The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-06
WANDER MEERIS SUDDEN THREAT
 IN NATIONAL
Reds SOuthpaw Slowly Getting Badly Needed
 Control; Yanks End
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY

United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York, Sept. 6.-(UP)-The biggest story in baseball today wasn't that the Indians lost their fourth straight and had their American league cut to two games That the Yankees won a double-header and moved back into second place or that Cincinnati maintained its 8-game lead in the National league.
 None of these team accomplish ments could hold a candle to the beginning of Johnny Wander Meer's comeback. It's a long lane that has no turning and the hard-luck Cincinnati southpaw finally found a detour on the road back but he found it the hard way. A star on the 1898 Reds after he pitched two successive no-hit, no-run games, Wander Nicer found himself rele- gated to the shadows of the dugout on the championship Cincinnati team in 1889. He slumped even deeper into the slough of despon- dency this season when his hard work and constant practice failed to cure his WildneSS and bring him back his confidence.
 Bill McKechnie gave Wander Nicer two starts and two relief jobs. He was a failure in all of them. In the 8 2-3 innings he worked he al- lowed only nine hits but 13 bases on balls ruined him. Wander Nicer had his stuff-nobody has livelier fast ball-but he didn't have, control and confidence. Finally in despera- ation he asked the Reds to send him away from potential champion ship team and back to the minors. On June 27 they shipped him to Indianapolis on option.
 McKechnie tossed Wander Nicer in ito do or die" yesterday against the Pirates. In the first inning he walked two men and then in the second he passed Vince Di- Maggie, frs. up It looked like Van- der Nicer was to be forever cursed with a wild streak. But, after walk ing Van Ronays in the next inning Wander Nicer settled down and re- tired nine Pirates in order before DiN1aggio singled in the sixth. With the scored tied, 2-2, Wander Nicer famed the side in then 9th but yielded a run on Vine DiMaggio's | Single, a balk and Gustine's single Then the Reds put on four-run rally in their half to win, 6-3. Giants Take Two
 In the other National league games the Dodgers won from the Phillies, 8-5, by scoring three runs in the tenth and the Giants came out of their seven gave losing streak by taking over the Bees twice, 8-7 and Al. A 4-run rally won thu first game in the ninth and Ha I Schunlacher's 3-hitter topped Man uel Salvo's hitter in the nightcap
 The Tigers gave the skidding In dians another kick in the pants b! shelling them for 11-3 triumph Rudy York's sixth inning homer wit htwo mates on in the sixth wa' the payoff blow although Bruce Campbell, ex-Indian, added more grief by slamming another 3-rur homer in the seventh. Al Benton relieving Bridges in the fifth, tamec the Tribe the rest of the way.
 The Yanks regained second place one point ahead of the Tigers, by conouering the Senators twice, 2-l and 8-1. Ernie Bonham pitchee a 7-hitter to beat Dutch Leonard 1T the openerd. Joe Gordon's double drove in the deciding tally. Alley Donald was the winner in the night cap as the Tanks took advantage of eight Washington passes.
 The Red Sox blew 60 lead but pulled through to a 9-7 victory al Earl Johnson starred in reie1 role, allowing two hits in the last 2-3 innings. ole Cronin had perfect day at bat, 8 for g..
 Ed Smith won his 12th victory as the Chicago White Sox beat the Browns, AZ, last night before 14,' 749.
 YESTERDAYS HERO - Johnny Wander Nicer, Cincinnati southpaN back from the minors who pitchec his first complete major league game of the season and won Il | IL. n;rofoc ga