The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-01
YANKEES, RED SOx SERIES MAY BE IMPORTANT.
New Workers Lead Drops Daily; Cooper Wins as
 Dodgers Lose
By PAUL SCHEFFLES

NUn1ted Press Stan COrreSpOndent)
 New York, July 1. (UP)-The Boston Red Sox entertain the New York Yankees for three games be- ginning Friday and what previously loomed as just brief conditioner for the world champions today gave promise of developing into a tight battle for the American League lead.
 Because of unexpectedly stiff re- sistance by the Philadelphia Ath- leticS and sudden winning touch of the Red Sox, the Yankees now lead the junior circuit by only 1-2 games. Nine defeats in IA games of their recent western tour and close call during the As yesterday, has cast an entirely different light on the race for the bunting
 First, the Yankees have discov- cred that their sure-fire shoppers" Ernie Bonham, Charlie Ruffing and Hank Borowy, can be beaten. Bon ham and Ruffing both were unable to win in two tries and Borowy had his ears pinned back by the As.
 May Wake Up
 Second, and most important, the Yankees hitters have slowed down. Every batter on the club-except Joe DiMaggio-has lost ground sharply during the past two weeks Joe is not moving along at top speed yet but signs of gradual awakening might, if accompanied by a hitting surge on the part of Charlie Keller, mean difference of several games, and possibly the pennant.
 On the other hand, the Red Sox are racing along under a full head of steam. The twin win over the Senators yesterday gave them a record of five victories in six games and IT wins in 21 contests.
 Chief encouragement has been the success of Oscar Pudd and Ken Chase. Judd has won his last four starts-three of them on the road, where Boston always has difficulty in winning. Then Chase checked the Indians at Cleveland for his second win. Both are SouthpaWs and since five of the Yankees recent reverseS were at the hands of lefties their performances may have significant bearing on the fight for first place.
 Moving Up
 The Red Sox cut full game oil the Yankee lead yesterday by beat ing Washington, 9-8 and 5-2 BoS- ton rallied for four runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to win the opener Tex Hughson won his seventh victory with a six hitter in the night-cap. Tony Lupien hit four-bagger with none on in the sixth. Stan Spence and Roy Cullenbine hit homers for Wash ington in the opener
 Herman Besse tossed the As to an 8-5 decision over the Yankees in their first game, but the New Workers rallied for three runs in the ninth to win the nightcap, 4-3, for their first victory in four games. Besse yielded four hits and three runs in the first inning but gave up only four more blows thereafter, including tWo-run homer by Keller. The As matched the Tanks first-inning attack and kayoed Hank Borowy with another three-run as- sault in the sixth.
 The Cleveland Indians won their third straigh5 and Jim Bagby check ed in with his ninth victory by beat ing the Chicago White Sox, 3-1. The Indians got only five hits off Ed Smith but pecked away for single runs in the first, third and sixth. Manager Lou Boudreau got A for A." including a homer, double and two singles, all but one figuring in the scoring.
 Boston's Braves scored their first triumph since Aug. 16 of last sea- son over the Brooklyn Dodgers 4-3. Boston had previously been beaten 14 straight times by Brooklyn. The Braves scored the winning tally in the fifth off Les Webber when Chet Ross tripled and rode home on Man. ny Fernandez single.
 Cards Down
 Mort Cooper won his ninth straight and 11th victory of the year when he pitched the St. Louis Card inals to Az triumph over Pitts burgh last night Cooper allowed nine hits including first-inning homer by Elbie Fletcher. The Card inals' victory trimmed a game off the Brooklyn lead and St. Louis, after clubbing Rip Sewell for nine blows, now trail by eight games. Jimmy Brown homered for the Red Birds.
 Ray Starr marked up victory No. II as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Chicago Cubs, Al. Starr allowed | six hits and was never in trouble as the Reds made five hits off Bill Lee good for one in the first and 1 three runs in the last two innings. 1
 YESTERDAYS STAR = Mort i Cooper, who won his 11th victory as 1 St. Louis defeated Pittsburgh. AZ, to cut Brooklyn's league lead to