The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-28
RAIN, RED SOx AND CLOCK BEAT
 ST. |. BROWNS
By LEO N. PETERSEN (Unltsd Press Sports Editor)

NUnAttu kEVas GPVEts h~AtVEl
 st, Louis, Sept. ae-(Upl-Time and the Detroit Tigers began ruEl- ming out today for the st, Louis Browns In their quest for their first American League pennant.
 The Browns came up for their final series of the year, o game down to the paoe-setting Tigers and fac- ing the team which a years ago ruined the only other St, Louis bid for Q league ohampionship-the New York Yankees.
 Like the Browns, the Yankees still were in the running but they were three games of the pace with only four games to 90, While the Browns and Yankees fight 1t out, Detroit has the weak Washington Senators as It's only barrier,
 The odds favored the Tigers poSi- ton, but neither the Browns nor Yankees were giving up. It was 22 years ago that the Yankees came up in the stretch and nosed out the Browns by one game and the Browns haven't forgotten, But their chances were dark,
 Too Much
 They braved everything, including the clock, at sportsmans Park last night and along with the Boston Red Sox it was too much to beat, able to water polo than baseball, the Playing under conditions more suit Browns lost { to to the Red Sox to drop O game behind,
 It was an unusual setting In what has been an unusual year in the American League, where tight pen- nant races arc the exception rather than the rule.
 Shortly before noon yesterday Two hours and c half before game time 1t began raining. When the chances of playing on schedule be- came doubtful tho Browns obtained the permission of the Red Sox, scheduled to play in Chicago today, to delay the game until last night, If necessary.
 At 2;30 the field was muddy and there waS intermltten rain, but the game, in the opinion Of many base- ball men Nt the park, could have been played. But the Browns held of and without opening tho gates announced that the game would he delayed until 8 D, m, Actually It was delayed until 9:05 and because of the hour, restrictions wero i'm. posed under which no inning could Do started after il;0S and all plays halted, regardless of the score at ii;20 to enable the Red Sox to catch Q train for Chicago.
 Had To Go
 It still was raining at eight, but by then the Browns knew the Tigers had defeated Philadelphia and that the game would be played If at all possible, A cancellation would have meant that the Browns could have lost the pennant because of a game they didn't play.
 But, as things turned out 1t would have been as we'll If tho contest had been called on, for the Browns could do nothing with the pitching of George Woods and Red Barrett and when they did threaten they had to keep one eye on the clock.
 Because it was raining so heaV- fly, Manager Luke Sewcll of the Browns began switching his lineup after the Red soX took q one run lead off Denny dalehouse in the first Inning, Sewell played every percentage, but none of them worked.
 Woods Out
 The Browns were three runs down when they came to bat in the eighth and threatened to break up the ball game. But when Woods weakened, Red SoS Manager Joe Cronin re- placed him with Barrett, and the Browns, still with one eye on the clock, could not break through. They were retired with the bases loaded and one run In Just in time to beat the ii;06 deAdline,
 After the Red sox had picked up another run in the ninth, the Browns, again with their eyes on tho ii;20 deadlinc, came up with another threat but poor base run. hing ruined the chance and with 1t went a lot Of the St. Louis pennant hopes,
 SeWell was expected to call on Jack Kramer today, while the Tank. ees probably will pitch Ernie Bon. ham.