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.
Bill Stafford had just enough to post his team-high eighth win as the 1961 New York Yankees picked up a 2-1 victory over the 2005 Chicago White Sox.
Stafford (8-2) needed help in the ninth as he left two base runners on for Luis Arroyo, who was able to earn his fourth save of the season. Overall, Stafford gave up five hits with five strikeouts.
Heading into the ninth, Stafford had allowed just four hits before Scott Podsednik reached on an error by first baseman Bill Skowron. Tadahito Iguchi followed with his second single of the contest, which ended the day for Stafford and moved Podsednik to third.
Jermaine Dye produced a run with a sacrifice fly off Arroyo to cut Chicago’s deficit in half. Paul Konerko singled to put more pressure on Arroyo as Iguchi advanced to third.
Arroyo appeared to make a mistake as Carl Everett smashed a ball to Bobby Richardson, but the New York second baseman snarred the line drive and flipped to Skowron to double up Konerko and end the game.
The Yankees got on the scoreboard in the second against Chicago starter Freddy Garcia on three straight singles by Yogi Berra, Skowron and Billy Gardner, who was giving Clete Boyer a day off.
Mickey Mantle gave the Yankees a 2-0 advantage in the fourth as he drilled his 16th homer of the season to lead off the frame. It was his 35 RBI.
Garcia went seven innings giving up five hits with seven strikeouts. Neal Cotts worked a scoreless eighth for Chicago to give the White Sox a chance to comeback.
The Yankees will have Ralph Terry (3-4) on the mound for the finale of the four-game set, while the White Sox counter with Jose Contreras.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (31-18)
1961 New York Yankees (28-21)
1948 Cleveland Indians (6-2)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-5)
2004 Boston Red Sox (5-9)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-8)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (7-17)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 21
Babe Ruth 18
Lou Gehrig 17
Mickey Mantle 16