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 crazy 10th inning was needed decide the outcome as the 1972 Oakland A’s defeated the 1927 New York Yankees 5-4 in the finale of a six-game series.
With the score tied 2-2 heading into the extra session, the A’s scored three times to put the game away, or so they thought.
Bert Campaneris doubled to begin the 10th against Dutch Ruether. Joe Rudi smacked a two-run bomb that had the A’s celebrating.
A flustered Ruether then made a mistake with Reggie Jackson at the plate as he blasted a solo shot and the A’s led by three.
Myles Thomas came out of the New York bullpen and was able to retire the next three hitters, but New York’s chances were severely damaged.
Entering the game in the ninth for the A’s, Rollie Fingers held on to get the win although he got in trouble right away in the 10th as Babe Ruth led off with a triple and scored on a ground out by Lou Gehrig.
Later in the frame, Bob Meusel doubled and came home on a single by pinch-hitter Johnny Grabowski. Fingers finally got Pat Collins to hit a grounder to Sal Bando at third to end the game.
With the affair scoreless after three innings, the A’s picked up a run in the top of the fourth against New York starter Urban Shocker on a sacrifice fly by Mike Epstein.
New York answered in the bottom of the inning as Tony Lazzeri had a RBI single off A’s starter Blue Moon Odom.
Epstein gave the A’s a 2-1 advantage in the sixth as he delivered a RBI single after Jackson had doubled.
The Yankees were able to tie the contest at 2-2 in the seventh on a single by Benny Bengough, who was getting a rare start behind the plate.
Ruether (3-7) got the final two outs of the ninth, but he was tagged with the loss. Shocker gave up eight hits and fanned four.
Odom worked eight innings for the A’s allowing nine hits with six strikeouts.
New York welcomes the 2004 Boston Red Sox to Yankee Stadium for a four-game set. Wilcy Moore (9-1) will start the opener for the Yankees, while Derek Lowe gets the ball for the Red Sox.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (43-24)
1961 New York Yankees (38-28)
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 (11-24)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 28
Babe Ruth 28
Roger Maris 26
Lou Gehrig 21