The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-10
TWO CITIES HAVE CONTENDING TEAM IN EACH CIRCUIT
Browns Lead Tanks, While Giants Top Cards in
 Majors

f New York, July 9.-Passing the halfway mark during the past week the races In both major leagues gave , further indication that the real per- nant fight rests between the New York and St. Louis clubs. The Browns profited by the Yankees second straight reverse at the hands of 1 Cleveland today and held a lead of l one and half games, while the Car dinals, by taking their fourth straight from Brooklyn, climbed within three | and half games of the league leading Giants.
 Although the Gotham and Mound City teams have widened the gap separating from their rivals, at least two clubs In each league still are in threatening positions, and, by one of the rapid changes of fortune that have marked the season so far, might change the present aspect of the races. Chicago and Detroit, in the American. are clinging to the heels of their fast-going opponents, while Chicago and Brooklyn are following tho pace settlers in the National The. Cubs, who displaced the Dodgers in third place today as a result of their fourth straight victory over Boston, while the Cardinals were trouncing Brooklyn again, have won eight of their last nine games.
 Tanks Gain on Browns
 The Yankees backed up superiative twirling with hard hitting and gained on the Browns, who were able to get only an even break In three double-h headers, one with Chl- cago and two with Boston. The rivars for the lead meet again Tuesday.
 Playing n difficult schedule, which included four double headers, De-
 
 somewhat offset by ineffective twirling, although the Tigers emerged victors in the majority of their games. The White Sox, whose pitching and fielding fell off, could do no better than an even break against Philadelphia
 The terrific attack of the St. Louis Cardinals carried them nearer to the top in the National, Rickey's clout- CTS making 1t eight victories out Of their last ten games today, while the Giants were handicapped by an ao- breviated schedule. The westerner., averaging 13 hits a game. swept aq opposition aside and dealt the chances of the Dodgers a hard blow by four straight setbacks.
 . Playing the aggressive brand of ball that has carried them to the top many times before, McGraw's outfit started another important western tour in Pittsburg, winning an 1s- inning game. the longest of the sea son, 9-S, from the Pirates.
 With Alexander and the rest of the pitching staff in top form, the Cubs are well fortified for the dash that has carried them to the first divi- sicn. The Pirates have failed to show any improvement in general play since the change in management, while Cincinnati's pitchers, with the exception of Couch and Donahue, have failed to hold up.
 Among the second division clubs in the American. ineffective hitting hampered Washington, while Cleve- lands pitchers have failed to round into form, with the exception of Nor ton and Coveleskie. Boston and Philadelphia clubs retained their holds on seventh and eight places, ai- though the Red Sox showed improve ment in pitching. and. by dividing with St. Louis and taking two out of three from Washington, threat ened to go higher.
 The weeks record in each league of games won and lost, with runs. hits err TOTS and runs scored by opponents, incud- Ing games of Saturday, Is as follows:
 American League