Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 101

feet away from home plate. Wertz’s out had traveled nearly 200 feet longer, but such were the intricacies of the Polo Grounds.

Reeling from the heartbreak of Game One and from numerous, small physical ailments, the Indians couldn’t get it going the rest of the way. More importantly, they couldn’t get Dusty Rhodes out. The pinch hitter stroked a run scoring single to help erase an early 1-0 Indians lead in Game Two, and added an insurance homer after staying in to aide Antonelli, who went the distance to win 3-1. In Game Three at Cleveland, Rhodes singled in two more in another off the bench assignment, helping the Giants to a 6-2

win. Rhodes stayed on the bench for Game Four as the Giants stormed to a 7-0 lead, holding on to win 7-4 and score a stunning sweep of the heralded Indians, who completely stalled at the plate throughout, batting just .190 with nine runs scored in four losses.

If not for a Giant derailment in October, it could have been the greatest season ever.