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.
Elston Howard smashed a pair of homers to lead the 1961 New York Yankees to a 10-2 victory over the 2004 Boston Red Sox.
Howard capped a five-run rally in the top of the third against Boston starter Derek Lowe with his first three-run homer. RBI singles by Tony Kubek and Mickey Mantle produced the first two runs of the frame.
Lowe gave up six hits and the five runs by the time he left the mound with one out in the third. Curt Leskanic took Lowe’s place until the fifth before Ramiro Mendoza went to the mound in the sixth and seventh.
The Yankees added a run in the seventh as Mantle drilled a solo shot for his 56th long ball of the season, which puts him at 130 RBI.
Terry Adams worked a scoreless eighth for Boston, but he surrendered three of the four New York runs in the ninth.
Kubek led off the ninth with his eighth homer of the year, while Roger Maris and Mantle followed with singles to send Adams to the shower with no outs.
Mike Myers came on and was greeted by Howard’s second three-run blast of the contest. For the season, Howard now has 19 homers and with his six RBI in this contest his total in that category is 59.
Rollie Sheldon (10-8) went the distance for the Yankees giving up five hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
Boston scored in the ninth as Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer.
With this five-game series being played in three days, the Yankees are going to give Jim Coates (5-6) a start in the finale, while the Red Sox are countering with Bronson Arroyo.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (81-51)
1961 New York Yankees (70-62)
1968 Detroit Tigers (22-14)
1948 Cleveland Indians (21-15)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (15-21)
2004 Boston Red Sox (17-25)
1924 Washington Senators (14-24)
2005 Chicago White Sox (12-22)
1972 Oakland A’s (12-30)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 56
Roger Maris 52
Babe Ruth 48
Lou Gehrig 35