The Yankees-Indians semifinal matchup moved back to Yankee Stadium in 1927 for the deciding game of the best-of-three series. The visitors started Hall of Famer Bob Lemon (20-14, 2.82 ERA), while the home team countered with Urban Shocker (18-6, 2.84 ERA).
Cleveland's MVP player-manager Lou Boudreau opened the scoring with a solo shot into the left field seats in the top of the first. An Earle Combs walk and Mark Koenig double gave New York men at second and third with nobody out in the bottom of the first. But Lemon struck out Babe Ruth and (after a walk to Gehrig) retired Meusel on a shallow fly and Lazzeri on a groundout to end the threat. In the top of the second, Cleveland scored three more when Gordon doubled, Robinson singled, Hegan reached on an error, and Lemon doubled.
Yankee fans grew restless as the visitors held their 4-0 advantage into the sixth. In the bottom of that frame, Ruth walked and Gehrig singled. Meusel then ripped a double into the gap in left-center to plate two runs for the Bombers. But in the top of the seventh, Ken Keltner doubled home Larry Doby to push the Cleveland lead back to three. Bob Lemon remained in command, but after he surrendered a double to Lazzeri to start the bottom of the ninth, Boudreau summoned Russ Christopher from the bullpen. After allowing a single to Dugan, Christopher retired the next two Yankee batters. Combs then singled to cut the deficit to two and put the tying run on base. But Christopher retired Koenig on a fly to center to end the game with Ruth in the on-deck circle.
Cleveland completes the surprising upset of Murderers' Row to advance to the tournament finals against the Gas House Gang.
1948 Indians 5, 1927 Yankees 3
Up next, Game 1 of the championship round!
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