The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-19
BH JACK CHiDDY fUniacd Press Staff CoFrespondena ,

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 New York. Aug. le-ouPb-MezSrs Cronin. O'Neill and Mccarthy should send a vote of thanks today t0 ancient Connie Mack and his loGly Athletics for holding the top- rung St Louis Browns in status quo during the current ihnee-way Con- nybrook around second place in the American League race.
 Connie Mack is 8i years old. and lis Philadelphia AS are down in seventh position. but they have talk two Of three games from the Browns ip their present series. instead oi permitting st. Louis 10 extend its lead over enbaitled Boston. Detroit and Gew York. Lake SeEell's Brownies were siX-and-one-hah games ahead oi seeUnd-place Boston gben they invaded Philadelphia. Their advantage is still the same. Meanwhile the Tigers and Yanks bare crept up on Boston until only one game separates the three.
 Tine Browns entered Philadelphia vita i6 victories in their previous 20 starts They were expected to faiten on the As. They opened the series "Wednesday night before l3,- 567 fans at Ehibe Park; but it was inc Athletics who won. a-2. Russ Christopher registered his fifth straight pitching victory. The stub- born Browns, Missouri mules of cur rent baseball. came back in Thurs days daylight and trOunoed the As. 1928. But last night. before l6. a30 fans. Connie Mack,s outfii edged the visitors from St. Loo. 5-a. by virtue of q biz fifth inning in which Phil adelD.lia made ali its runs as l0 battsmen marched to the plate.
 They wind up their series with fouIth game today. Regardless Of shat happens in that contest St, Louis cannot get better than an even break in the series. This is import ant for the three hopeful clubs bee hind St. Louis. because the Browns begin a fOur-game cluster tomorrow with last-place Washington. Had the Browns appreciahly eztended their advantaRe at Philadelphia. that gain would haze loomed mighty 9ig on the eve of the Washington series-at this stage of ihe waning campaign.
 The Browns still enjoy com manding lead, and they should sin the pennant But it Is recalled that the Browns also had a lead at this stage of the campaign ip 1922, when they finished second to the Yankees by the margin or one lone game, They cannot afford tO stand mlli Rhile any one Of lhTee desperate clubs may break loose and get on their heels.
 The Browns, because Of their pre- gious conquesls and steady play yeiIf expected lO get better than an even break against Philadelphia; but that doesn't mean that the Athletics are push-oYeTs. They are not. They are eonsiderably improved oyer the tail-enderS of l9a3, who won Oilly A9 games against l05 defeats. G0Dpie Mack's lads already have re2isiefed s victories this season with 0 games left to play They've won four more than during tlle entire 's3 campaign,
 Russ ChIist0pher. the elongated kiited4Hlffi ba Atit At Atif ttaatlfh Aof their improvement. gte has develop ed Bio the As best night pitcher, BIe has won five and lost tg0 uD der the ares, although his total tor the season is nine wins and 10 dee feals. But those nine victories are four more than he won iD A3
 The leading Brownies muffed a chance to extend their advantage by dropping q close one to the Pltl- adelphia Athletics, 5-s. Ford GaT- Flsoll's pinch single drove ill the ty- ing and winning fallies.
 For the third time ip a foy the Washington Senators bowed before the Chicago White 6og this tune, 2-I. 1le Windy City s0uibzsiders oYeTeaHle one fllll handicap to give Joe Hllmphries the victory.
 In inc National League, the CiD- einnat Reds reached dowD to the eellaF l0 rap the luekleas Brooklyn Dodgers twice, 10, and 5-S, Harry Gumpelt pitched nlree nit haii tD the opener and the Reds scored four rllaa in the ninth 10 Rain fllRiF see