1996

June 21

Cleveland

Jacobs Field

Indians

Yankees

3-9

Ramiro Mendoza

Julian Tavarez

Andy Fox

Eddie Murray

Derek Jeter

Tino Martinez

Kenny Lofton

Jim Thome

Mariano Rivera

Highlights:  The visiting Bronx Bombers showed why they would make it to the postseason in ’96 and win the World Series for the first time since 1978, blasting 17 hits and scoring 9 runs against a trio of Cleveland pitchers, Julian Tavarez, Greg Swindell and Paul Assenmacher.  The Yankees scored in each of the first three innings, racing to a 7-0 lead, including a home run from their promising young third baseman, Andy Fox, whose career would prove to be short-lived.  Fox went 5-2-3-2 on the day, while Jeter and Tino Martinez each contributed three hits to the cause as well.  Carlos Baerga had a 4-1-2-1 day for the hometown Tribe.  This trip to Jacobs Field also completed the circuit for B.T. and Skipper in attending all then-current major league baseball parks.

1996

June 22

Cleveland

Jacobs Field

Indians

Yankees

9-11

Billy Brewer

Dennis Martinez

John Wetteland

Rubin Sierra (2)

Wade Boggs

Derek Jeter

Eddie Murray

Omar Vizquel

Julio Franco

Manny Ramirez

Tony Pena

Highlights:  Kenny Rogers and “El Presidente” Dennis Martinez faced off in this Saturday afternoon game, in what should have been a pitchers’ duel.  However, after the Indians beat up on Kenny Rogers for five runs in 3-1/3 innings, knocking him out of the game, the Yankees came roaring back with nine runs in the top of the sixth off Martinez and Eric Plunk.  The Yankees outhit the Indians by 15 to 12, with the offensive stars being Rubin Sierra (4-2-3-4), Paul O’Neill (5-1-3-3), Wade Boggs (5-2-2-1), and Tino Martinez (5-2-2-1).  The Tribe was led by Omar Vizquel (6-1-2-2), Albert Belle (5-1-3-1) and Eddie Murray (5-1-2-2).  Despite giving up 15 hits to the Yankees, the Tribe pitching staff managed to fan ten Bronx Bombers for the game.  The smooth-fielding Albert Belle committed his sixth error in the Indian outfield, with the season not yet half over.

1996

June 23

Detroit

Tiger Stadium

Tigers

Twins

10-8

Tom Urbani

Brad Radke

Dave Hollins

Bobby Higginson

Paul Molitor

Chuck Knoblauch

Marty Cordova

Cecil Fielder

Gregg Olson

Highlights:  In a game of big innings, the Tigers scored 4 in the fourth and 6 in the seventh to account for all of their runs, while the Twins scored 5 in the sixth and 3 in the eighth to account for their 8 runs.  The Twins outhit the Tigers 14 to 9, but came out on the losing end of the score.  Molitor went 3-1-2-1, Cordova 4-1-2-3 and Hollins 5-1-2-3 for the Twins, while Fryman went 4-2-2-3 and Higginson 3-2-2-2 for the victorious Tigers.  The starting pitcher for the Tigers was Greg Gohr, who gave up 5 earned runs and 10 hits in five innings on the mound.