The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-21
BROWNIES TOP 1944 POSITION
 AT THIS TIME
BY CARL LUHeD0UIST

United Press Stair CorreSpOnent
 New York, May 21. (UP)-The St. Louis Browns, who get there by plugging instead of slugging, sur prised their fair-weather friends today by moving ahead of the 1944 pace with which they won their first pennant.
 Riding a five-game winning streak, the American League cham pions boast a record of eight vic tories in nine starts and the fans are climbing back on their band- wagon. After sweeping their four games with the Yankees by win ming a double bill at St. Louis yes terday, 10 to l, and, 5 to 2, the Browns moved up to second place tie with Detroit.
 Their 13 victories and nine de- feats for a percentage of .59l com- pare with a 567 figure on IT wins and 13 losses at this time year ago.
 Last season the Browns got oil to a great start but no one took them seriously because they had gone 42 years without flag. This year the fans deserted when they had an early-season slump that lasted nearly a month.
 Mound Work
 Good pitching, must" with the Browns because they lack sustained punch, prevailed in the twin win. However, the attack came to life in the opener to produce 15 hits for Nelson Potter as he won his third game. armed Pete Gray led the batting with three singles and added another in the second game in which Bob Muncrief outpitched Walt Dubiel. Dubiei accounted for the only Yankee runs with a homer. It was the ninth straight time the Browns had beaten the Yankees.
 The Browns gained no ground on the leading White Sox, who won their fourth Sunday double header at Chicago, beating Boston, to ? and to 2. The Wite Sox rallied late to win the first game for Lefty Thornton Lee with three runs in the sixth. They supported Orval Grove more quickly. clinchirg the second game with four runs in the second.
 The smallest pitchers in the majors, Frank (Stubby) Overmire of the Tigers and Marion (Ban- tam) Pieretti of the Senators, won at Detroit. Overmire scattered seven hits to beat Washington, 4 to l, George Binks scoring the only Sen ator run with homer. In the Sec- ond game, Pieretti won l to 0 duel from Alton Benton, handing the Tiger ace his first defeat after five wins. Benton, who has permitted only two earned runs in six com plete games, gave up just four hits. It was a dual shut-out until the ninth when the Senators scored on Joe Kuhels single, Fermin Guerras sacrifice and Binks' double. Pierretu had three hitter.
 The Athletics and Indians split at Cleveland, Philadelphia winning. 6 to 2, on four 10th inning runs which gave Charley Gassaway his first victory. The Indians took the second, 4 to 2, to give Charley CRed) Embree his second win.
 Cubs Surprise
 The Chicago Cubs highlighted National League play by winning two from the ambitious Dodgers at Brooklyn, 4 to 3 and to l. Bill Nicholson's homer gave Paul Der ringer the margin for his fifth vic tory. while a three-run rally off Hal Gregg in the first inning gave Hank Wyse all the incentive he needed to win a four-hit second game.
 Bill Voiselle won his eighth straight game for the Giants, beat ing Pittsburgh, 5 to l. The Pirates took the edge of his performance by shutting out the New Workers, to 10, behind Elwin (Preacher Roe in the second game. It was the first time the Giants had been blanked this year. Joe Medwick and Ernie Lombardi hit fifth in- ming homers, each adding a double to provide the punch for Voiselle's four-hitter. Harry Feldman, los- ing his first game. gave up only four hits. Roe allowed only three.
 The Phillies held the Cards to an even break at Philedlphia, winning ' to 6, after losing, 6 to 2. Doubles in the ninth by Coaker Triplett and Glenn Crawford produced the winning runs for the Phils but Vince DiMaggio's bases-full homer was the big punch. George Kurowski bat ted in three runs on homer and two singles to give Ted Wilks the first game victory,
 Bucky Walters was hitter in- stead of a pitcher, getting two homers to make up for the l5 hits he allowed on the mound as Cin- cinnati beat the Braves at Boston 10 to 8. The Braves won the sec- ond game, 10 4. Charley Barrett taking it easy while his mates maze l3 hits off four Red pitchers. There were 54 hits in the two games.
 YESTERDAYS STAR - ElWin (Preacher) Roe of the Pirates, who blanked the slugging Giants, to 0.