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.
Johnny Blanchard‘s two-run single in the eighth inning proved to be the difference for the 1961 New York Yankees in a 5-3 victory over the 1924 Washington Senators.
The game-winning rally began with two outs as Yogi Berra singled off Washington starter John Martina. Bill Skowron walked and Clete Boyer‘s infield single loaded the bases.
New York manager Ralph Houk selected Blanchard to pinch-hit for reliever Jim Coates and he responded with the single that gave the Yankees the lead. Allen Russell came on for Martina and retired Bobby Richardson to end the inning.
Houk called Luis Arroyo from the bullpen and after allowing a single to Sam Rice, the New York closer slammed the door on the Senators to earn his third save of the season.
Coates (3-1) got the win for the Yankees, after he got the final out of the sixth and tossed scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth.
The Yankees scored early and eventually led 3-0 by the fourth inning against Martina, who gave up five runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
New York scored two runs on sacrifice flies by Mickey Mantle in the first and Berra in the third. Tony Kubek had a RBI double in the fourth.
Washington began the comeback road in the fifth against New York starter Rollie Sheldon.
Earl McNeely had a run-scoring double and Rice eventually came through with a RBI single and New York’s lead was cut to 3-2.
The Senators tied the affair as Martina knocked Sheldon out of the game. Martina’s RBI double was his third hit of the day and made it 3-3 to set the stage for Blanchard’s heroic moment.
The Yankees will have Bud Daley (1-3) on the mound for the second contest of the four-game series, while Curly Ogden gets the start for the Senators.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (22-12)
1961 New York Yankees (16-18)
1948 Cleveland Indians (6-2)
1968 Detroit Tigers (3-1)
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 (5-11)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 16
Babe Ruth 12
Lou Gehrig 12
Mickey Mantle 10