The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-14
BROWNIES CLING. TO HEFTY LEAD
 IN FLAG FIGHT
Ny GLEN PERKINS

American Ieague was in a state of agitation today regarding the St. Louis Browns and their six and . half game lead in the league race but. oddly enough, nobody seemed to be able to do anything about it.
 The Browns, circuit dormats for SO long that they established squat ters rights on the cellar, began their current eastern trip with e six and a half game lead and the margin hasn't varied Q bit In six games already played. without benefit ot higher mathematics it's obvious that a continuation of that lead will rec suit in the first American League pcnnant in history for the St. Louis club.
 The Brownies opened their road jaunt by knocking of the champion Yankees three times out of four--a feat which should have stretched their margin. But the second place Boston Red Sox kept pace by turn- ing the same trick against Chicago to keep the same margin. Then yes- terday. when the two clubs opened their four game series with a dou- bleheader, each team won a game and the margin remained intact. Thus. even if the Brownies drop their last two games with Boston. they will have passed the alleged power Of the east and move on to tackle the weaker Washington Sen- ators and Philadelphia Athletics with a minimum of a four and Q half game margin. possibly all the stretch they would need to nall that nag to a pole In Sportsman's park.
 Yesterdays opener in Beantown was a game expected of two top clubs. It was decided in the 18th inc ming on Bobby Doerr's 18th homer which gave Boston 7-6 edge. Rookie Rex Cecil. recently purchased from the San Diego club Of the Pacific Coast league. arrived in town shortly before game time and pitched the last four innings to gain the decision in his first major league game. The second game was called at the end of i've innings because of Massa. chusetts Sunday law and the Browns, with Nelson Potter pitching gained a 6-l triumph.
 Chicago and New York shared at Yankee Stadium in a pair of lop- sided ball games. Rookie Mel Queen crowned the sox with a five hitter in the opener to wtn his first major league game. l0-I. Another rookie. Russ Derry. hit a grand slam homer for the champions to give Queen more than enough lead. Orval Grove pitched the S0x fo an Hes win in the finale to thwaFt Hank Borowy's bid for his 18th win.
 The Philadelphia Athltics halted the winning streak of the Detroit Tigers at nine games by beating them 6-i in the first of their two games at Ehibe Park. Don Blacks three- hitter proved too tough for the Bengals and deprived Hal New. llouser os his 18th win. Dizzy Trout, however, became the first major leagner to record le decisions in the nightcap when he pitched the Tigers to 60 shoutout.
 Waghington'S Senators snapped out of their five game losing streak taking both ends of a twin bill from the Cleveland Indians in the Capitol. Mickey Haefner and Early Wynn went the route for the Mats and each was deprived Of a ghutout vic- tory in the last inning. Haefner on Pat Seerey's homer in the curtain raiser.
 The National League had Q feast or famile day with all clubs either winning or losing two. The leading St. Louis Cardinals provided home fans with Q double win over the Brooklyn Dodgers that slid the Buns" back into the senior circuit basement. Max LanieT pitched a six hitter for Q S-I win in the opener. Harry Brecheen won the nighteap for the Red Birds, 7-3. when he res cetyed l2 hit support from his mates.
 The Philadelphia Phillies came out of the cellar with a 3-2 and 7-e trlumphs over the Chicago Cubs at Chicago. Loose defensive play by the Bruins paved the way for both Vic- tories and improved the pitching records of BiIl Lee and Charlie 6chanz.
 The Cincinnati Reds bested the New York Giants, l-3 and e-2 be- Tore q home crowd. Clyde EhOuD assisted tp winning his own game in the first when he singled to drive in a run in the Reds three run second inning. George Hausmann, New York second baseman, made three successive errors in the fourth lD- ming Of the Dlghteap, which, with flle aid Of a single hit, led 10 four runs and more than enough margin for Jim K0nstanty,
 Rip 6ewell pitched five hIt ball and eloIted home run 10 lead the pittsburgh Pirates t0 an 7-e victory
 D fheF opener against Boston la the Smoky City. Prank GOlnafis two run homer tD the eighth ln- 0lng 0f the second game supplied Fritz 0stermuelleE with the margin Of triumph iD !. s.i game
 YESTERDAYS STAB " Napo- Leon Reyes Of the slnmpIng New York Giants, gh0, although 0n Q losing team, hit safely Six slleeeg-