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.
History can repeat itself.
For the second time this season, the 1961 New York Yankees dropped a contest to the 1970 Baltimore Orioles on a bases loaded walk.
The Orioles trailed by a run heading into the bottom of the ninth with Luis Arroyo (5-5) working in his third inning looking for his 14th save.
Arroyo fanned Paul Blair to get out of a jam in the seventh and then tossed a perfect eighth, but one inning later the wheels fell off for the New York bullpen ace.
New York manager Ralph Houk and Yogi Berra, who was given the day off, were both tossed from the game as they argued the ball and strike calls.
Merv Rettenmund walked to begin Arroyo’s nightmare. After Davey Johnson struck out, Elrod Hendricks and pinch-hitter Terry Crowley both got free passes to load the bases as Houk was sent to his office.
Blair hit a grounder to Clete Boyer who was playing next to the bag at third. Boyer fired home to force Rettenmund at the plate for the second out.
Mark Belanger coaxed a walk from Arroyo to tie the contest and then it was Berra’s turn to head to the locker room.
A flustered Arroyo walked Frank Robinson to end the game giving the Orioles the victory.
Earlier this season, Arroyo walked Andy Etchebarren with the bases loaded in the ninth that gave the Orioles a win.
Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle both homered off Baltimore starter Mike Cuellar for their 49th long ball of the season. Mantle has 113 RBI, while Maris has 89.
Maris drilled a solo shot in the fourth, while Mantle blasted a three-run homer in the sixth to put the Yankees on top 4-0.
Baltimore scored three times in the seventh to cut its deficit to a run.
After a single by Frank Robinson to start the seventh, Boog Powell smashed a two-run homer. Later in the inning, Hendricks added a RBI single and the Orioles trailed 4-3.
Stafford left with one out in the seventh after allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
Cuellar would go six innings giving up five hits with two strikeouts. Dick Hall worked a scoreless seventh to set up winning pitcher Pete Richert, who tossed the final two frames giving up a hit and fanning two.
New York returns home for a make-up game with the 2004 Boston Red Sox.
Ralph Terry (6-11) will get the ball for the Yankees with Tim Wakefield starting for the Red Sox.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (76-49)
1961 New York Yankees (64-61)
1968 Detroit Tigers (22-14)
1948 Cleveland Indians (21-15)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (15-21)
1924 Washington Senators (14-24)
2005 Chicago White Sox (11-22)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-27)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 49
Mickey Mantle 49
Babe Ruth 47
Lou Gehrig 32