The 1998 Yankees rallied from 3-1 down to win the final two games against the 1951 Yankees to earn a six game split. The '98 Yankees are now 49-35, ninth place, while the '51 Yankees are 57-51.
The '98 Yankees drew first blood in Game One with a 6-1 win. Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez both hit home runs and drove in three RBI apiece. The '51 Yankees won the next three games. They won Game Two 9-7; Jerry Coleman went 3-4 with a triple, home run, and five RBI. Vic Raschi pitched a two-hit shutout in Game Three for a 2-0 win. Mickey Mantle led them to a 5-2 win in Game Four by going 2-4 at the plate with a homer, three runs scored, and two RBI. The '98 Yankees won Game Five 4-1, then scored seven runs in the first inning of the final game to take a 7-1 lead. The '51 Yankees came roaring back and tied the game in the 5th. The '98 Yankees went back ahead in the bottom of the 6th on a bases loaded sac fly by Martinez and held on for a 8-7 win.
Williams leads the '98 Yankees in hitting at .333 with 26 home runs, 86 RBI, 69 runs scored, and a 1.038 OPS. Derek Jeter is hitting .323 with 19 home runs, 63 RBI, 75 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, and a .926 OPS. Paul O’Neill is hitting .305 with 17 home runs, 67 RBI, and 66 runs scored. Martinez is hitting .250 with 22 home runs and 66 RBI. Mariano Rivera picked up a couple of saves to give him 19 with a 2.30 ERA.
Yogi Berra’s average dropped to .283 while raising his RBI total to 85. Raschi’s shutout improved his record to 16-6 with a 1.94 ERA. The '51 Yankees will battle the 46-32 1950 Yankees in the next series.