July 24, 1963 - Johnny Blanchard continued his relentless demolition of the Los Angeles Angels today. He blasted another 3-run homer and knocked in 4 runs in the course of an 8-4 victory for the Yankees before a home crowd of 14,465. Blanchard smashed two home runs in a 7-0 rout of the Angels yesterday. On Monday night, he contributed a less important home run to an 8-4 victory that opened the 4-game series. Blanchard also hit two singles yesterday. Since July 7, the day Roger Maris went out of commission, Blanchard has hit .333 with 6 home runs and 16 runs batted in. Another noteworthy feature of New York’s sixth straight victory was the return of Maris. He batted for starter Whitey Ford in the seventh and lined a long single (pictured) into the right-field corner that set up the last Yankee run. Maris appeared to have no difficulty as he ran from first to third on Tony Kubek’s double. “I think I might be able to play Friday night,” he said after the game. Yankee skipper Ralph Houk was more certain. “Maris plays Friday night,” said Houk. “He’s completely recovered from the operation. But if Blanchard keeps this up, I’ll have to find a place for Johnny somewhere.” As for Ford, the 34-year-old southpaw soaked 3 uniforms during the humid 90-degree afternoon before retiring after 7 innings. Whitey’s win was his 12th straight and brought his record to 16-3, which ties the Giants’ Juan Marichal and Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers for most in the majors. “I’m pitching as well now as I did in 1961,” said Whitey after a shower. “Today it was hot, and I got tired. I had good stuff for four innings, then I lost it.” Houk called in Hal Reniff to finish for Whitey, but the right-hander gave up a run in a ragged eighth inning and got the hook when he gave a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Bob Sadowski in the ninth. Bill Stafford came in and finished, fanning Felix Torres for the final out. Without Mantle since he broke his foot June 5, the Bombers are 34-16. Without Maris, they are 12-4. This could be the first year World Series tickets go on sale in August. The Yankees’ American League lead over second-place Minnesota is eight-and-a-half games, and the National League-leading Dodgers are ahead of St. Louis by seven games.
