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.
Coming away with a win might have been a little shaky, but the 1961 New York Yankees were able to hang on for a 5-3 victory over the 2004 Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees led by four runs entering the bottom of the ninth at Fenway Park with Whitey Ford on the mound looking for a complete game.
David Ortiz began the rally with a double off Ford and then he moved to second on a ground out by Jason Varitek.
When New York first baseman Bill Skowron misplayed a grounder by Bill Meuller, Ortiz was able to trot home for the first run.
Trot Nixon followed with a single that sent Ford to the showers as Luis Arroyo was called from the bullpen by New York manager Ralph Houk.
Mark Bellhorn walked to load the bases and pinch-hitter Kevin Millar also received a free pass as the Red Sox picked up what turned out to be their final tally.
Arroyo was able to collect himself to fan Johnny Damon before retiring Orlando Cabrera on a grounder to end the game.
All of New York’s runs were produced by the long ball.
Roger Maris hit his 52nd of the season off Boston starter Curt Schilling with two outs in the top first. Yogi Berra smacked his 21st homer with a solo shot in the second.
Schilling got trouble in the eighth as Clete Boyer doubled and the Maris coaxed a walk to set up Mickey Mantle.
Mantle smashed a three-run bomb for his 53rd homer of the year bringing his RBI total to 126.
Schilling was finished after being charged with five runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Ramiro Mendoza got the last two outs of the seventh before Alan Embree worked a scoreless eighth.
Boston scored its first run of the affair in the eighth on a RBI single by Cabrera.
Ford (15-4) allowed all three runs on seven hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts. Arroyo earned his 14th save of the season as he recorded the last two outs.
Bill Stafford (15-5) gets the start in the second contest of the five-game series with Pedro Martinez getting the call for Boston.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (79-50)
1961 New York Yankees (68-61)
1968 Detroit Tigers (22-14)
1948 Cleveland Indians (21-15)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-21)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (15-21)
1924 Washington Senators (14-24)
2005 Chicago White Sox (11-22)
1972 Oakland A’s (12-30)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 53
Roger Maris 52
Babe Ruth 48
Lou Gehrig 33