27 * 61 Replay 103: 68 Tigers at 27 Yankees

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.

Babe Ruth finally found his long ball stroke.

After not hitting a home run in seven straight games, Ruth blasted a pair as he led the 1927 New York Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the 1968 Detroit Tigers.

Down by two runs in the bottom of the fifth, Ruth drilled a two-run shot off Detroit starter Denny McLain to tie the affair at 3-3.

Ruth drove in two more runs with his second homer in the seventh to make it 5-3. It was his 37th of the season to go with 82 RBI.

The four RBI marked the second time this season that Ruth reached that mark against the Tigers. His best effort so far is six RBI when he smashed a season-high three homers against the 1970 Baltimore Orioles.

New York pitcher Waite Hoyt (13-5) survived a rough top of the ninth to pick up the complete game win.

With one out, Detroit pinch-hitter Gates Brown singled before Dick McAuliffe doubled to make things interesting.

Mickey Stanley singled to cut Detroit’s deficit to one run. However, Al Kaline popped out to first for the second out of the frame to set the stage for Willie Horton.

Horton had stranded two runners in the fifth when he struck out. Unfortunately, the ninth wouldn’t be any better for Horton as Hoyt fanned him with the tying and go-ahead runs on base to finish the game.

Yankees Score First

The Yankees grabbed an 1-0 advantage in the third on a RBI double by Earle Combs, but the lead didn’t last as the Tigers quickly answered in the fourth.

Jim Northrup tied the game with a sacrifice fly before Bill Freehan hit a two-run homer that put the Tigers on top 3-1.

The third contest of the four-game series at Yankee Stadium features Herb Pennock (6-9) on the mound for New York, while the Tigers counter with Earl Wilson.

27 * 61 Replay Standings

1927 New York Yankees (61-42)
1961 New York Yankees (53-49)

1948 Cleveland Indians (18-12)
1968 Detroit Tigers (15-10)
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 41
Roger Maris 38
Babe Ruth 37
Lou Gehrig 27