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.
A big fifth inning made the difference for the 1927 New York Yankees as they were on their way to a 9-5 victory over the 2004 Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park.
Bob Meusel was the star of the game as he drilled a grand slam, RBI single and a sacrifice fly to knock in six runs. Meusel currently leads the Yankees with a .339 batting average, while hitting four homers with 46 RBI.
Down 4-3, the Yankees scored five times in the fifth to take the lead for good.
Leading off the frame, Earle Combs tied the contest as he blasted a pitch from Boston starter Pedro Martinez for his fourth homer of the year.
After Mark Koenig singled, Martinez walked Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to load the bases. The Boston righty fanned Tony Lazerri, but Meusel tagged Martinez for a homer that made it 8-4.
Manny Ramirez had a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth that turned out to be Boston’s last tally. A couple of errors by the Red Sox led to Meusel sacrifice fly in the seventh for New York’s final run.
Herb Pennock (4-5) went the distance for the Yankees as he allowed nine hits with six strikeouts in earning his third straight win.
Jason Varitek got things underway for the Red Sox in the first with a two-run single.
The Yankees responded in the second when Gehrig doubled and Lazerri singled to put runners at first and third. Meusel hit into a double play as Gehrig raced home to cut New York’s deficit to 2-1.
In the fourth, Gehrig doubled again and moved to third on Lazerri’s single. Meusel tied it at 2-2 with a single. New York took the lead as Lazerri scored on a failed double play attempt by Boston and it was 3-2.
Martinez helped himself in the bottom of the fourth as he slapped an infield single that brought home a run to tie the contest at 3-3. A RBI double by Johnny Damon put Boston on top to set the stage for New York’s outburst in the fifth.
Urban Shocker (7-0) is slated to start for New York in the fourth affair of the five-game series in Fenway. Tim Wakefield will get the ball for the Red Sox.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (38-21)
1961 New York Yankees (34-24)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (7-12)
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 24
Roger Maris 23
Mickey Mantle 22
Lou Gehrig 19