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.
It wasn’t an easy task, but the 1927 New York Yankees won their ninth game in a row with a 4-2 victory in 11 innings over the 2005 Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
With the score tied at 2-2 entering the top of the 11th, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen picked closer Dustin Hermanson to hold off the Yankees.
Hermanson got in trouble quickly as he walked Lou Gehrig and then gave up a single to Bob Meusel. After Tony Lazzeri hit a fly ball to left field, Joe Dugan doubled to break the tie as Gehrig jogged home from third.
Later in the inning, pinch-hitter Ben Paschal‘s sacrifice fly gave the Yankees their final margin.
Waite Hoyt (2-2), who tossed 10 innings, would be the winner as he gave up two runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts. Dutch Ruether picked up his second save of the season with a perfect 11th inning.
Triple Play
The White Sox had an opportunity for a walk-off win the the bottom of the 10th, but the Yankees turned a triple play to send the game to the 11th.
Guillen selected Willie Harris to pinch-hit for starting pitcher Mark Buehrle to begin the 10th.
Harris reached on an error by New York shortstop Mark Koenig and then he swiped second to put pressure on Hoyt.
Carl Everett had an infield single to give the White Sox the winning run at third.
Ironically, it would be Koenig who would make the defensive play of the contest.
With the infield playing in, Tadahito Iguchi drilled a line drive at Koenig. The Yankee shortstop snared it and threw to first to nab Everett, who was unable to back to first in time.
Having quickly returned to third, Harris tagged and took a chance as he raced home. Gehrig was alert enough to fire to catcher Pat Collins to cut down Harris.
Early Home Runs
Solo homers provided the first runs of the game for both teams.
Jermaine Dye gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, while Gehrig tied the affair with his blast in the top of the second.
Scott Podsednik put the White Sox back on top in the second with a RBI single.
The scored remained the same until the top of the eighth when the Yankees were able to tie it at 2-2 with an unearned run.
Earle Combs made it to first on an error by Juan Uribe and he moved to second on an infield single by Koenig.
After Buehrle fanned Babe Ruth and Gehrig, Meusel doubled to send Combs home to tie the game.
Buehrle went 10 innings as he surrendered nine hits with six strikeouts.
Herb Pennock is scheduled to start for the Yankees in the finale of the three-game series with Freddy Garcia taking the mound for the White Sox.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (16-5)
1961 New York Yankees (11-9)
1972 Oakland A’s (6-8)
2004 Boston Red Sox (4-8)
1924 Washington Senators (3-9)
2005 Chicago White Sox (1-2)
1948 Cleveland Indians (0-0)
1968 Detroit Tigers (0-0)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (0-0)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 9
Lou Gehrig 9
Babe Ruth 7
Mickey Mantle 7