The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-20
Nauy Sends" New Mound Star To Tigers
BENTON BLANKS BROWNS WITH
 FOUR HITTER
BY CARL LUNDQUIsT
 Limited Pres Staff COrregpOndentl

New Xork, ApflI W.-(UF)-1L began to look today as if the Navy. for the second straight year, may have e hand in the pennant plans of the Detroit Tigers.
 This time it's pitcher Alton Ben- ton, back with the team after a hitch in the Navy. who may be the big factor. He provided pre- liminary proof yesterday by blank ing the Browns at St. Louis, to 0, on four hits, that he will be an able stablemate for Detroit'S so- called two arm" pitching staff Detroit was rated behind St. Louis in pennant calculations because ot a feeling that Paul (Dizzy) Trou. and Lefty Hal Newhouser might not be able to win 56 games between them again. Now, if Benton can maintain his early pace, they won t have to.
 Last year the Tigers came from nowhere-seventh place to be exact and missed beating out the Browns by one game after out fielder Dick Wakefield rejoined them on finishing his Navy Pre- Flight training. And when the Navy re-inducted him, the Tiger chances slumped accordingly, but Benton's return may prove adequate compensation.
 Won in Ninth
 Benton had to De good to beat Nelson Potter in duel which went scoreless for eight innings. The Tigers won in the ninth on singles by Eddie Mayo, Rudy York, and Roger (Doc) Cramer.
 At Philadelphia, the Senators and Athletics went 12 innings for the second straight day, Washing ton winning, 4 to 3, on a homer by George Case to counter their de- feat the day before. Marine Pi- cretti, little speed-balled who won 26 games with Portland in the Coast League last year, went the route for his first major league victory.
 The Yankees made it three in a row over the Boston Red Sox at New York, winning 4 to 3. Pitcher Mike Ryba forced in the winning run in the 9th when he hit Johnny Lindell with the bases loaded. Bos- ton Manager Joe Cronin suffered a fractured ankle on a slide into 2lld and outfielder Hershel Martin of the Yankees got spike wound in the face on a collision with Lln- dell as they chased fly ball. Walt Dubiel went the route for & seven hit victory.
 The Chicago White Box stayed with the Yankees as the only other unbeaten American League team, winning a 17-hit, IA to 6 game at Cleveland. Chicago made eight runs in four innings off Jim Bagby, en- abling starter Bill Dietrich to re- tire as the winning pitcher in the fifth.
 We'll Done
 Pitcher Hal Gregg of the Dodgers came close to no-hitter, beating the Philadelphia Phillies at Brook lyn, 3 to l, on two hits. He famed seven and walked six, one of the passes leading to the only Phil run when 1t was followed by single and an inf1eld out.
 The Dodgers made their runs in the third on doubles by Gregg and Morris Aderholt, pass and an out f1eld fly. Gregg went eight hitless innings last year, also against the Phnlies, before yielding 8 pop-sin- gle.
 The Pirates beat the Reds at Cin- clnnati, 5 to l, on Max Butchers four-hit pitching. Pittsburgh went after Walter (Boom Boom) Beck for four runs in the first three innings. He settled down after the damage was done.
 The Giants and Braves split Pa- triot'S Day double bill at Boston. New York winning the morning game, to 3, and the Braves taking the afternoon hitting bee, 13 to 5. The Giants made four runs in the eighth to clinch the opener. They played the nightcap under protest when the umpires reversed a ruling that a Boston base runner was out Tor being hit by a batted ball. Ernie Lombardi homered with the bases nlled Tor the Giants in the second game to give Pitcher Jib Tobin his only bad inning. Relief Pitcher Andy Hansen gained the opening victory.
 Lefty Harry Brecheen gave the St. Louis Cards an even break in their series at Chicago, winning, 8 to 2, when the Cubs yielded five un- earned runs. Walker Cooper, Card catcher, who received his induction notice shortly before the game. made four hits to pace the attack.