Yanks take 2 of 3 from Tribe, fall short of post season

The Tribe had best record in the AL locked up, so all they were concerned with was staying healthy.  The Bombers needed to sweep and then hope for some miracles along the way.  Neither scenario played out for them.

9/27 – 9/30 – Cleveland Municipal Stadium

GAME 1 – Indians 4, Yankees 3

Stan Bahnsen (2-5, 4.82) and the Yanks were nursing a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the 7th when the 1st place Tribe scored two to take the lead.  Young Roger Maris cranked a 2 run homer to score hurler Hal Woodeshick, who was on 1st due to a botched bunt attempt.  It all worked out fine for the Tribe as Hoy Wilhelm came on to get the final 5 outs without yielding a hit.  Maris had 3 RBI’s on the day.  Bobby Murcer went 2 for 5 for the Bombers and increased his season average to .342.  Woodeshick (1-2, 3.68) got his first win of the season.  Maris’ homer was his 4th of the year.

GAME 2 – Yankees 1, Indians 0

Steve Kline (6-1, 3.50) battled Ray Narleski (3-3, 4.31) in this classic pitcher’s duel in the cavernous “Mistake by the Lake”.  New York scored the lone run of the day in the top of the 2nd when Roy White led off with a single and Ron Blomberg walked.  Danny Cater followed that up with a single, but White was held up at third to load the bases rather than test Maris’ rifle arm in center.  Horace Clarke, infamously associated with the Yankee “Declinesty” of the late 60’s / early 70’s hit a tailor made double play grounder to Chico Carrasquel at short.  Carrasquel flipped it to Bobby Avila at second, who pivoted perfectly to nail Clarke at first.  White scored easily as Kline was able to make that run hold up for his 6th victory of the campaign.

GAME 3 – Yankees 18, Indians 4

In order to set their rotation for the post season Cleveland started the oft-injured Herb Score (2-3, 7.40).  Score had zero velocity on his fastball and no break on his curveball as the Bombers unleashed 14 runs off of him in 3 innings.  Veteran Bob Lemon was summoned from the pen to eat, so innings, but could only eat up 1 2/3.  Both teams were in a rush to get this one over with.  Mel Stottlemyre (6-3, 3.35) pitched well enough to win in this complete game effort.  Bobby Murcer and Felipe Alou had 5 hit games.  Murcer had 4 RBI and Roy White had 5 RBI.  Murcer finished the season with a .356 average as he carried the Bombers offense all season.  Both Murcer (8th) and White (5th) hit homers in the contest.