The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-05-28
American Best at
 Bat, Pitching

 American League, definitely re- gaining its pre-war status as the sluggers' circuit, also dominates the National in pitching and other important phases of the game, a comptometer checkup of statistics revealed today.
 The most remarkable trend is the tremendous increase in Amer ican League homers, where exactly 100 more have been hit in con- tests to date than for the same period last year. In games thus far, American League batters have smashed 158 homers as compared with just 58 year ago. The Na- tional League, with 135 homers, shows an increase of II over the 125 that hitters in that circuit had made up to this time last season.
 The National League gained fame over the years as 8 pitchers loop, but here, too, the American shows an edge-at least in individual per- formanceS.
 Five Lead in American
 With the season one-fourth com pleted, there are five pitchers in the American League with an ex- cellert chance of scoring 20 or more victories. There are only two in the National.
 The five American League pitch= CTS with i've or more wins are Mickey Harris (7-D, and Dave Fer riss (7-O of the Red Sox, Hal New houser (7-I of the Tigers, Spud Chandler (6-O of the Yankees and Bob Teller (6-4) of the Indians. The only National League pitchers with five or more wins are Vic Lom- barG of the Dodgers (6-D and Johnny Sain of the Braves (5-3. Max Lanier had a record of 6-0 before jumping the Cardinals for the Mexican League, but unless he returns unexpectedly, his chances for winning 20 games will be nil.
 American League pitchers also have been more liberal applying the white-wash brush having chalked up 27 shutouts as compared with Il to date for National League hurlers. Three American leaguers Ferriss, Teller, and Chandler have three shutouts apiece, while two others, Newl1ouser and Allen Gettel of New York, have two blankings to their credit. Only two National Leaguers, Lanier and Harry Bre- cheen, both Cardinal lefties, have more than a single shutout. They have two apiece.
 In hit and run production, the American League shines brighter all the way. American League bats men have driven in 1,017 runs ace cording to latest official figures while National totals are 841. Nationals Lead Field
 There have been 2,236 hits by American Leaguers, according tc latest official tabulationS, while Ma tional League batters in the same time rapped out 1890. The Amer ican also showed superiority witt extra base blows getting 416 dou- bles to 344 for the National, ane 7S triples to 50 for the National.
 The National League has a sligh edge in fielding with only 253 errori as compared with 264 for the Amer ican. However, the American lead! in double plays. 239 to 200 and 1T addition has turned in three triple plays. There have been none in th< National.
 Rain washed out all but twt games on yesterdays program IT the American League, the White Sox won their third straight game for New Manager Ted Lyons, g tc 2 over the Browns at St. Louis with 8 20-hit attack on five pitchers. Il was only the second time this sea- son Chicago had won three games in row. Ed Lopat held the Browns to six hits and pitched scoreless ball until the eighth. Every Chicago player but First Baseman Hal Trosky got ct least two hits and Trosky atoned for going hitless by