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.
Mickey Mantle hit a pair of homers and knocked in six runs, but it was his glove that saved the day as the 1961 New York Yankees downed the 1948 Cleveland Indians 6-5.
With runners at first and third in the top of the ninth, the Indians were set to tie the middle affair of the three-game series with a two-out hit from Eddie Robinson.
Joe Gordon was at third, while Ken Keltner with Robinson facing New York pitcher Luis Arroyo. Robinson smashed a ball to center and Mantle was able to snare it on the run for the game’s final out.
Arroyo earned what might have been his toughest save of the season as he picked up his sixth of the year.
Tex Clevenger begin the ninth on the mound for the Yankees by walking Allie Clark. Lou Boudreau tripled and Cleveland’s deficit was cut to a run.
New York manager Ralph Houk summoned Arroyo from the bullpen. With the infield in, Gordon bounced a ball back to Arroyo and Boudreau was unable to make it back to third as the first out was recorded.
The immediate threat may have ended, but it didn’t take lone for the Indians to apply more pressure to Arroyo as Keltner singled to move Gordon to third.
Arroyo retired Larry Doby on a pop out to first base before Robinson stepped in to the batter’s box and had his opportunity for glory end in Mantle’s glove.
Mantle got things underway in the first inning with three-run homer off Cleveland starter Sam Zoldak.
The Indians scored twice in the third off Yankees starter Rollie Sheldon with RBI singles by Dale Mitchell and Keltner to make it 3-2.
In the bottom of the third, Mantle drilled drilled a two-run bomb for his 19th homer of the season, which has him two behind team leader Roger Maris.
Cleveland closed the gap to 5-4 as Robinson hit a solo homer in the fourth and Clark hit one leading off the fifth.
Mantle’s sixth RBI of the day came on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth. Mantle had driven in 45 runs through 51 contests this season to lead the Yankees. Maris is second on the squad with 35 RBI.
Sheldon (3-5), who seemed to be in constant trouble, survived seven innings to get the win as he allowed all of the Cleveland runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts. Clevenger tossed a scoreless eighth for the Yankees before the Indians rallied against him in the ninth.
Zoldak was tagged with the loss for Cleveland as he went five frames giving up seven of the eight New York hits. Ed Klieman pitched the sixth and seventh for Cleveland, while Bob Muncrief held off New York in the eighth.
Bud Daley (3-4) looks to even his season record as he starts the second contest of the series for New York against Cleveland’s Don Black.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (33-18)
1961 New York Yankees (30-21)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (6-4)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-5)
2004 Boston Red Sox (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (7-17)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 21
Babe Ruth 19
Mickey Mantle 19
Lou Gehrig 18