Yanks Top Senators as Tresh and Blanchard Shine

July 21, 1964 - Mickey Mantle was forced out of the lineup by an upset stomach tonight as the Yankees opened a three-game series against the Washington Senators in the Bronx. However, before the evening was over, Mickey’s indisposition caused considerably more distress to the Senators than to the Yankees.

Tom Tresh (pictured), who replaced Mantle in center field, slugged two home runs lefthanded, hit a double righthanded, walked, and stole a base. Johnny Blanchard, who filled in for Tresh in left field, hit two singles and drove in two runs.

Between them, they batted home five runs and made life miserable for three Washington pitchers as the Yanks cruised to a 7-1 victory and moved into first place.

Life was made even more difficult for the Senators by Jim Bouton, who pitched a four-hitter for his third straight decision over Washington and his ninth of the season against eight defeats.

In six games, Tresh has boosted his average from .255 to .275. His home run total is now 12. It is the sort of thing the Yankees have been waiting for since April.

And Tresh hadn’t exactly been pleased with a .255 average in the middle of the batting order. “You feel you’re a better ballplayer than that,” he said tonight. “I feel I am, anyhow. When I bat fifth, I know I’m one of the guys the club counts on to drive in runs.”

Tresh now has 51 RBI’s, and only Mantle’s 57 tops that on the team.

Tonight’s game was the third in which the Yankees gave taxi-cab drivers and their families a free ride. This time, 2,431 cabbies turned out under a promotional largesse involving 20,000 free tickets. So far, 12,000 drivers have attended, with one more game to go.

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