July 7, 1977 – Yankees 8, Indians 2

NEW YORK – At the conclusion of the victory two nights earlier, Billy Martin had said, “What we need is a couple games in a row where the starters go nine innings.”

Mother nature went one better. First there was a fortuitous rainout, and then Catfish Hunter came through with this complete game gem as the Yankees stretched their win streak over the Indians to 13 games.

Hunter allowed just four hits and two walks, and he was backed by an 11-hit Yankee attack that included a two-run triple by Paul Blair and a two-run homer by Lou Piniella in a four-run fifth that gave the Yankees a 6-1 lead.

This allowed overused Sparky Lyle to get two full days of rest. “I’m not tired, but my arm is tired,” said Lyle. “We’re in a situation where whoever can throw a little bit is going to be out there. We’ve been hoping to get a couple complete games.”

That it was Hunter providing one was a mild surprise, as his ERA was a bloated 5.37 when the night began, and he had allowed 16 earned runs in his previous four starts, encompassing just 23.1 innings.

“When I can hit the spots and have my control, they’ve got to hit my pitch,” said Hunter. “And then I can be as good as ever.”

Thurman Munson, who was supposed to sit out the game to let his injured finger heal, refused to do so. Martin originally had him in the lineup, then was advised by the team doctor to remove him, so he did. Munson got wind of that, and basically insisted Martin put him back in.

“The manager had me in the lineup two hours before the game,” Munson explained. “Then I took a little nap and when I woke up I wasn’t on it.”

Munson contributed a go-ahead RBI double in the third to the cause.

The daily baseball report

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