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.
A wild game came down to one pitch, which turned out to be a ball.
Andy Etchebarren walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth as the 1970 Baltimore Orioles took a 9-8 decision over the 1961 New York Yankees at Memorial Stadium.
Trailing by a run heading into the ninth against New York reliever Luis Arroyo, the Orioles loaded the bases before Brooks Robinson tied the game with a shallow single to Roger Maris right field.
With the New York infield playing in tight, Davey Johnson drilled a grounder to Tony Kubek, who fired home to cut down Boog Powell at the plate for the first out.
Arroyo (0-2) then walked Etchebarren, which set off the victory celebration.
Early Lead for Yanks
The Yankees got three scoring underway in the second inning against Baltimore starter Tom Phoebus as Yogi Berra‘s RBI single and a two-run homer by Clete Boyer made it 3-0.
Kubek’s solo homer in the third put New York on top 4-0.
Baltimore cut its deficit in half against New York starter Bud Daley as Frank Robinson had a two-run blast in the bottom of the third.
A power surge from the Yankees in the seventh stunned Baltimore releiver Dick Hall in his first inning of work.
Maris hit a two-run shot for his 12th homer of the season, while Berra and Bill Skowron followed with solo long balls that gave the Yankees an 8-2 advantage.
Orioles Come to Life
Daley was in command of the Baltimore lineup until the bottom of the seventh when the Orioles scored five times.
Mark Belanger started the production with a RBI triple. After Frank Robinson grounded out, Boog Powell doubled to make it 8-4.
Paul Blair walked to put runners on first and second. Brooks Robinson’s lineout to shortstop Bobby Richardson saved the Yankees, but for just one batter.
Johnson’s three-run homer closed the gap to 8-7 and setting the stage for Baltimore’s walk-off win.
Pete Richert earned the victory for the Orioles after tossing a scoreless ninth inning.
In the series finale of the four-game set, Whitey Ford will start for the Yankees as Jim Palmer gets the ball from Orioles manager Earl Weaver.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (18-7)
1961 New York Yankees (13-12)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-3)
2005 Chicago White Sox (3-3)
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)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 12
Babe Ruth 10
Lou Gehrig 10
Mickey Mantle 7