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.
The 1927 New York Yankees scored the winning runs in the bottom of the sixth on the way to a 4-3 victory over the 1970 Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a three-game series.
Down a run entering the frame, Bob Meusel reached second for the Yankees on an error by Baltimore first baseman Boog Powell.
Joe Dugan tied it at 3-3 with a double off Orioles starter Mike Cuellar.
After Cuellar retired Pat Collins and his mound counterpart Herb Pennock, Earle Combs smacked a triple that brought home what turned out to be the game-winning tally.
Pennock (3-5) won his second contest in the row, but he needed help in the top of the ninth. Overall, he gave up 11 hits and had a pair of strikeouts as he was helped out of jams by two double plays.
Brooks Robinson began the inning with a single before Pennock got Dave Johnson and Andy Etchebarren to hit harmless fly balls to left and center.
Baltimore manager Earl Weaver sent Merv Rettenmund to the plate to pinch-hit for Cuellar and he promptly single to move Brooks Robinson to third.
New York manager Miller Huggins, who is juggling some pitchers due to some pending twinbills, asked Wilcy Moore to take over on the mound.
Moore, who is 9-0 as a starter, earned his first save in three relief appearances this season when he induced Don Buford to hit a groundball to Dugan at third to finish the contest.
Both teams scored in the second inning.
Paul Blair singled and swiped second before Brooks Robinson knocked him in with a single to make it 1-0.
The Yankees tied it in the their half of the inning on a sacrifice ly by Pennock.
New York took a 2-1 lead in the third. Mark Koenig doubled and then later scored when Baltimore shortstop misplayed a grounder by Tony Lazzeri.
The Orioles made it 2-2 in the fourth when Blair and Brooks Robinson had a repeat performance from the second. Blair singled, stole second and raced home on a single by Brooks Robinson.
Belanger would make up for his fielding miscue when he led off the sixth with a walk. This time, it would be Frank Robinson with the key hit as he doubled to allowed Belanger to score from first to make it 3-2.
Although the Orioles would have two runners on base in the eighth and ninth, but they were unable to get a clutch hit the rest of the way.
Urban Shocker (7-0) gets the ball for New York in the middle affair of the series, while Dave McNally will start for the Orioles.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (35-19)
1961 New York Yankees (31-22)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (5-9)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-6)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (7-17)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Babe Ruth 22
Roger Maris 21
Mickey Mantle 19
Lou Gehrig 18