Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-09-18
With Red Sox in Second
and Braves in Third
Places Neither Detroit
Nor Brooklyn Has
Safe Lead
Boston Americans Climb Back to
Second Place Sunday-Boston
Braves Have Fairly Good
Week

New York, Sept. H.-Boston lost first
place in the American League last week.
while Brooklyn retained its lead In the
National The close races for the pen
nant continue. however. as neither De-
trot. the new leader. in the American,
nor Brooklyn has a safe lead. The week
tonal games Of the 1916 season, upon the
result Of which the pennants in both
leagues may depend.
Boston began the week with nine
point lead over Detroit. This was reduced
to two points on Wednesday and KEEP,
there through Thursday and Friday, but
on Saturday the Red Sox lost while the
Tigers and White Sox were winning. and
The western teams moved ahead Of Bos-
ton. which went into third place. Detroit
saw It's lead over Chicago. now second.
decreased At the end Of the week there
were only five points difference between
Boston and Detroit.
Poor Week for Red Sox
The week started poorly for Boston. the
best the Red SoX could do being to divide
two games with Washington. The two
games against St. Louis also were divid-
ed and on Saturday the Red Sox lost to
Chicago. The Tigers took two out Of
three games from both Cleveland and
New York, mainly through heavy hitting,
and won the first game Of the series from
Philadelphia The White Sox broke even
in four games against ST. Louis and then
took two from Washington and one from
Boston.
The three leaders In the American
League are fighting hard, and compari-
son on the basis of their play during the
past two weeks gives none an advantage.
The Tigers and White Sox have a slight
advantage in playing on their home
grounds. but this may be balanced by
the fact that the Red Sox have more
games to play than the western contend
ers. One game may settle the league
championship.
In the National
Although Brooklyn played little bet
t.r than 500 baseball, Philadelphia
and noston did not gain greatly The
Superbas started the week with a lead
of II points over Philadelphia and %
over Boston. Wednesdays games low
cred the lead of the Superbas to three
points over Philadelphia and to 10
points over Boston. Brooklyn gained
a full game Friday when the other
contenders were idle. by beating Pitts
burgh in five innings.
The Superbas lost to Boston Monday
and on the four succeeding days took
three out of five from Pittsburgh.
Philadelphia lost on Monday to New
York, making their fourth straight de-
feat by the Giants, and then broke
even In four games against st. Louis.
Boston did better than in the previous
week and. after beating Brooklyn, took
three out of four from Chicago and
tied 13-inning game with the Cubs.
3 to 3. On Saturday Philadelphia took
two from Chicago. Boston beat St.
Louis and Brooklyn won one and tied
one against Cincinnati.
Both Boston and Philadelphia have
more games to play than Brooklyn
and the Braves have more than the
Phillies. Philadelphia and Brooklyn
have all their players in good shape
for the stirring finish which appears
to be ahead. New York has been play
ing better ball than any team in the
National League and ran its string Of
Victories to II on Saturday.
Zack Wheat, Brooklyn, up to the
second game on Saturday had estab-
lshed seasons and probably a ma
jor league record by making at least
one hit in 20 consecutive games. He'll
30 n1<-
ton Nationals. each made five hits out
OF five times at bat during the week.
The total bases for each was eight.
Cobb and Veach. Detroit, each made
lour hits out of five times at bat
tuesday and Gowdy. Boston Nation
ais' and Luderus. Philadelphia Nation
ais, made four hits in four times at
bat