The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-26
PIRATES DEAL SERIOUS BLOW
 TO BROOKLYN
Dodgers Pennant Hopes Get Double Shock; Grove
 Gains '3OO' Mark
By GEORGE KIRKsEY

6y GEUKGE A1NhSEx
 United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, July 26-CUP)-Rub your eyes and see who's in third Yes, sir, nobody but Frankie Frisch's place today in the National league. Pittsburgh Pirates.
 Although they may be a bit too far back to be considered as serious penannt contenders, the Pirates are playing championship ball right now. Ask the Dodgers, who bowed twice yesterday to the Pirates and hda a cruel blow dealt to their pen- nant hopes. By taking Brooklyn twice yesterday, 8-4 and 8-2, the Pirates made 1t seven in a row and 22 victories in their last 29 games.
 A month ago the Pirates were down in sixth place, only 31s games in front of the seyenth-place Braves. They were bedraggled outfit, rnak- ing out as best they could with a dangerous attack supporting 8 .woe- begone pitching staff. Frisch final ly got his pitching strengthened out and the Pirates started to come. With Heintzelman, Butcher, Sewell and Lanning holding their present pace, the Pirates might make bar- rel of trouble. The Pirates biggest failing up to now Is that they can't beat the Cardinals, who've taken them nine times in ten games.
 Mound Stars Flop
 Brooklyn's position became des- perate as a result of the double loss to the Pirates. Whit Wyatt was knocked out for the fourth straight time and Curt Davis, who had run of five straight, also was kayoed. A four-run rally in the eighth with the score tied A won the opener. John Lanning held the Dodgers to eight hits in the nightcap. Van Robay's doublye with the bases filled was the big punch in the nightcap.
 The pace-setting Cardinals, how ever, failed to take advantage of Brooklyn's plight as they were hand ed thelr third shutout of the year, 80, by the Boston Braves last night. Playing before 22,933 fans, largest crowd to see St. Louis home game since the lights were installed year. ago, the Cards were held to thre ehits by Jim Tobir, who retired the last 9 men in order. The Braves raked Harry Gumbert and Ira Hutchinson for all of their runs in the first two frames, Clyde Shoun pitching shutout bal over the last seven.
 The defeat left the Cards @ full game in front of the Dodgers and 10h ahead of the surging Pirates.
 The PhillieS broke a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Reds, +3. It was the tailenders' second win in their last 18 games. Tommy Hughes won his second game over the Reds with Bob Bragan's double driving in the deciding run.
 With a four-run rally in the first the Giants blasted Vern Olsen to cover and trimmed the Cubs, 5-2. Despite the win the Giants dropped to fifth place.
 The Yankees winning surge has given everybody on the club a shot in the arm. Spud Chandler, who started eight times without win- ming until he beat the White Sox two weeks ago, now can't lose. He's won three in a row, notching No. 3 over the White Sox, so. He gave up only three widely scattered hits, and allowed only one man to reach third and one to reach second.
 Hits Helped Lefty
 Combined with the Red Sox's 10-6 triumph over the Indians, the Tanks vicotry moved them Il full games ahead in the pennant race. or Nose struggled through to win his 300th major league vic- tory after missing twice before. Joe Cronin put him in there to do or die and after seeing the Indians get away to a 40 lead or Nose finally scraped through to victory on Jimmy Foxx's triple. Jim Tabor helped the cause with two homers.
 The Athltics slapped out IS hits and buried the Tigers under a 11-5 defeat. It was the As fifth straight win and Detroit's eighth consecutive loss. Wally Moses had four hits and Pete Suder drove in four runs.
 With Elden Auker hurling a seven- hitter the St. Louis Browns bounded out of the cellar by batting the Sen- atorS, 5-3. The Browns drove their ex-teammate Vernon K ennedy to cover in the seventh.
 YESTERDAYS HERO-Ol' Nose Grove, 41-year-old Red Sox south paw who stayed in there with 12 base hits whistling around his ears and came through to his 3OOth major league victory, 10-6 triumph over Cleveland.