The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-14
WHITE S0x AND
 LEFTY LEE ARE . MYSTERIOUS
By CARL LUNDQUIST limited Press Staff COrreSpOndent

By CARL LUNDQUIST United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York. May 14-(UP)-The best minds in baseball were having little or no luck today in solving systery within a mystery = the baffiing case of the first place White Sox and Pitcher Thornton Starr Lee.
 The first part isn't to tough to solve-C Chicago is pacing the pack in the American league with line pitching, timely hitting and the Manager Jimmy Dykes brand of hustle. But it's the why of that superior pitching, particularly as regards Lefty Lee that calls for detective work.
 It was surprising in the first place that Dykes kept Lee after three bad seasons in which he won 10 games and lost 25.
 The rangy resident of Phoenix, Ariz., had g. great year in 1941 win-- ming 9 games. Then he developed arm trouble and became a left handed liability. Operations for removal of elbow bone chips and a shoulder growth didn't help and finally in 1943 he was signed to a $1.OO a year contract, pending re- covery of his one-time form. He came back temporarily enough to get back on the payroll, but last year he slumped again, winning only three and losing nine.
 This year, with no more opera tions and no plausible explanation, he has regained his form and today after a 5 to 1 victory over the visiting Washington Senators, is the teams top winner with four visitors and one defeat. He had all his old guile, sweeping curves, change of pace, and excellent con- trol, walking one batter and scat tering 10 hits harmlessly.
 With another veteran, Orval Grove, who won, to ?, in the second game, Lee collaborated in the days only double triumph, moving the Sox back into firht. Guy Curthright, with a second game homer, and Oris Hockett, with timely hits in both games, provided the batting punch.
 Pitching Deluxe
 The best pitching in the majors today was on display at Detroit where Rookie Dave Ferriss won an 8 to 2 victory for the Boston Red Sox and Alton Benton pitched a three-hit to o shutout for the Tigers. Ferriss was touched for his first major league runs after hurl- ing two consecutive Sabbath shut outs. The Tigers made nine hits, but he was in control at all times. Benton's triumph gave him a record of three shutouts and five straight victories in which he has yielded only one earned run and 3.4 hits per game.
 The St. Louis Browns salvaged their second game at Philadelphia with a seven run rally in the eighth to win, 8 to 2, after the Athletics won the opener, to 1. Highlight of the big rally was a squeeze bunt by one-armed Pete Gray, which scored Catcher Myron Hayworth. Rookie Luther Knerr beat the Browns on seven hits and Bob Muncrief won the second game for the league champs.
 Alley Donald maintained his "hoo doc" over the Indians, pitching the Tanks to l to 0 victory in 10 in- nings at Cleveland for his 18th win against them since 1899. He has lost only once, to Bob Teller in 1941. Yielding seven hits, he outduelled Charley (ReO Embree, who gave up only five. The Indians knocked the Tanks out of the league lead, win- ming the second game, to 2, with a four run rally in the third that gave Pitcher Steve Gromek a work ing margin. The decisive blow was Jim McDonnell's double with the bases full.
 The New York Giant winning streak ended at eight, but not until the National League leaders had topped the Cards, 4 to in the opener. St. Louis won the second, 6 to 5. Nap Reyes singled in the win- ming run in the opener to give Pitcher Andy Hansen the victory. Ken O'Dea provided all the Card runs with a home. Mel Otis 495th homer in the second game started the Giants of ahead but the Cards came from behind to win, Buster Adams singling home the deciding run in the ninth.
 Dodgers In "High''
 The Brooklyn Dodger-eight- game streak remained intact after a 10 to }3 victory over Cincinnati behind veteran Curt Davis, who gave up II hits but distributed them well. The only damaging blow was a three run homer by Frank Mccormick. Augie Galan homered for Brooklyn and Fred (Dixie) Walker got four sin- gles. Rain ended the second in the fourth with the Reds ahead, ? to 1.
 Vince DiMaggio drove in three runs to give the Phillies a to 5 victory and an even break over the Pirates at Philadelphia, Pittsburgh winning the opener, g to 6. behind iruett lRip) Sewell. Bill Lee was