Editor’s note: The 27 * 61 Yankees Replay games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will not be used for any games. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur.
After falling behind early, the 1972 Oakland A’s bounced back to defeat the 1961 New York Yankees 9-3 to take two of three contests in the series.
Rookie Dave Hamilton tossed a complete game for Oakland as he gave up two earned runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
An error by Oakland’s Sal Bando opened the door for the first run of the contest. Bobby Richardson hit a grounder to the A’s third baseman and his throw got away from Mike Epstein that allowed the Yankees lead-off man to reach second.
One out later, Roger Maris singled to drive home Richardson and the Yanks led 1-0.
In the second, New York starting pitcher Bud Daley executed a perfect suicide squeeze to to allow Elston Howard to come to the plate and make it 2-0.
The A’s took the lead in the bottom of the second on a RBI single by George Hendrick and a two-run homer by Gene Tenace.
New York tied the affair at 3-3 in the top of the third as Bill Skowron banged out a RBI double.
From that point, the A’s would score six unanswered runs to put the game away.
Bert Campaneris singled to begin the third frame and stole second before Joe Rudi put Oakland in front for good with a RBI single that scored the A’s shortstop. Epstein added a sacrifice fly and it was 5-3.
Hendrick, the A’s centerfielder, was injured during the third and was replaced by Angel Mangual. Mangual’s first place appearance resulted in a two-run bomb in the sixth inning that sent Daley to the showers and gave the A’s a 7-3 advantage.
With one out in the seventh against Yankees pitcher Jim Coates, Campaneris doubled and scored on a double by Reggie Jackson. Bando finished things off for Oakland with and double that brought Jackson home for the final tally.
New York travels to Washington for its next contest. Whitey Ford takes the mound for the Yankees, while the Senators counter with Walter Johnson.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1961 New York Yankees (6-4)
1927 New York Yankees (6-4)
1972 Oakland A’s (5-7)
2004 Boston Red Sox (3-5)
1924 Washington Senators (0-0)
1948 Cleveland Indians (0-0)
1968 Detroit Tigers (0-0)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (0-0)
2005 Chicago White Sox (0-0)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Lou Gehrig 6
Roger Maris 4
Mickey Mantle 2
Babe Ruth 2