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.
An early power surge helped the 1961 New York Yankees to a fifth straight victory to begin the season.
New York hit four homers in a 7-1 win over the 2004 Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
Mickey Mantle got the show underway in the first inning as he tagged Boston starter Bronson Arroyo with a two-run blast.
In the third, it was Roger Maris and Yogi Berra who went deep with solo shots that put the Yankees on top 4-0.
The Yankees added two more runs in the fourth to oust Arroyo as they built a 6-0 advantage.
With one out, Clete Boyer had a double to begin the rally.
After Arroyo fanned his Yankee mound opponent Bud Daley for his sixth strikeout of the game, New York got three hits in a row to send the Red Sox hurler to the showers.
Bobby Richardson had a RBI double that was followed by a single from Tony Kubek. Maris capped the frame with a run-scoring single.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona brought in Mike Timlin to face Mantle, which turned out to be a successful move as the Yankee slugger went down swinging.
Timlin got the first two New York hitters out in the fifth, but Elston Howard tagged him for a homer to finish the scoring for the Yankees as they led 7-0.
Daley worked into the ninth before getting tired forcing Yankees manager Ralph Houk to use his bullpen.
Allowing six hits with five strikeouts, Daley gave up a run in the eighth as Johnny Damon‘s single scored Mark Bellhorn after he doubled.
Daley retired Manny Ramirez to begin the ninth, but then he gave up a double to David Ortiz.
Houk made the change on the mound with Truman Clevenger taking over. After a walk to Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon grounded into a double play that ended the affair.
The Yankees will have Whitey Ford on the hill as they look for their sixth consectutive win in the third contest in the four-game series with the Red Sox. Francona has Curt Schilling slated to start for Boston.
Big Start
New York’s pitching staff has dominated the 1972 Oakland A’s and 2004 Boston Red Sox during the five-game winning streak.
In 45 innings, the Yankees have an ERA of 1.20 with 27 strikeouts as all five starters have a victory.
Ralph Terry leads the way with a shutout and seven of the strikeouts.
Offensively, New York has a team batting average of .265 with nine homers and 24 runs scored.
Mickey Mantle tops the hitting list with a .412 batting average, but Roger Maris leads the way with three homers.
Mantle has two homers, while the other long balls have come from Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Clete Boyer and even Whitey Ford.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1961 New York Yankees (5-0)
1972 Oakland A’s (3-3)
1927 New York Yankees (2-3)
1924 Washington Senators (0-0)
1948 Cleveland Indians (0-0)
1968 Detroit Tigers (0-0)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (0-0)
2005 Chicago White Sox (0-0)
2004 Boston Red Sox (0-4)
27 * 61 Replay Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 3
Mickey Mantle 2
Lou Gehrig 2
Babe Ruth 0