Metroplex bracket: 1969 Yankees defeat 2019 Yankees in seven games

Game One: 2019 Yankees 3, 1969 Yankees 2
WP: Britton (1-0)
LP: Stottlemyre (1-2)
HR: Tauchman (1), Judge (3)

Game Two: 2019 Yankees 10, 1969 Yankees 3
WP: Tanaka (2-1)
LP: Peterson (1-1)
HR: LeMahieu (1), C Frazier (1), Hicks (2)

Game Three: 1969 Yankees 3, 2019 Yankees 2
WP: Bahnsen (2-0)
LP: Happ (0-2)
Save: McDaniel (1)

Game Four: 1969 Yankees 3, 2019 Yankees 2
WP: Stottlemyre (2-2)
LP: Sabathia (2-1)
HR: Sanchez (4)

Game Five: 2019 Yankees 3, 1969 Yankees 0
WP: Paxton (2-0)
LP: Peterson (1-2)
Save: Chapman (1)

Game Six: 1969 Yankees 10, 2019 Yankees 8
WP: Aker (1-0)
LP: Kahnle (0-1)
HR: Gregorius (2), B Robinson (1), Ellis (1)

Game Seven: 1969 Yankees 5, 2019 Yankees 2
WP: Stottlemyre (3-2)
LP: Happ (0-3)
HR: Judge (3)

The 1969 Yankees were down two games to none and three games to two, but they outsluged the 2019 powerhouse in Game Six to even the series and then played an ace to take the decisive Game Seven.

That ace was Mel Stottlemyre, who in all three starts and won two of them.

The loss came in Game One in new Yankee Stadium. Stottlemyre took a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning, but Brett Gardner singled to lead off the inning and Aaron Hicks followed with a game-tying homer. In the bottom of the ninth, Mike Tauchman homered with one out for the win. Zack Britton, the third bullpener to work behind starter James Paxton, was the winner.

The 2019 Yankees pounded Fritz Peterson for seven runs in 3.2 innings in Game Two, with Clint Frazier hitting a homer and a double, scoring twice and driving in a pair. The 2019 Yankees had more extra base hits (eight) tham the 1969 Yankees had hits (seven).

The series shifted to the original Yankee Stadium for Game Three. The 2019 Yankees scored two runs on one hit in the first inning (there were two walks, an error and a passed ball) and none after that. The 1969 Yankes scored three runs in the sixth. sll unearned, and that was enough. Stan Bahnsen allowed two hits in six innings and retired 16 in a row at one point. Lindy McDaniel allowed a single in three innings for the save.

Game Four repeated Game Three's final score (3-2 for 1969). Roy White doubled in two runs in the fifth for a 3-0 lead, and Stottlemyre shut out the 2019 team until Gary Sanchez hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth. Stottlemyre then struck out Luke Voit to end the game and even the series.

James Paxton and four relievers combined to shut out the 1969 Yankees on four hits in Game Five, never allowing more than one runner in an inning. Aaron Hicks hit a two-run double in the fifth off Fritz Peterson, who was pitching on short rest and allowed three runs in six innings.

Game Six, inthe 2019 version of Yankee Stadium, it was a wild one. Joe Pepitone tripled in a pair of runs in the first inning and the 1969 Yankees scored five runs off Masahiro Tanaka. Didi Gregorius hit a three-run homer in a five-run fourth as Bahnsen, also on three days rest, was driven from the mound. The 2019 Yankees took an 8-6 lead off Al Downing in the sixth, but the 1969 team came back with four runs in the top of the seventh, with Bill Robinson hitting a three-run homer off Tommy Kahnle to cap the rally. Jack Aker threw three scoreless innings and was awarded the win even though Downing was the pitcher of record when they took the lead.

Workhorse Stottlemyre took the ball again for Game Seven, this time against J.A. Happ. The 1969 Yankees scored three runs in the third with two sacrifice flies and added two more in the fourth to knock out Happ. Aaron Judge homered in the bottom of the fourth as 2019 got two runs back. But Stottlemyre allowed no more runs; he finished with an eight-hitter, with one walk and two strikeouts.

Player availability: Aker should not pitch multiple innings in Game One of the third round, and if he pitches in that game should be out for Game Two.

Projected rotation: Peterson (full rest)-Downing-Stottlemyre-Bahnsen (full rest)-(Peterson)-(Stottlemyre)-(Bahnsen with penalty or Downing on full rest)