The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-08-01
CubsCapture
9TH Straight
Topping pills
ny CARL LUNDQUIST
United Press stan Correspondent

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New York, Aug. l.-gUPD-fie
had to break the heart Of a game
rookie pitcher 10 do &, but handy
Mike Ryba, Bostons 39-year-old
Jack -of-all- baSeball-trades" came
up TODAY with ample proof that he
Is master OF at least one.
Ryba, who has played every posi-
ton on the diamond in his long
professional career, had to talk hard
10 get a starting assignment out
Of Red Sox manager Joe Cronin.
because Of his brilliaroe as a re-
lief pitcher. Today. after his l to
0. two-hit victory over the Cleve-
land Indians. he probably would
have TO talk even harder to get
his bun pen job back.
He and young Steve Gromek put
on the top pitching duel Of the sea-
son last night and but for the sec
ord costly ninth inning fielding
lapse in as many days by the de-
fensively dependable Indians. the
game might have gone on indefi-
nitely. Each pitcher yielded only
two singles and Gronek had a no.
hitter until after two were out in
the eighth.
Boston broke the scorelesS tie with
an unearned run wnen Mickey
Rocco made a two base nun of a
grounder by George Metkovich and
Ray Mack threw wild to let him
scare after Pete Fox singled.
For Ryka. who frequently in IS
years with the st. Louis Cardinal
farm organization. would pitch the
FIRST game Of a double header and
catch the second, it was vindication
Of his long standing belief that
he could be a top night starting
pitcher. The discovery may have
come too late for the pennant
chances Of the Red Sox. who have
been harried for both starting and
finishing pitchers all season. with
no one but Cecil CTex) Hughson
consistently reliable.
The victory kept he Red Sox
foui and a half games behind the
league leading Browns who won
their third straight from Washing
ton 3 to 2, coming from behind
twice to turn the trick. Vernon
Stephens tied the score once with
his 18th homer and George Nc
Qrinn knotted 1t again later with
his seventh. Don Gutteridge drove
In the winning run for the second
straight day, scoring Frank MAN.
cuso with a single in the eighth.
Jack Kramer went the route for
his 18th victory.
The Philadelphia AS defeated the
White Sox at Chicago in the 10th
Is to 2 with the only run Of the
game that was earned, both sides
playing loosely afield. Russ Chris
tobher won his sixth game
The New York Giants won a vital
but costly victory. staying in fourth
place a half game ahead OF the
challenging Cubs by defeating Gin
cinnati 3 to z. with Manager Mel
OFT going out with a sprained ankle.
The Giants, with Joe Medgick driV-
ing in FIVE runs. overcame a four
run Red lead yielded by starter
Bill Voiselle. who gave up six runs
In two innings. Andy Hansen pitcE-
ed steadily the rest Of the way for
his first major league victory.
Chicago defeated Philadelphia's
Phillies to for its seventh
straight victory. with Hy vanden-
berg giving only three hits in his
debut ms a starter. The only Phil
run was Buster Adams 18th homer.
Hal Gregg of Brooklyn won his
first game since Memorial day after
nine straight losses. defeating the
St. Louis Cards 6 TO ! on seven
hits. The Dodgers knocked Mort
Cooper. Cardinal ace out with an
early attack
The Pittsburgh Pirates. spanked
by Lefty Fritz Ostermueller's two
hit pitching job defeated Boston Q
10 2. II was Ostermueller's ninth
victory.