Evening star., 1944-09-04
New Workers, Trailing
! Game, Could Gust
St. Louis Today
BY JOE REICHLER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

AsooSAabco EIess opoits "fitcAs
Maybe the boys who coined that
old baseball adage-'the team that's
leading on the Fourth of July wins
the flag" will have to change holi-
days and substitute Labor Day.
For today's the day the Yankees,
a half game behind after breathing
on the necks of the st. Louis Browns
all season, have their chance to step
out front. Incidentally, just a year
ago today, the Yankees clinched
their third straight flag, leading the
pack by 20 games.
A double triumph over the Phila-
delphia Athletics, with st. Louis
defeat by the Cleveland Indians,
would put the Yankees on top in
the American. The Browns have
been first since May 31st.
Similar to 1922 Race.
Back in 1922, after trailing the
Browns for 65 days, the Yankees
passed them on September to fin
ish in front. And that year, as this,
the Yankees had to finish the sea-
son on the road.
Joe McCarthy's men face a diff
cult task, however. in their quest
for their fourth consecutive pen
nant. The Browns are far from
licked. True, they've lost IL of their
last 16 games, during which their
once robust seven-game lead (on
August I'D dwindled to mere half
game. But. bleeding from every
pore. they managed to fight back
all the harder when it seems they're
ready to be taken.
The Browns have been on top 120
Of the 139 days this season, and are
not likely to fold, especially when 10
Of their remaining "a games will be
played at home, where they've won
80 games and lost 10 for a .672 per-
centage.
Yesterday. after having lost four
straight, three to Detroit, the
Browns turned on Dizzy Trout, the
Tigers best pitcher, and defeated
the Bengals Al, to drop Detroit into
third place, two games off the pace.
Kramer Gets 18th Victory.
The Tigers tailed once in the first
frame, but double by AL Zarilla
scored two for the Browns in their
half, for lead they never relin-
quished. Jack Kramer won his 18th
for the Browns, with Trout taking
his 10th setback. Trout has yet to
win in starting role at Sporstman's
Park.
The Yankees made it five out Of
six from Washington, taking twin
bill, 6-5 and 11-3. Two homers by
Nick Etten gave him the league lead
with II, and George Stirnweiss stole
three bases to hoist his league lead
ing total to Al.
The fourth-place Boston Red Sox
lost ST. decision as Connie Mack's S
Elephants exploded for four runs
in the fifth inning to hand Rookie
Glen Driesewerd his first setback.
Steve Gromek's four-hitter for
Cleveland defeated the Chicago
White SoX, Al. Bill Dietrich
making his third try for his 18th
win, suffered his 18th defeat instead.
Bucs Sweep Card Series.
Pittsburgh became the first to
sweep a four game series from the
st. Louis Cardinals, winning a dou-
ble-header, 6-5 and 30, before
1896 fans, Pittsburgh's largest
crowd. 1t was the Cardinals
longest 1914 losing streak.
Bill Voiselle gained his 18th
triumph as New York defeated
Brooklyn. s-3. to split their twin
bill, after the Brooks Won the
opener, 8-6.
Chicago's Cubs won two from
Cincinnati, ST. and 60. as Bill
Nicholson hit his 30th homer and
became the first major Lacquer to
drive in 100 runs. The Cubs pulled
q triple play in the first inning
Of the opener.
Philadelphia and Boston broke
even, the Braves winning, 81, for
Jim Tobin's 18th, and the Phils