The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-14
DI MAGGIO ON
THE WAY AGAIN
AS BAT CHAMP
Yankee Star Now Up to
$50 as Red SOx Drop
Two; Reds Cop One
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY
UNITED Press Stan Correspondent

UNITED Press Stan Correspondent
New York, Aug. 14.-(UP)-Most
all the Yankee die-hards have Just
about given up on the Bronx bomb
ers winning their fifth straight pen
nant but they still have something
left to cheer for-Joe DiMaggio's at
tempt to retain the American league
batting crown.
Only one player since the days Of
Ty Cobb has won the American
league batting title twice in success
sion, AL Simmons accomplished the
feat In 1880 and 1881. Except for
those two years, there's been a
change In batting leaders every year
since the Georgia Peach last COPIED
the hitting crown in 1919.
DiMaggio won the batting title
last season with an average Of 1881.
He hasn't been q prominent chal-
lenger to repeat until the last few
days.
Six For Ten.
Some of the spring hitters have
gradually come down and Jolting Joe
has been coming up. Yesterday
was field day for him. He went
"3 for 5" in each game and lifting
his batting average from 1884 to $50.
He's now in second place, one point
behind the leader, Rip Radclif OF
the Browns.
DiMaggio's smuggling featured the
Yanks' double victory over the Red
Sox, 6-1 and 1873 q innings, dark
ness). Marius Russo held the Red
Sox to five hits to gain his ninth VIC
tory in the opener. The YankS went
wild in the nightcap, called because
of darkness, pounding out Is hits
for 20 bases. DiMaggio led the as
sault with two homers, one with the
bases loaded and the other with two
mates on.
Cleveland increased its American
League lead to two games by hand
ing the Tigers their fourth straight
loss, 6-5. The Tigers went into the
last Of the eighth leading, 5-3, only
to have Beau Bells single drive in
two runs to tie the count. An error
by Dutch Meyer, subbing for the
ailing Gehringer at second, lost the
game in the ninth. Ray Mack sin
gled, was sacrificed to second and
scored when Meyer let Ben Chap
mans roller go through him for an
error.
The White Sox came back to de-
feat the Browns, 4-3, with two out
in the ninth after trailing 80 at
one time. Luke Appling's single and
Taft Wright's double produced the
winning tally.
Philadelphia slammed Dutch
Leonard for 10 hits and walloped the
eSnators, 6-3, before 7,215 last night.
Johnny Babich kept IL hits scattered
for his ninth win.
Lucky To Win.
Cincinnati pulled one out OF the
fire by sneaking through to AS
triumph over the red-hot Pirates in
10 innings. The Reds tied the score
in the ninth when Frank McCor-
mick hit homer an1 ~ecc5Sr '.ac
passed with the bases filled forcing
in a run. Then in the tenth Frey
walked, went to third on Frank Nc
Cormick's single and scored when
Bob Elliott threw wild to the plate
after catching wal Goodman's fly.
In the other two National League
games the Cardinals trimmed the
Cubs, 5-1, and the Bees won from
the Giants, Al.
Left Shoun held the Cubs to seven
hits and Johnny Mize hit homer No
SO as the Cards moved within half a
game of the Cubs. Bill Terry was
banished for the third time in his
17-year career for riding" Umpire
Magerkurth and didn't have to see
the Bees put on their 4-run rally
in the sixth.