Vern Stephens' leads
the Sox to a
doubleheader sweep of the Yankees
May 30, 1951 ... The
Red Sox came from behind in both games of a doubleheader, beating the
New York Yankees. They won a marathon in the opener, 11 to 10 in 15
innings, and then 9 to 4 in the second game.
Vern Stephens, who broke up the first game with a two out home run in
the 15th inning, also delivered the key blow, a two run single, that
put the Sox ahead, 6-4, in the seventh inning of the nitecap. Before
Stephens delivered his go-ahead hit, Dom DiMaggio and Ted Williams
had collaborated in producing the tying run. Williams drove DiMaggio
home with a double.
Vic Raschi was knocked out of the second game by a Williams double.
Jack Kramer came in and was also hit hard by the Sox.
Great relief pitching by Ray Scarborough for the Sox and Frank Shea
for the Yankees, highlighted the longest game of the year, thus far,
in the American League. Scarborough took over with two outs in the
seventh inning and pitched three-hit, scoreless ball the rest of the
way. He was most clutch in the 12th inning when Joe DiMaggio led off
with a triple, and then retired the next three batters.
Willard Nixon started the game for the Red Sox, but lasted until Joe
DiMaggio touched him with a three-run homer in the sixth inning,
which was started by a home run by Cliff Mapes, who had batted for
Mickey Mantle. Bill Wight then replaced Nixon and allowed only two
hits for the rest of the game.
Williams was the hitting star in the opening innings of the first
game. His two-run homer tied the game in the eighth inning after the
Yankees had exploded for seven runs on seven hits in the seventh
inning. That inning started with a homer by Jerry Coleman and a
two-run pinch hit homer by Jackie Jensen. The Yankees had trailed 6
to 3 at the time. |