The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-08-27
Durocher Needs Win; CubsComiina
By HARTMAN NICHOLS United Press Sprtso Writer)


 United Press Sprtso Writer)
 St. Louis, Aug. 27.--(UP)-Man- ager Leo Gippy) Durocher of the Dodgers, born gambler of the dia- mond, pulled out his ace-in-the- hole. Kirby Higbe, today in des- perate bid to overhaul the Cardin- als before they get more than game away.
 A 12-game winner and the only rested front-line Dodger pitcher, Higbe was named to face south paw speedster Harry (the cat) Bre- cheen in the all-vital finale of the Brooklyn-St. Louis series here.
 Durocher, an old Cardinal man himself, knows how the Redbirds fly once they get into the National League lead late in the season.
 For 96 days, his Dodgers defied the law of gravity and held on to first place. But last night, the Cardinals scored two runs in the first inning and little Murray Dick sonss corner-cutting pitches and big Harry Walkers life-saving catches in center field pulled them through to 8 3 to victory into un- disputed first place by a full game. The two teams presented a vivid contrast as they trouped to their locker rooms under the Sportsman's park stands. The Cardinals were a happy, back-slapping lot With Manager Eddie Dyer sporting his first real Texas grin in months. cyl al scuffing band. Durocher, who has hardly stuck his head out of the dugout during the series, cut reporter short and walked on tight tipped.
 Must Win Today
 Durocher lost an important gam ble last night when he sacrificed Lombard in relief roles in the hope his Dodgers could come back to tie the score or take the lead. He knows he has to win one today be- cause leaving St. Louis two games out of first place with the hateful Cubs next could prove disastrous to the scrappy gang from F1atbush.
 The Cardinals close-to-the-vest play last night was the big trump. The Redbirds rapped big Rube Mel bon for the all-important two runs In the first inning when Walker singled, Stan Musial walked and Enos Slaughter smashed a double against the right field wall.
 Little Murry Dickson made the two tallieS worth thousand. AL though he allowed seven sits, he stranded five Dodgers on base when the chips were down for his 12th victory of the season.
 The Dodgers rapped the Tracy, Mo, highlander hard, but Walker broke their spirit in center field where he made six putouts. robbing Brooklyn of possible run in the Axth and snuffed out a possible safety in the eighth. The Dodgers score their lone marker in the sixth when Dickson walked Augie Galan, Pete Reiser singled and Dixie Wal her lined to Slaughter, who dropped the ball
 The Boston Red Sox, who already have made their World Series plans, maintained their 14-game American League lead as Tex Hughson de- feated the Cleveland Indians, 5 to l, for his 14th victory of the season. A three-foot midget, Marco Songini, even offered to play third base to help the Indians stop the hitting of Ted Williams but it was ruled illegal and Terrible Teddy ended up with two hits in four times at bat and the Indians with their ninth defeat in Il games at Fenway Park.
 Tanks Of Old
 The Yankees brought memories of better days at New York when an old time "big inning" display scored seven runs in the eighth for a 10 to 6 victory over the Detroit Tigers, dropping the world champions four games behind in third place Charley Keller's double and single, Steve Souchock's tripple and Joe Dimaggio's double were the big blows which routed Virgil CFire) Trucks and his relief, Stubby Over mire.
 At Philadelphia, Dick Fowler scattered eight hits to defeat the White Sox, to 0, for his ninth vic tory of the season
 The third place Cubs, warming up for the Dodgers invasion, defeated the Giants, to o, behind Hank Wyses seven-hit pitching when Andy Pafkos single scored Phil Cavarretta in the eighth. It was Wyse's 18th triumph of the cam paign. The Boston Braves dropped five games behind in fourth place when Elbie F1etcher's two-run double in the ninth gave the Pi- rates to victofy.
 In night games, Dick Mauney gained his fourth triumph of the season by pitching the Phillies to 6 four-hit, 5 to victory over the Reds, while at Washington, Early Wynn held the St. Louis Browns to six hits for to triumph, his fifth victory since being discharged from the Army six weeks ago.
 YESTERDAYS STAR: Murry
 Dickson, righthander from
 Tracy, Mo, who pitched the
 Cardinals to a seven-hit, 2 to
 victory over the Dodgers and
 into undisputed first, place in
 the National League.