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.
It took a few innings, but the 1961 New York Yankees finally responded to the 2005 Chicago White Sox with a 9-4 victory in Comiskey Park.
With the win, the Yankees have a chance to even the four-game series after falling in the first two affairs.
Chicago grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the second inning off New York starter Bill Stafford on RBI singles by Juan Uribe and Scott Podsednik.
Bobby Richardson cut New York’s deficit in half with a run-scoring single off White Sox starter Freddy Garcia.
In the bottom of the inning, momentum found its way into the New York dugout.
A.J. Pierzynski and Uribe got things underway with back-to-back singles. Garcia’s sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position.
Stafford reached back for a little extra effort and the result was strikeouts of Podsednik and Tadahito Iguchi to end the threat.
With the emotional boost, the Yankees answered with six runs as they sent 10 batters to the plate.
Roger Maris began the scoring with a RBI single and then Yogi Berra smacked at two-run double to put the Yankees on top 4-2.
Richardson smashed a double to right that got by White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye as two more runs came home. Even Stafford got in the act as his double accomplished two things as Richardson crossed the plate to make it 7-2.
The White Sox scored for the final time in the fifth on a two-run homer by Paul Konerko.
The Yankees capped the day with two more home runs from Bill Skowron and Mickey Mantle.
Skowron tagged Cliff Politte in the seventh with his 19th of the season, while Mantle’s solo shot came off Bobby Jenks in the ninth.
For Mantle, it was his team-leading 46th of the season as he raised his RBI total to 105.
Ralph Terry (6-9) gets the start for the Yankees in the series finale, while Jon Garland goes to the mound for the White Sox.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (69-46)
1961 New York Yankees (61-54)
1948 Cleveland Indians (18-12)
1968 Detroit Tigers (18-12)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (13-17)
1924 Washington Senators (14-24)
2005 Chicago White Sox (11-21)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-27)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 46
Roger Maris 44
Babe Ruth 44
Lou Gehrig 30