July 6, 1963 - Al Downing, the dazzling young left-hander the Yankees fetched from the minors early in June, continues to reveal a rare gift for producing thrills. Twice he has carried a bid for a no-hitter into the seventh inning. The first time he failed to finish the inning. The next time he allowed one hit and went the rest of the way for a brilliant one-hit shutout. Today, the 22-year-old lad from Trenton caused excitement again as the Yankees crushed the Indians, 11-6. He came within one strike-out of tying a Yankee record for a nine-inning game that has stood since Sept. 27, 1919. Bob Shawkey set it when he fanned 15. Forty years later, Whitey Ford matched that total, but in 14 innings. Before a ladies’ and childrens’ day crowd of 57,621 in Cleveland, Downing fanned 14 Indians and seemed to have a shot at Bob Feller’s 18, recorded against Detroit Oct. 2, 1938. But right after whiffing the 14th in the eighth inning, Al ran out of gas. After a bases-loaded single scored two and a walk had filled the sacks again, Ralph Houk had seen enough. “He was tired, and I didn’t want anything to happen to him,” said Houk afterward. “A tired pitcher is apt to hurt his arm by straining. He was great, and I don’t want anything to happen to that arm.” The Yankee skipper brought in Hal Reniff, who swiftly restored order and preserved the win. The Yankees did most of their damage in the second inning, when they scored 7 times. Roger Maris hit his 19th homer of the year, and Yogi Berra homered as well.
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