7/22 in Yankee History

2007: The Bombers erupt with a 10-run fourth inning on their way to a 21-4 thrashing of Tampa Bay. drubbing. Hideki Matsui goes 5-for-6 with a home run, Bobby Abreu homers and collects three other hits, good for four RBI. A-Rod goes long and knocks in three, Robbie Cano clears one fence in four hits for three RBI, and last but not least, Shelley Duncan hits the second and third home runs of his three-day-old Major League career.

2004: Ruben Sierra (below) hits a 9th-inning walkoff homer to break a scoreless tie with the Blue Jays. Mariano Rivera gets the 1-0 win.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2004/B07220NYA2004.htm

2003: The Yankees acquire veteran pitcher Jesse Orosco from the Padres for a player to be named later.

1999: I get by with a little help from my friends… Andy Pettitte gets a 5-4 victory over the Devil Rays at the Stadium, but needs a hand from Ramiro Mendoza. After Pettitte walks the first two batters leading off the 7th, Mike Stanton comes in as a replacement, but proves equally ineffective, surrendering two base hits and uncorking a wild pitch, and allowing the Rays to pull within one with the bases loaded. Mendoza then strikes out pinch-hitter Paul Sorrento to quell the uprising. Mariano Rivera closes out the game, recording his 26th save of the year.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1999/B07220NYA1999.htm

1998: The Yanks declaw the Tigers 13-2 to run their record to 71-25‚ a ML record winning percentage for that number of games.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1998/B07220NYA1998.htm

1989: The Yankees trade third baseman Mike Pagliarulo and pitcher Don Schulze to San Diego for pitchers Walt Terrell and Fred Toliver. Toliver won’t report to New York until September 27 and Terrell will sign with the Pirates on November 29.

1960: The Yankees purchase 33-year-old pitcher Luis Arroyo from Jersey City of the IL. He will be a key to New York’s 1960 pennant drive, and a star in 1961.

1956: Batting against the ‘Mantle Shift’ In the second game of a twinbill at Kansas City, Mickey beats out a bunt in the 6th‚ then clouts a 2-run homer in the 7th. But Kansas City top New York‚ 7-4.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1956/B07222NYA1956.htm

1954: In today’s doubleheader with the White Sox‚ Casey Stengel does some moving and shaking in an effort to get more power in the Yankee lineup as they chase the first-place Indians. After 4 pinch hitters‚ Phil Rizzuto plays second base, and Mickey Mantle comes in to play shortstop. The Mick ties the opener 3-3 in the 8th‚ then solos in the 10th with his 20th homer. The Yankees easily win the nitecap‚ 11-1‚ behind Harry Byrd’s 5-hitter. Chicago fall 6 1/2 games in back of the Indians‚ who sweep 2 from Boston‚ while New York is just a half game behind the Tribe.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1954/B07221NYA1954.htm

Off the field, the Yanks sign Ralph Branca as a free agent. The goat of the ‘Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff’ will make 5 appearances in pinstripes over the course of the rest of the season before being released.

1948: The Yankees take the rubber game of the series with the Indians as Vic Raschi earns the decision over Bob Feller, 6-5. Joe DiMaggio’s grand slam is the big blow for the Bombers: he has hit 4 homers and a triple in Feller’s 4 starts against New York. His 8 RBIs in the 3 games with Cleveland give him a league-leading 82.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/B07220NYA1948.htm

1944: Sparky Lyle, great Yankee reliever of the ’70s, is born. Happy 68th, Sparky!

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lylesp01.shtml

1931: In twinbill action at Detroit‚ the Tigers win 3-2 over the Yankees in game 1. In game 2‚ Babe Ruth homers in the 1st off Tommy Bridges, then he and Lou Gehrig both go long in the 6th off Charles Sullivan as New York win‚ 9-5. Tony Lazzeri triples with the sacks full to help Babe & Lou.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1931/B07222NYA1931.htm

1925: The Yankees buy shortstop Leo Durocher from Hartford of the Eastern League.

1920: The Yanks move to within seven percentage points of the Indians by tripping up the Tribe 11-3 in 7 innings. The Yanks put it away early and then try and speed play to beat the rain: Babe Ruth doubles in the 4th and is out strolling to third‚ Bob Meusel does the same‚ and Ping Bodie follows with a single-turned-double when Speaker doesn’t throw to second. The Indians also Bodie alone as he goes to third on a passed ball and walks home to score. With the crowd booing‚ Aaron Ward walks and then Muddy Ruel waves at three to end the 4th inning. Cleveland gs down in the 5th‚ and the two teams play normally until the heavens open up in the 7th. Rip Collins is the winner over Stan Coveleski.