Twins pitcher Jim Merritt, a 23-year-old lefty sets a team record when he pitches the first 13 innings of an 18 inning 3-2 win over the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in game two of a doubleheader. It sure would be nice to know how many pitches Jim threw that game as he faced 46 batters, allowing 7 hits and 1 walk while striking out 7. Ron Kline, Al Worthington and Jim Roland pitched 5 scoreless innings of relief with Worthington getting the win and Roland earned the save. Merritt was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in November of 1968 for shortstop Leo Cardenas.
It should be noted too that Yankee starter Fred Talbot pitched 7 innings allowing 1 earned run before being relieved by Bill Monbouquette who then three 9 scoreless innings of relief allowing just 3 hits before giving way to Joe Verbanic and Thad Tillotson who took the loss when he allowed an unearned run in the top of te 18th inning.
Not a game for the memory books for Yankee Roy White or Twin Cesar Tovar as both went 0 for 8, then again Mickey Mantle and Elston Howard were 0 for 6 so they had nothing to brag about either. But then who wants to play 18 innings in the second game of a doubleheader The Twins lost the first game of the DH 6-1.
The first game of the Twins versus Yankees series was also an odd game as it ended in a 1-1 tie after 9 innings. Jim Kaat had the Bronx Bombers shut out 1-0 with two outs in the 9th inning and then Mickey Mantle hit a home run to make it 1 to 1. I am not sure what caused the game to be stopped at that point. It was one of two tie games the Twins played in 1967.
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