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 fast start by the 1948 Cleveland Indians allowed the squad to hold on for a 6-3 victory over the 1927 New York Yankees at Municipal Stadium.
The Indians scored four times in the opening frame against New York’s George Pipgras.
Player-manager Lou Boudreau got the two-out rally underway with a double. Joe Gordon followed with a single. Ken Keltner knocked in the first tally with a single.
Larry Doby delivered the big blast of the inning with a three-run homer that gave the Indians a 4-0 advantage.
The Yankees were able to respond in the top of the second against Cleveland starter Don Black with a pair of runs.
Two walks and a single by Bob Meusel loaded the bases before Pat Collins had an infield hit to drive in Lou Gehrig, who led off the inning with a free pass.
Pipgras was able to help his own cause with a sacrifice fly that cut New York’s deficit in half to 4-2.
New York’s rally in the third was cut off by Black. After he walked Mark Koenig and Babe Ruth, Black retired Gehrig, Meusel and Tony Lazzeri to end the threat.
Cleveland rode the momentum of Black’s performance to add to more runs in the bottom of the third.
Doby had a RBI single and Eddie Robinson drove in the last run for the Indians with a sacrifice fly.
Black, who would leave the game with two outs in the ninth, picked up the win as he was able to survive nine hits and eight walks. The last run for the Yankees came on a sacrifice fly from Pipgras in the sixth inning.
The Yankees did stage a rally in the ninth with two outs. After Gehrig singled and Meusel doubled, Boudreau called Russ Christopher from the bullpen.
Christopher walked Lazzeri to load the bases, but he fanned Mike Gazella to end the game and record a save.
It was the first at bat for Gazella, who entered the game for an injured Joe Dugan in the seventh inning.
The Yankees stranded 11 runners during the affair and couldn’t come though with a clutch hit.
Pipgras (2-2) went seven innings and gave up 11 hits with four strikeouts. Myles Thomas worked a perfect eighth as the Yankees held out hope for a comeback.
Waite Hoyt (3-2) gets the start for the Yankees in the third contest of the four-game series, while the Indians send Bob Lemon to the mound.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (21-9)
1961 New York Yankees (14-15)
1968 Detroit Tigers (3-1)
1948 Cleveland Indians (2-1)
2005 Chicago White Sox (3-3)
1972 Oakland A’s (6-8)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-5)
2004 Boston Red Sox (4-8)
1924 Washington Senators (3-9)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 14
Babe Ruth 12
Lou Gehrig 10
Mickey Mantle 9