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.
New York’s Bill Stafford survived a pitching duel with Oakland’s Ken Holtzman as the Yankees posted a 2-1 win.
Stafford worked seven innings surrendering seven hits, but didn’t allow a run until the eighth.
The Yankees picked up the first tally of the affair when Oakland shortstop Bert Campaneris misplayed a grounder for an error that made it 1-0 in the fifth.
In the sixth, the Yankees scored their second run of the contest off Holtzman in his final frame.
Bill Skowron singled to begin the rally. Elston Howard followed with a single that sent Skowron to third and Clete Boyer‘s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.
The A’s scored in the eighth against Stafford, who needed to help to hang on for the win.
Joe Rudi and Reggie Jackson had back-to-back singles off the New York pitcher to force manager Ralph Houk to make a trip to the Yankee Stadium mound to calm his hurler.
With Rudi at third, Mike Epstein hit a grounder back to Stafford who fired to shortstop Tony Kubek to force out Jackson. However, the relay throw for the double play couldn’t be completed as Rudi raced home.
Luis Arroyo eventually stopped the A’s in the eighth without allowing another run, while Jim Coates got the last two outs in the ninth to earn a save.
Houk has Ralph Terry schedule to start the finale of the three-game series as Oakland counters with Blue Moon Odom.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1961 New York Yankees (2-0)
1972 Oakland A’s (2-2)
1924 Washington Senators (0-0)
1948 Cleveland Indians (0-0)
1968 Detroit Tigers (0-0)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (0-0)
2004 Boston Red Sox (0-0)
2005 Chicago White Sox (0-0)
1927 New York Yankees (0-2)