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Blanchard Wins It for Yanks; Maris Hits 36th Homer, Mantle 37th

July 21, 1961 - A pinch-hit grand-slam by John Blanchard (pictured) with two out in the ninth bailed out the Yankees today just when it appeared they were doomed to their third straight defeat. The emergency wallop by the substitute catcher gave the Bombers a stirring 11-8 triumph over the Red Sox before a record 1961 crowd of 32,186 at Fenway Park. The triumph preserved Whitey Ford's 11-game winning streak. The lefty, in a rare bad night, was shelled and stood to be the losing pitcher. Earlier in the contest, the Yankees had the benefit of solo homers by Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle and a two-run wallop by Yogi Berra. Maris and Mantle connected successively in the first inning for their respective Nos. 36 and 37, keeping them well ahead of Babe Ruth's record 60-homer pace of 1927.



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