The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-15
PIRATES, REDS
 IN HOT DRIVE
 FOR RUNNER-UP
By GLEN PERKINS United Press stan CorrespondensD

NOassS0 EEGa8 8t@M O09HEaNyAOgast
 New York, Aug. l5.--(UP)-The torrid battle for second place in the National league between Pitts burgh and Cincinnati today appars ently had replaced the usual hair line pennnnt drive SO characteristic Of the senior circuit in other years.
 With the st. Louis Cardinals SO far out in front that you need binoculars to see them, the Pirates end Reds have captured fan interest with their fight for second spot and the cut of the world series money that goes with it.
 Currently they are as close as two coats of paint, each having GO vic- tories and 45 losses for a percentage of 57l. Both clubs are driving and with II l-2 games separating them and the fourth place Chicago Cubs. apparently have the runner up spot sewed up between them.
 The Pirates are staging a rush which would gain ground on any club but the Reds and are current ly riding an eight game winning streak and have tucked away 60 victories in their last ii starts, the latest being a pair yesterday over the Boston Braves.
 Rips Rap Won
 The Buss' first win over Boston was in tine form of the completion of q game suspended on July with the score tied at 5-5. The score remained deadlocked until the l2th when relief pitcher Truett (Ripl Sewell won his 18th decision by driving in Johnny Barrett with a single for a 7-6 edge. The Braves had scored in their half of the 18th and the Pirates countered when Bob Elliott singled and scored on Bar rett's triple.
 Elwin Preacher) Roe turned in his best pitching performance Of the season when he hurled & two- hitter before the home crowd in the regular game to gain n so shut out.
 The Reds handed tine New York Giants their seventh consecutive set-back and gained Bucky Walters his i7th victory when their l3-hit attack netted a 6-3 victory The win stretched the Reds winning skein to Ave games.
 The Philadelphia Phillies ran their streak to four by beating the Chicago Cuhs Gel. Ken Raffensber. ger swapped ii-hitters with Bill Fleming and two Chicago Reliew Pitchers. but the Philadelphia south- paw spaced his more effectively to hold the bruins under control.
 The Cardinals defeated the last place Brooklyn Dodgers. 4-2 on Mort Cooper's nine hitter as the big right handler achieved his 18th victory. Haa Gregg was charged with the loss.
 In the American league the Bos. ton Red Sox whittled the lead of the St. Louis Browns to five and a half games as Emmett ONeil pitched four hit ball for a S-i yic- tory. Denny Oalehouse. who had achieved five straight wins for the league leaders. was the loser when the Sex tapped him for all their runs in the six and seventh innings.
 Benham Root
 The New York Yankees outlasted the Chicago White 6Ox to win a B inning contest. 2-i. Nick Etten's 18th homer tied the score in the ninth inning and when Ralph Hodgin threw wild on Rollie's Hemsleys easy grounder in the last frame. Johnny Lindell scored the marginal run. Ernie Bonham went the route for the champions in gaining his ninth win.
 The Washington Senators made it three in a row over the Cleveland Indians when they broke up Q 3-3 tie with 6 four run fifth inning that led to an B-5 triumph. Three singles and four stolen bases. including Jake Powell's steal of home. plus a Cleveland error, iced the game for the Mats in the big inning. Alex CaFFasquel was the winner.
 Tine Philadelphia Athletics. with five runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth, came from behind tO defeat the Detroit Tigers. T-h. BOb0 News0me settled down after a shaky start and allowed but three hits over the last six frames for the triumph,
 YESTERDAYS RTAR-Preaeher Roe of the Pittsburgh Pirates whose tw0-hit performance gave the Blcs