Yankees Rally Late to Edge Athletics, 8–7, Behind Duren’s First Win
New York Overcomes Early Collapse; Maris Collects Three Hits in Back‑and‑Forth Contest
NEW YORK, May 6 — The New York Yankees needed nearly every arm in their bullpen Friday afternoon, but when the game tightened in the late innings, Ryne Duren delivered the final answer. The hard‑throwing right‑hander worked out of an eighth‑inning jam, then struck out the side in the ninth to secure an 8–7 victory over the Kansas City Athletics at Yankee Stadium.
It was the first time this season the Yankees had come from behind after losing an early lead.
Yankees Jump Ahead Early
Starter Jim Coates was given a quick cushion. In the first inning, Gil McDougald, Mickey Mantle, and Roger Maris produced consecutive singles, with Elston Howard later driving in two runs. New York added another run in the second on Tony Kubek’s double, and a fifth in the third when Maris singled and Bill Skowron doubled.
Kansas City answered with Norm Siebern’s fifth home run of the season, trimming the lead to 3–1.
Athletics Take Control in the Fourth
The game turned sharply in the fourth. Bob Cerv doubled, Dick Williams singled, and Harry Chiti walked to load the bases. Coates walked pinch‑hitter Marv Throneberry to force in a run, and after a foul‑out, Jerry Lumpe singled home another. Manager Casey Stengel summoned Duke Maas, who walked Whitey Herzog, forcing in the tying run. Siebern flied out to end the inning, but the Athletics had pulled even at 5–5.
Kansas City Moves Ahead
Kansas City took the lead in the sixth against three Yankee pitchers. Tuttle and Lumpe walked, prompting Stengel to call on Bobby Shantz. Pinch‑hitter Hank Bauer singled home a run, and Siebern doubled to right to give the Athletics a 7–5 advantage. John Gabler entered and allowed a sacrifice fly to Cerv before retiring the side.
Yankees Tie It in the Seventh
Trowbridge, who had steadied Kansas City after Daley’s early exit, walked McDougald to open the seventh. Mantle struck out, but Maris doubled to right, scoring McDougald. Howard followed with a single to center, tying the game at 7–7.
Maris finished with three hits, a walk, two runs batted in, and three runs scored, continuing his torrid early‑season pace.
Duren Takes Over
Duren relieved Gabler in the eighth with one on and one out. He walked the bases loaded but escaped when Williams popped to short. In the ninth, with a chance at his first win, he overpowered the Athletics, striking out Russ Snyder, Pete Daley, and another pinch‑hitter to end the game.
Duren has now allowed one hit in 10 innings, striking out 12.
Winning Run Scores on Speed
The Yankees scored the deciding run in the eighth. Bobby Richardson singled, stole second, and moved to third on Duren’s groundout. After Kubek flied to shallow center, McDougald lined a single to left, bringing Richardson home.
Notes
- The Yankees used five pitchers, with Duren earning the win.
- Kansas City’s bullpen held New York scoreless for three innings before the seventh‑inning rally.
- Mantle extended his hitting streak to 11 games despite striking out three times.
- The Athletics’ lineup included 11 former Yankees, including Siebern, Cerv, and Lumpe.
Courtesy of The Newark Star-Ledger May 7, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Courtesy of The New York Daily News May 7, 1960 via Newspapers.com