The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-23
GIANTS, CUBS IN CRUCIAL 3
 GAME SERIES
Collapse of Cardinals Makes Two Team Race
 in National
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY (Unlted Press Staff COrraanOndent

United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, July 23.-(UP)-A hand. .to-hand skirmish opens at the Polo Grounds today between the New York Giants and the Chicago Cubs for the National league lead. If the Giants are going to catch the Cubs, this is the time to do 1t because after three games here Chicago goes home for Q 20-day sand. And this Cub team like many before Is at its strongest ct Wrig- ley field.
 The Cubs came to town today under the leadership of 0abby Hartnett, acting manage rin place of Charlie Grimm who Is down with sciatica. On their present eastern journey they have won seven games and lost three and kept one jump ahead of the Giants.
 Opposing pitchers for the opening game are Carl Hubbell, who has won six straight after his early June collapse, and Curt Davis, who has been almost useless to the Cubs after 0 long siege of arm trouble. Davis has won two games and lost none. His only complete game this season was Q o-% victory over Brook lyn last Sunday.
 The Cubs can't lose the lead to- day but Q Giant victory will leave Chicago with only .003 point ad- vantage. Because of the difference in the number of games played the Giants will have to sweep the series to grab the lead. The Cubs can 90 home in first place by winning one game.
 The Giants sliced 6 game off the Cubs lead yesterday when they nosed naosed outt he Reds in the ninth, 6-B. After blowing . 4-run lead they triumphed on Wally Ber- gers homer over the left field stands.
 The phillies had put over Q T. run rally in the eighth to beat the Cubs, 7-4.
 The Boston Bees swept their l. game series with the St. Louis Car. dinals by winning the final game, 2-0, behind Danny MacFayden's G. hit pitching. The Cards made only five runs In the entire series. Not Q single Cardinal player reached third yesterday. oarms' single. Q walk and Cuccinello's single gave the Bees the run necessary to win.
 Red Lucas held the Dodgers to { hits and Pittsburgh smacked three Brooklyn hurlers for i4 hits and c 10-i victory. Al Todd hit c homer and c single and drove In three runs.
 Home runs featured the days play in the American league. Hal Trosky hit two to make his total 2S. Hank Qreenberg hit No. 22. Jimmy Foxx hit No. 23. his fifth homer in three days. Lou Gehrig cracked out No. ie. Joe DiMaggio failed to make any kind of Q hit, the first time he's gone hitleSs iii 22 games, but retained the major league home run lead with 26.
 St. Louis Browns clouted out lb hits to trounco the Yankees, i3-4. Rollie Hemsley and Sam West hit homers, Tom Henrich, Yankee rookie, got Y in {" including c homer and three singles.
 Detroit siugged out 10 hits and crushed the Boston Red sox, i7 to {. Jake Wade held the Red sox to 6 hits but gave up 10 base on balls. Tn addition to oreenberg's homer, circuit clouts were made by York, 0ehringer and Laabs."
 Whit Wyatt, making his first start of the year, held the Athletics to { hits as Cleveland won, 6.i. Wally Moses homer accounted for the As lone run. Trotsky's two homers featured the Indians' at. tack.
 YESTERDAYS HERO o- Wally Berger, whose 9th homer, enabled the Giants to beat the Reds and climb within one game of the Cubs.