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.
Gene Bearden kept the the 1927 New York Yankees off balance offensively as the lefty led the 1948 Cleveland Indians to a 6-2 victory.
In tossing a complete game, Bearden held the Yankees to seven hits. While he walked five and had just five strikeouts, he fanned Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig two times each as the Yankees stranded 11 base runners.
Cleveland picked up a pair of runs in the second off New York starter Urban Shocker to grab an early advantage.
Eddie Robinson had a RBI single and Jim Hegan drove in the other run on a fielder’s choice as New York attempted a double play.
A RBI ground out by Ken Keltner added another tally for the Indians in the third.
Allie Clark added a run-scoring single in the seventh as Shocker’s day came to an end with the Indians on top 4-0.
The Yankees finally got to Bearden in the bottom of the seven when Mark Koenig had a sacrifice fly. Koenig also had three of New York’s hits.
Dutch Ruether took over on the mound for Shocker, who fell to 11-3 on the season.
Ruether gave up a pair of runs in the eighth on back-to-back RBI singles by Hegan and Bearden.
A solo homer by New York catcher Pat Collins in the ninth proved to harmless for Bearden.
Wilcy Moore (12-4) will start the finale of the four-game series for the Yankees, while Cleveland counters with Satchel Paige.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (58-42)
1961 New York Yankees (53-46)
1968 Detroit Tigers (14-8)
1948 Cleveland Indians (16-11)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (13-17)
1924 Washington Senators (11-19)
2005 Chicago White Sox (8-14)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 40
Roger Maris 38
Babe Ruth 35
Lou Gehrig 27