July 31, 1962 - Bill Skowron hit a grand slam in the first inning today off Claude Osteen, the Washington Senators’ left-hander, and Osteen and his colleagues never recovered from the shock. The Yankees drove on to a 9-5 victory and a 6-game American League lead, the largest of the year in what once was a competitive race. Needless to say, Osteen departed early. In the third, he yielded a two-run homer to Elston Howard, then left. The game was won by Bill Stafford for his ninth victory. Mickey Mantle, his wrenched left knee still stiff despite heat and whirlpool treatments, sat on the bench. Jack Reed took his place in center field, and Hector Lopez was promoted to the cleanup spot.
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