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 1961 New York Yankees broke open a close game with three runs in the fourth inning on the way to a 10-3 victory over the 2004 Boston Red Sox.
With the score tied 2-2, Bill Skowron led off the fourth with a homer against Boston starter Bronson Arroyo and the Yankees were on their way.
After Clete Boyer grounded out, New York starting pitcher Bud Daley singled and then Tony Kubek doubled. Bobby Richardson followed with a grounder to David Ortiz and the Boston first baseman couldn’t handle the smash. As a result, both Daley and Kubek scored as Richardson went to second and the Yankees led 5-2.
Boston got one of the runs back when Johnny Damon smacked a solo shot in the fifth to cut the Boston deficit to 5-3.
New York pulled away in the final three frames.
In the seventh, Elston Howard had a RBI double that was followed by a sacrifice fly by Yogi Berra to make it 7-3.
The Yankees added to their advantage in the eighth on a two-run pinch-hit homer by Bob Cerv. Skowron finished the scoring for New York with a RBI single in the ninth.
Daley (5-3) worked seven innings to get the win for the Yankees as he allowed eight hits. Luis Arroyo tossed the final two frames and fanned two.
Arroyo went five innings for the Red Sox giving up five runs on seven hits. Ramiro Mendoza had a perfect sixth, but was lifted for a pinch-hitter. Mike Timlin took over and surrendered the other five runs on six hits over the last three frames.
Mickey Mantle doubled in the first to drive in a run, while Howard gave New York a 2-0 lead in the third with a RBI single.
Boston tied it in the bottom of the third on a two-run homer Orlando Cabrera.
Whitey Ford (6-3) is set to start on the mound for the Yankees in the second contest of the five-game series at Fenway, while the Red Sox counter with Curt Schilling.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (36-21)
1961 New York Yankees (34-23)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (6-10)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (7-17)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Babe Ruth 23
Roger Maris 23
Mickey Mantle 21
Lou Gehrig 19