(...in which a Microsoft Excel function picks a random game in club history)
Wednesday, June 17, 1936, vs New York (at League Park)
Yankees 15, Indians 4 (Game 1)
Franchise Game 5,386
The Yankees scored at least 2 runs in 6 different innings, and 7 different players collected at least 2 hits as New York belted the Tribe 15-4.
The batting star was Yankee starter Red Ruffing, who went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Ruffing hit two home runs - a solo shot in the 7th and a 2-run blast in the 9th. Frankie Crosetti went 4-for-6 and Lou Gehrig 3-for-6. Only one batter (Crosetti) failed to drive in at least one run, and only two batters failed to get a hit.
The Indians actually led, 3-2, after 2 innings. A triple by Gehrig set up two Yankee runs in the top half, then the Indians - through the generosity of Ruffing - scored three. Four walks - two with the bases loaded - and two singles constituted the Indiansā offense. They left the bases loaded.
Then the Yankees took over, scoring 2 in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th, 3 in the 6th, 4 in the 7th, and 2 in the 9th. Surprisingly, they did it with āsmall ball.ā The only inning the vaunted Yankee power was on display was the 7th, when Ruffing homered and Red Rolfe and Joe DiMaggio doubled.
New York finished with 3 doubles, 2 triples and 2 home runs. The other 12 hits were singles.
Main victims were Tribe starter Lloyd Brown (6 runs, 5 earned, in 3+ innings) and Ralph Winegarner, who faced 5 batters and allowed 4 runs in .1 inning.
Amazingly, only 3 batters struck out. Three. 93 plate appearances, 19 runs, 32 hits. Three strikeouts.
The Indians fared no better in the second game. The Yankees again got 19 hits and won 12-2. Again, the batting star was the Yankee starter. Monte Pearson went 4-for-5 with 4 RBI. This time, every Yankee starter collected at least one hit. Mel Harder allowed 8 runs (7 earned) in 5 innings for the loss.
The two losses dropped the Indians to even at 28-28 and into a fourth-place tie with Detroit, ten games behind New York.
In his game story the next day, Plain Dealer beat writer Gordon Cobbledick sarcastically claimed the Yankees ānosed outā the Indians in each game. The Yankees, he continued, āwere extremely lucky to get away with the games because they made only 38 hits, totaling a mere 63 bases, and were clearly outplayed by the Indians everywhere except in the field, in the box, on the bases and at bat.ā
Ouch.
If that doesnāt succinctly summarize this lost afternoon, nothing will.
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