27 * 61 Replay 55: 70 Orioles at 27 Yankees

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 can produce a lot of runs when its needed.

With 16 hits, New York survived an 11-9 slugfest with the 1970 Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium in the middle affair of the three-game series.

Neither New York starter Urban Shocker, who remains unbeaten in seven decisions, or Baltimore’s Dave McNally lasted past the fifth inning. Shocker went five allowing nine hits and seven runs with just one strikeout, while McNally left after three frames trailing 7-2 as he also gave up nine hits.

Paul Blair got things underway in the first with a RBI double that put the Orioles on top.

The Yankees grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the second on a two-run single by Johnny Grabowski.

Baltimore’s Frank Robinson tied the contest at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly in the third.

New York ousted McNally with five runs in the third. Earle Combs began the inning with a single. Mark Koenig followed with a single, but Combs was thrown out at third by Frank Robinson from right field.

Fortunately for the Yankees, Babe Ruth took matters into his own hands with a two-run blast for his 23rd homer of the season.

After Lou Gehrig walked and Bob Meusel singled, Joe Dugan hit his fourth homer of the season and the Yankees were on top 7-2.

Not having his best day, Shocker couldn’t hold on to the advantage as the Orioles came back with five runs in the fifth to even the score at 7-7.

After the Orioles loaded the bases, Frank Robinson single to drive in a pair of runs to cut Baltimore’s deficit to 7-4.

Blair knocked in a pair of runs with a double before scoring on another double by Dave Johnson that tied it.

Johnson was at it again in the seventh as his two-run double off Myles Thomas put the Orioles in front 9-7. Thomas would only pitch in the seventh after George Pipgras tossed a scoreless sixth.

Thomas (4-3) would end up being the winning pitcher thanks to the four runs his teammates scored in the bottom of the seventh.

Tony Lazzeri and Meusel had back-to-back singles off Baltimore’s Dick Hall to tie the game at 9-9.

A rather grumpy Baltimore manager Earl Weaver brought Eddie Watt out of the bullpen and it didn’t help as Dugan put the Yankees ahead 10-9 with a RBI single. On the day, Dugan led the way with a game-high four hits as he knocked in four runs. Grabowski brought home the final tally with a single.

Dutch Ruether picked up his fourth save as he worked the final two innings for the Yankees and held the Orioles off the scoreboard, which wasn’t easy as he walked three and gave up a hit.

In the series finale, the Yankees will have Wilcy Moore (9-0) on the mound as the Orioles counter with Jim Hardin.

27 * 61 Replay Standings

1927 New York Yankees (36-19)
1961 New York Yankees (32-22)

1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (7-17)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-8)

27 * 61 Home Run Totals

Babe Ruth 23
Roger Maris 22
Mickey Mantle 19
Lou Gehrig 18