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.
Trot Nixon was a big factor as the 2004 Boston Red Sox defeated the 1961 New York Yankees 6-3.
With Boston leading 4-3 in the eighth inning, Nixon smacked a two-run homer off Ralph Terry to give teammate Tim Wakefield some breathing room as the Red Sox hurler would toss a complete game.
Nixon, who had a game-high three hits, also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning when the Red Sox scored four times.
Manny Ramirez knocked in the first run of the contest with a double and then scored on a two-base error by New York shortstop Tony Kubek.
After Nixon’s fly ball put Boston up by three runs, Mark Bellhorn added a RBI double to make it 4-0.
The Yankees got on the scoreboard with a pair of unearned runs in the second as Boston made back-to-back errors. Kubek’s sacrifice fly later in the frame made it 4-2.
Roger Maris hit a solo homer to begin the fifth to close New York’s deficit to 4-3. It was the 18th long ball of the season for Maris, who also has 30 RBI.
Elston Howard and Yogi Berra topped the Yankees with two hits each.
Terry (3-3) went the distance for the Yankees giving up nine hits with five strikeouts.
Wakefield also allowed nine hits as he fanned three.
Jim Coates (3-1) will make is first start of the season as the Yankees travel to the West Coast to face the 1972 Oakland A’s in a five-game series. Ken Holtzman gets the ball in the opener for the A’s.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (24-14)
1961 New York Yankees (19-19)
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 (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 18
Lou Gehrig 15
Babe Ruth 13
Mickey Mantle 11