The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-23
LOSE 1S OF 1T GAMES BUT NEAR
 FIRST DIVISION
pY oLEN PERKINe
CunI.sa Press stan UorrsspOnasn.D

BY GLEN PERKINS United Press stan CoErespOndentD
 New York, Aug. ss.-CUp)-The New York Giants headed home toe day, and thanks Co the vaearies of baseball, still were at the top of the National Leagues second division and OEly . game and a half out of first.
 It seems Incredible that a ball club could lose a consecutive games on e read trip and win only four of 70 played and still drop only one slot in the league standings. In other years the cellar wouldn't have been low enough for such Q record.
 The Giants figured to lose some ground in the west but the collapse of the Chicago Cubs was simply a phenomenon of Q phenomenal sea. son. The New Workers opened their last intel. sectional trip with Q vic- tory and then dropped B straight. Snapplng out of their losing streak at chicago, the Giants closed yes- terday with their third successive win over the Bruins and gained an overall record for the trip of four victories in i7 starts. The Cubs did little better with five wins In lal games, but still moved into fourth place, ahead of the Giants.
 Five Chicago errors in yesterdays game aided the Giants in compiling an early lead and enabled them to stave off a late rally to eke out a e-e decision. Ewald Pyle. although knocked out in the eighth frame. was credited with the victory. Henry Wyse was the loser.
 Pitncing honors of the day went Co lefty Max Lanier of the St. Louis Cardinals who held the Boston Braves to a single hit while win. ming a 2.i decision in the second game of a twi.night double-header after his mates had taken the open- CT, 7.l. Whitey weitelman opened the game with a walk and later scored on Butch Nieman's hit. Then Esanier settled down. Only 2a men faced him in the last eight innings. Wheitleman worked him for another walk, the only two he allowed, but was erased trying to steal. It was Laniers 18th consecutive triumph and his l7th of the season. Harry Bmcheen gained his 18th win in the opener when he spaced a dozen hits effectively, except in the seventh in. ming. when five blows led to all the Boston runs.
 The Pittsburgh Pirates gained their 18th triumph in their last 2l starts by beating the Brooklyn Dodgers, 7-5. Rip Sewell pitched spotty To-day ball to win his ifth game. Two runs in the first inning gave the Dodgers an early lead but by the fifth the Bucs had Q 4-2 ad- vantage, compiled by scoring single runs in each of the second, third. fourth and fifth innings. They matched a three run Dodger upris- ing in the seventh with three runs of their own in the same frame to cllnch the decision. Tom Sunkel was charged with the loss.
 The Philadelphia Phiflies and the Cincinnati Reds split a twin-bili, three Philadelphia homers in the opener. two by Buster Adams. sup- plying a 4-3 edge for Bill Lee. Ron N0rthey hit the other circuit clout to become the first National leaguer to homer in every park this season. Tommy De LaCruz pitched five hit hall to give the Reds a Bel victory in the nightcap.
 In the American league the status remained quo as far as the margin between leading St. Louis Browns and the second place Boston Red Soy was concerned. Both lost, the Browns dropping a 80 game to the Washington Senators and Cleveland beating Boston. 5-3.
 Johnny Niggellng's six-hitter, which included the flaming of 10 Brownies, gained the Mats victory, their third in four starts with the league leaders.
 Jeff Heath's pinch single with Manager Lou Boudreau on base in the seventh inning gave the Indians a lead over Boston and Roy cul- lenbine scored in the same frame on a force play to clinch the game. Gromek hurled eight hit ball, one, Jim Tab0r's l2th homer, to sin.
 The New York Yankees handed 20-game winner left Hal Newhouser of the Detroit Tigers a good going over in stopping the Bengals. The Yanks. paced by Oscar Grimes, who drove in four runs, compiled a esO lead h the first i've innings but the Tigers came back with seven tn the last three to give the champs a scare. Mel Queen, first of four New York pitchers, was the winner,
 The Philadelphia Athletics drew within half game of the fourth place Chicago White 60x by trims ming the 60x, 6-l to take three to ne edge In their four game series. Rnss Christopher annexed his seVv enth straight victory with a six hits ter for the "A's", It was his 10th win of the year
 YESTERDAYS STAR Max Lanier of the St, Louis Cardinals, who won his 10th consecutive game and his l7th Of the season with a 0ne-hltteF against the Boston