The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-09
DETROIT MOVES INTO A.L.LEAD;
 KRAMER HELPS
BY CARL LUNDQUIST United Press Staff COrreSpOndent

BY CARL LUNDQUIST
 United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, June g. CUP) The Detroit Tigers, typically slow start CTS to whom the first few milestones of the race usually are millstones, edged into first place today and the arrival was significant considering that they almost won the flag in l944 after being in seventh as late as July 13.
 If there is an individual to whom credit is due in the gradual but steady surge of the Tigers, it would be hard to overlook Roger (Doc) Cramer, ball-player's ball-player, who, like his club, usually has an anemic batting average until sum- mer warmth loosens his joints.
 Last season, With the Tigers loll- ing in seventh place in mid July it was slugging Dick Wakefield, tenn porarily out of military service who was credited with returning to the club and-almost-bringing them a pennant.
 Yet while Wakefield hammered out an average of .359; the unsung Cramer during that same stretch" part of the season batted 1855, just four points under him.
 Likes The Sun
 When Wakefield came to the club Cramer was hitting only .223 and was about to be considered to the bench. Then, benefited by the warm weather, he opened up and played almost on a par with Wakefield.
 During that time he made 110 hits to S9 for Wakefield, scored 51 runs against 53 and compared favorably in other batting departments, al- though he was not as much of distance hitter as Wakefield. He batted in B runs against 52 for Wakefield, hit l2 doubles against IA, eight triples against six, and two homers against l2.
 He revealed that he is beginning to start his annual drive upward when he boosted his average from .237 to 256 in the past week.
 Unspectacular as usual, he made just one hit yesterday as the Tigers topped Cleveland at Detroit, to l, but his hit was double that start ed the deciding rally, enabling pitcher Forrest Orrell to win his first game. Orrell, yielding only four hits, gave evidence he may be an- other much needed fill-in pitcher to tide the Tigers over until Ace Alton Benton returns
 Tanks Lose Lead
 Tte Red Sox knocked the Yankees out of the lead and moved into third place ahead of the Browns by winning, 6 to 4, at New York. Pitcher Ernie Bonham, suf- fering his fifth straight loss, batter in three runs to give the Yankees an early lead, but two walks, three singles and a double gave Boston four runs in the sixth after which George Metkovich clinched the vic- tory with a two-run homer. Clem Hausmann with relief help gained his second victory.
 Steve Gromek won his fourth straight game and his seventh of the year at Cleveland, 2 to l, over the Browns, flaming seven and walking none in an eight-hit job. Lambert (Dutch) Meyer, with two doubles and single, led the at tack on Nelson Potter, who suffered his fifth loss.
 Russ Christopher, one bright spot in the dreary Philadelphia As out look, became the number one win ner in the majors with his ninth victory and second shutout, to 0 blanking of the visiting Washing ton Senators. He scattered six hits and never was in trouble.
 In the National Paul Derringer of the Cubs won his seventh game to equal his entire win record of 1914, beating the Reds at Chicago, ' to 3. He had only one bad inning, the seventh. when Cincinnati made all its runs. The Cubs came back with four runs in the same inning, Derringer touching of the rally with . single. They made IA hits off three Red pitchers.
 The Dodgers handed the Phils their 12th straight loss at Brook lyn, winning g to behind Curt Da- wis five-hit pitching Davis, win ming his fifth game, did not give mp an earned run. Goodwin Rosen, with . double and two singles paced the l2-hit Dodger assault on three pitchers.
 Outf1elder Elvin (BuSter) Adams of the Cards climaxed a great per- formance by driving in the winning run in the 18th with his fifth single to defeat Pittsburgh, to 3. The Cards showed heart by scoring two runs in their half after Relief Pitcher Ken Burkhardt, the winner, gave the Bucs one in the first of the 18th. New York at Boston in the Ma tional was rained out. YESTERDAYS STAR - Russ l Christopher. big winner in the ma jors with the last place Athletics, whose ninth triumph was a 4 to 0 | shutout over the Senators. He has won all but seven of the Is games