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Twins Top Bosox as Versalles Shines — with Proud Father Looking On

July 5, 1965 - You could hardly blame Zoilo Versalles for wearing a big smile today.

The Twins’ shortstop broke an 0-for-28 slump with two singles in a 6-2 victory over the Red Sox at Metropolitan Stadium, with Zoilo Versalles Sr. watching his son play for the first time in the majors.

“I met my dad at the airport last night,” said the proud Versalles. “He’s going to live with us here. I was glad I could get a couple hits for the Twins, my dad, and myself.”

Outside the Twins’ clubhouse, Zoilo’s older brother, Lazaro, was introducing the elder Versalles to sportswriters.

Through an interpreter, he said, “I liked Zoilo’s stance at the plate, and he took a couple of pretty good swings.”

It was also revealed that the 60-year-old Versalles was “a pretty good hitter in his baseball playing days in Cuba.”

In addition to Versalles’ production, the Twins’ attack was beefed up by Bob Allison’s three-hit return to action.

Manager Sam Mele of the Twins said earlier, “I think Allison is ready to break loose.” So, Bob made a prophet of the manager with two doubles and a single, driving in one run.

“It feels good to come back with some base hits,” Allison said

Over in the Boston clubhouse, about all manager Billy Herman could say was: “We’re pretty well crippled up. All our injuries and sickness hit at once.

“We’re three short in center fielders — Gary Geiger broke an arm, Len Green jammed his wrist and can’t swing, and Carl Yastrzemski is out with a pulled leg.

“Jack Lamabe came up with a sore arm, relief man Arnold Early is hurt, pitcher Bob Duliba and catcher Russ Nixon have been sick, and shortstop Rico Petrocelli is injured.”

The Red Sox presented a lineup with All-Star second baseman Felix Mantilla playing center field.

“He’s not a center fielder,” explained Herman, defending the fact that Mantilla looked bad on a couple of plays.

The Twins took the nightcap of today’s doubleheader, 2-0, and have now won five straight. The sweep opened a 1½-game lead in the standings over second-place Cleveland, which lost to Chicago.

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