The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-28
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RACE GETS CLOSE
Boston, Chicago. Cleveland ard New
York seem to Have Firss Choice
For p@nnnns,

New York. May o7-The American
league pennant race is growing closer
every day. AZ least four Of the clubs
viii make n strong hid for The honors.
Boston Chicago. Cleveland and New
York seem now 10 stand out with the
other four destined to flash In the
second division.
The winning streak which carried
the Browns to a first division berth
last week Was ona al the unexpected
developments Of fne race, hat Fielder
Jones men wilt hardly be expected to
Keep up the pace.
The White Sax are not having the
walk-away that had been predicted for
them At the start Of the season. Tie
loss Of Joe Jackson was blow
though. his place being filled by using
I,eibold and John Collins in regular
outaetd positions
The Red sox. who were hit hardest
ny the draft snd enigStments, ana are
row hampered by the temporary loss
Of Ruth. the star pitcher and the
league leader in batting, are steadily
keeping In the lead MciuniS liz play
ing hts old star game at the initial
bag while Thomas. a rookie, who has
been substituted al third, - hoIdne
up his end of the game
New York and Cleveland viii give
the Sex Of the East and the Sex OF the
West hard battle. Although neither
team was considered exceptionally
strong AZ the start Of the season, they
have both developed into real fighting
machines
Joe wood, the former Red sox
pitcher who In now playing N the
ostfeld for the Indians has been
star Of the game during t6e past
week His two home runs tn the nine
teer-inaing game IN New fork Fri
day which finally won for Nahl was
notable accomplishment. In the
same game ne made two other spec
tacuiar plays. by trapping runner at
second and picking ball off the edge
of the fence. robhng Finp Of at least
three ha gEer.
George slsler and speaker have
heen taking the lead IN base steal
ing. Speaker has suffered slump in
his batting since the Indians came
East.
In the National league the strong or
position which the Giants are meeting
in the West has been the feature ever
since McGraw and his men left New
York Cineinnati and Chicago seem
to be the only real rivals Of the Giants
and both of these teams are display
ing pFaNu OF FtAAlHE tneL Ft ttAtneS
to make the race interesting
The Cardinals and Rrooklyns are
the hard luck teams. All last week
they have fought each other for the
cellar position and ended 1t in a tie
The Giants have lost two pitchers NJ
note during the last week. Rube Ben
ton. who started for his home in
North Carolina for q conference with
his draft board, after being pounded
out of the box by the Reds in Cincin-
matt, rs not expected TO report back
to the club. Barnes started his fsst
game in Chicago yesterday. but was
pounded out of the box by the Cubs
In the first inning.
Fillingham has proved a ind for the
Braves, pitching them 70 victory in
the first three games that he has start
ed The announcement that Rudolph
will play for a shipyard team rather
than accept the offer of HauEhton.
has robbed the Braves of their best
hurler,
All the baseball world is watching
with intense interest the decision in
regard TO the status Of players in the
new war department regulations which
calls to the coiors all who are not
usefully employed. No decision viii
be made. according to General Crow
-aef-aHtA- Ynleal-Gass~ Is brought LIP
through the official channel.