nine games behind the
league-leading Indians, the Yanks
have herculean task ahead Of them
to overhaul Oscar Wits team Of
mutiny".
If the Indians win 10 and lose IS
of their remaining 81 games, the
Yanks would have to win 81 out Of
Al games to finish ahead OF Cleve-
land. In other words the Indians
aren't likely to be in any danger
unless they should go into a serious
slump such as dropping three
straight to the Yanks in the series
opening today. But that might hap
pen. It did on the Indians last trip
to Yankee Stadium.
BLOW" so Lead
The Yanks regained possession of
fourth place yesterday by scoring a
ninth inning victory over the Tigers,
6-5, while the White Sox were trip
ped by the Athletics. 80. The Yanks
blew a so lead and let the Tigers
knot the score with two runs in the
ninth, but put over the winning tai
ly in their half Of the ninth. Role
and Heinrich singled and Selkirk
was purposely passed, filling the
bases. Then AL Benton threw four
straight balls to Bill Dickey, cur
rently hitting 1884, forcing in the
winning run. It was the Tigers 10th
defeat in their last IL games and
dropped them S 1-2 games from the
top.
Three double plays by Boudreau,
Mack and Trosky helped the Indians
defeat the Red Sox, AZ, despite the
fact that Joe Cronin's club made IA
hits to the Tribes seven. Ray
Mack's homer with a mate on &C
counted for two runs. Ostermueller's
wild throw sent in another, and
Boudreau's single pushed over the
other one.
Bill Beckman, recently promoted
a starting job, outpitched John Rig
ney to give the Athletics their 30
shutout over the White Sox. He al
lowed only five hits in winning his
sixth game against one loss.
Dutch Leonard hung up his 18th
victory by pitching Washington tc
a 80 triumph over the Browns
swapping the Senators 5-game los
ing streak.
Reds, Dodgers Lese
The Giants clipped the leading
Reds, 5-4 but held their 5 IL game
National League lead as the runner
up Dodgers lost their third straight
to the Cardinals, Us. Mel OFT scored
the winning run in the ninth inning
for the Giants on Nick Witek's sin
gle while six runs in the fifth inn
ing gave the Cards enough to win
over Brooklyn.
Pittsburgh took over fifth place
by beating the Bees, 30, while the
Phillies knocked off the Cubs, rs
in 10 innings. Vince DiMaggio's
double in the eighth drove in the
Pirates winning run. The Cubs
came from behind in the eighth
drove in the Pirates winning run
The Cubs came from behind to make
five runs and tie up the Phils, SIS
with Zeke Bonura's homer with 9
mate on sending the game into ex-
ira innings, but Rookie pitcher
Charlie Frye hit for the circuit with
one on in the tenth to give Doe
Prothro's club the victory.
YESTERDAYS HERO - George
Selkirk. Yankee outfielder who hit