The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-16
AND
 YANKEE SERIES
 ALL IMPORTANT
Teller Gets Chance to Stop DiMaggiO Hitting Streak
 This Week
BY PAUL sCHEFFELs

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 New York, July IS = (UP) - The Fourth of July may be the traditional turning point in the major league pennant races but. as far as the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians are concerned, possession of the l041 American league flag may be decided in the +hree-game series which begins in Cleveland today.
 Southpaw Marius Russo Is slated to match curves with the Indians big lefthander, Al Milnar, in the opening contest. The Yankees probably will come back with Red Rufflng, Lefty Gomez or Ernie Bonham for the next two games. The Indians can counter with Jim Bagby or Al Smith tomorrow. Bobby Teller will be ready for the third game.
 The Yankees, red-hot and roll- ing fast with 2l victories in 24 starts, lead the second-place In. dians by five games. If they sweep the series, Cleveland will Dc eight games off-stride and the Tribes ability to come from behind in the stretch has so far remained hidden.
 No Clean Sweep
 The Yankees would still lead by two games if the Indiaps were to win all three, an unlikely develop ment. Unlikely because in 10 meet. ings with the New Workers this sea- son, the Indians have won only three. Two of those victories were turned in by Teller and the other by Mel Harder, who lasted less than five innings yesterday in his first starting job since June 24.
 A 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox yesterday enabled the Tanks to pick up @ full game on the Indians, who lost to the Boston Red Sox, 6-4. Buddy Rosar's triple with the bases loaded fea- tured 6 four.run rally in the third. Joe DiMaggio, collected single and louble to run his batting streak to 55 games.
 Joe Dobson, Cleveland caSton, shackled his former mates with four hits as the Red sox, crippled by the loss of Ted Williams and Jim Tabor, hammered out 10 hits for their first win in their last four starts against the Tribe.
 Barney McCoskey's first homer of the year in the seventh inning provided the winning edge as the Detroit Tigers shaded the Phila- delphia Athletics, 3-2. Buck New. som held the As toseven hits for his eighth victory.
 The Brooklyn Dodgers dumped the Chicago Cubs twice, TO and 0-4. to run their National League 1 lead to four games aS the St. Louis Cardinals noSed out the Philadel- phia Philiies, 3-2 in IS innings, Joe Medwick paced the Dodgers ct the plate in both games. He had two out of three in Sae opener and three for five In the nightcap. Curt Davis held the Cubs to four hits for his fifth win in the first game while Luke Hamlin, making his first start since June 2l, held the Bruins to six blows.
 Marathon
 The Cards and Phils fought 16 innings before Jimmy Browns long fly with loaded bases and none out scored the deciding run. Johnny Hopp opened the 18th by beating out slow roller and Johnny MiSe reached first when Ptcher Ike Pearson tossed his bunt wild. Enos Slaughter walked and set up the play for Brown. .
 Max Butcher stopped the New York Giants for the fourth time this year as the Pittsburgh Pirates won, 5-l behind his seven-hit pitchin. The Pirates knocked out 10 hits and were helped by four Giant errors.
 The Cincinnati Reds blanked the Boston Braves, 80 as Johnny Van. der Nicer famed Il and allowed only four hits for his eighth VIC. L-... ~..A Ra,,y%la s1NSYkn9at