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.
Although Mark Buehrle needed a little help, the lefty won a pitching duel against Whitey Ford as the 2005 Chicago White Sox defeated 1961 New York Yankees 2-1 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Buehrle surrendered seven hits with just a run in the fifth on a homer by Yogi Berra before he left the mound after one batter in the ninth.
Roger Maris single to begin the ninth and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen decided that Buehrle had done enough for the cause
Dustin Hermanson got the call from Guillen to hold off the Yankees. He earned a save by retiring Mickey Mantle on a fly ball and then fanning Elston Howard before getting Berra on a line out to end the contest.
Ford (2-2) went the distance for the Yankees giving up five hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Chicago’s first run came in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Joe Crede after back-to-back singles by A.J. Pierzynski and Aaron Rowand.
After Berra’s long ball, Paul Konerko hit a solo blast in the bottom of the fifth that proved to be the difference.
Maris and Berra topped the Yankees with two hits apiece, while Rowand also had two for the White Sox.
Bill Stafford will get the start for New York in the series finale as the Yankees try to avoid being swept in the three-game set, while the White Sox counter with Freddy Garcia.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (16-5)
1961 New York Yankees (11-10)
2005 Chicago White Sox (2-2)
1972 Oakland A’s (6-8)
2004 Boston Red Sox (4-8)
1924 Washington Senators (3-9)
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