The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-16
THREE TEAMS IN
 DOC EAT DOG' BASEBALL SHOW
Detroit Holds .OO2 Edge Over Indians -- Lopez
 Throw Wins for Pirates
BY GEORGE KTRKsEY United Press Staff Correspondent)

BY GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Stan Corrcspondent)
 Pittsburgh, July IS U (U.P.) - It was bound to happen. The law of averages finally has dumped one of those dog-eat-dog" pennant races right into the American Leagues lap. Year after year the National League produced thrilling pennant races while the American League race usually has been over to all intents and purposes by Decoration Day.
 Now the National League has only a 2-club race on its hands and some of the experts are beginning to doubt the Dodgers ability to stalk the Reds unless they get some sub- stantial pitching aid. But in the American League they have Q roris- ing 4-club race on parade.
 Today,s American leader, Detroit, is only .002 points ahead of the In- dians while the Red Sox are only 2 1-2 games back in third place, closer than the second-place Dod- gers to the first place Reds. And right down the line the American League clubs are more closely bunched-the laSt.place Browns are only IT games of the pace while the last-place Phillies are 25 games in arrears in the National.
 Now that the American League has its cut-throat race after all these years, the situation is bound to produce many interesting aspects. For instance. the pilots of the two leaders are going to start pitchers today who haven't won game all season even though defeat might mean the difference in first place.
 Del Baker of the Tigers will go with Freddy Hutchinson, called in from the minors, against the Ath- letics while Oscar Witt of the 1n- dians will gamble with Joe Robson or Harry Eisenstat, neither of whom has racked up a win. Baker is sav- ing either Tommy Bridges or Buck Newsom to open tomorrow agains; the Red Sox while Witt is holdir Bob Teller back to spring again the Tanks.
 Homer Did It
 Rudy York's home run gave u Tigers at 9-8 close shave over tE Athletics yesterday, and elevated them into the American League lead. Hank Greenbergs 17th home with two on had previously featured an 8-run rally.
 Sid Hudson, who made the jump from class to the majors in one sea- son, pitched Washington to an 8-6 victory over the Indians, knocking the Tribe oil the perch. Hudson pitched no-hit ball for five innings. The victory elevated the Senators to sixth place.
 Joe Kuhels 14th homer provided the margin of victory for the White Sox over the Tanks. 3-2. Edgar Smith snapped the Tanks 4-game winning streak, with some relief aid from Pete Appleton in the last l 1-3 innings.
 The Red Sox handed the Browns their 18th straight defeat, 10-6. by clouting four pitchers for IS hits. Rube Tabor, bridegroom of Sum- day, Slashed out three singles, scored two runs and stole base. Joe Cronin hit homer No. g..
 Bucky Walter hung up his 18th. victory as the Reds beat the Phil- lies, 3-2. and heightened their Na- tional League lead to three games over the Dodgers, who split with the Pirates again. Ival Goodmans dou- ble drove in the Reds winning tal- ly.
 Whit Wyatt pitched the Dodgers to a 10-1 victory in the opener but the Pirates won the, nightcap. 4-3. It was No. 8 for Wyatt. Bob Klinger once a soft touch for the Dodgers, hung on to win the nightcap.
 The Giants dropped 8 l-2 games of the pace by losing to the Cubs. Hank Lieber's homer with two on was the winning punch.
 The Cardinals slugged out a 1922 win over the Bees, with Roy, Oren- go and Owen each getting 4 for S."
 YESTERDAYS HERO-Al Lopez, cagey Pittsburgh catcher whose snap throw to second caught the Dodgers fleet Pee Wee Reese nap ping in the ninth for the final out with two on and Joe Medwick at bat, saving the Pirates 4-3 victory in the nightcap of a double bill.