Sept. 5, 1961 - Mickey Mantle's 53rd homer was the first salvo of a Yankee attack that crushed the Washington Senators today, 6-1. Mantle's wallop in the second inning created a 1-1 deadlock, which Elston Howard demolished with his 16th homer off the base of the upper deck in the fifth. Yankee hurler Jim Coates's 10th triumph coincided with New York's 6th in a row. Since Detroit was beaten twice last night, the Yankees widened their American League lead to seven and a half games. Roger Maris was held hitless today. Maris, with 53 homers, now is five games ahead of the pace Babe Ruth set in 1927 en route to No. 60. Mantle is one game ahead of the Babe.
