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.
Sometimes just surviving is the key.
With aces on the mound, one might expect a pitcher’s duel. It didn’t really happen as the 1972 Oakland A’s outlasted the 1961 New York Yankees 7-5.
The A’s got to Whitey Ford in the first inning. Bert Campaneris led off the game with a double and then scored on a single by Reggie Jackson.
The bottom of the first for A’s starter Catfish Hunter didn’t turn out well either.
Tony Kubek singled and then Clete Boyer walked. After Roger Maris popped out, Mickey Mantle drilled a three-run homer that put the Yankees on top 3-1.
New York’s advantage didn’t last very long as the A’s bounced back with three runs in the second.
Tim Cullen began the rally with a double and then Ford made a mistake. Hunter was able to smack a two-run homer to tie the contest at 3-3.
Campaneris singled, swiped second and later scored on another RBI single by Jackson and the A’s led by a run.
Hunter got out the second without allowing a run, but his teammates added two more in the third. Cullen had a RBI double and Dave Duncan picked up a run-scoring single.
Ford (6-5) would settle down from that point, but the damage was done as the Yankees had a big hill to climb. Ford gave up a dozen hits with seven strikeouts in six innings.
Hunter had some trouble in the fifth and sixth, but was able to hold the Yankees to just a run in each inning.
Kubek had a sacrifice fly in the fifth, while Mantle drilled his second homer of the affair and team-high 28th of the season. By driving in four runs, Mantle has 66 RBI in 65 contests the season.
Yogi Berra and Bobby Richardson both singled later in the frame, but Hunter fanned pinch-hitter Johnny Blanchard to end the threat and keep the A’s on top 6-5.
Jim Coates took over for Ford and went the rest of the way for the Yankees allowing four hits and a run in the seventh. Mike Epstein greeted the New York reliever with a solo homer to give the A’s their two-run advantage.
Hunter went the distance and surrendered seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Bill Stafford (9-2) starts the fifth contest of the six-game series with Oakland as the A’s counter with Ken Holtzman.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (42-23)
1961 New York Yankees (37-28)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (10-14)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (10-22)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 28
Babe Ruth 27
Roger Maris 25
Lou Gehrig 21