27 * 61 Replay 135: 70 Orioles 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.

Merv Rettenmund drilled a pair of homers to lead the 1970 Baltimore Orioles to a 4-3 victory over the 1927 New York Yankees.

Rettenmund hit solo shots off New York starter Waite Hoyt in the fourth and seventh to give the Orioles a 2-0 advantage.

In the eighth, Baltimore added two more runs against Hoyt.

Paul Blair singled and stole second for his third steal of the contest. Blair scored on a double by Mark Belanger that ended the day for Hoyt.

New York reliever Dutch Ruether was greeted by a RBI single by Frank Robinson that put the Orioles up by four runs.

Baltimore starter Jim Palmer held the Yankees scoreless on five hits through seven innings, but control problems hurt him in the bottom of the eighth.

Palmer walked Johnny Grabowski, who entered the game in a double switch, and Earle Combs to begin the frame.

After retiring Mark Koenig, Palmer made mistake to Babe Ruth who launched his 50th homer of the season to cut New York’s deficit to a run.

Pete Richert was called from the bullpen by Baltimore manager Earl Weaver and he walked Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri.

Richert proved to be up to the task as he got Bob Meusel out and a fly ball and fanned Joe Dugan to end the threat.

Eddie Watt took over for Richert in the ninth and walked Grabowski, but he induced Koenig to hit a game-ending fly ball with Ruth in the on-deck circle.

Herb Pennock (8-11) gets the start for New York in the third contest of the four-game series, while the Orioles counter with Mike Cuellar.

27 * 61 Replay Standings

1927 New York Yankees (83-52)
1961 New York Yankees (71-63)

1968 Detroit Tigers (22-14)
1948 Cleveland Indians (21-15)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (17-22)
2004 Boston Red Sox (17-27)
1924 Washington Senators (14-24)
2005 Chicago White Sox (12-22)
1972 Oakland A’s (12-30)

27 * 61 Home Run Totals

Mickey Mantle 57
Roger Maris 54
Babe Ruth 50
Lou Gehrig 35